<p>My daughter, a junior, just received a postcard from Skidmore. On the front, it says "FAIL". The message on the back says, "YOU MISSED THE MARK. You tried but failed. Or did you? At Skidmore College, taking risk is called success regardless of outcome. Failures wanted. Check out <a href="http://www.skidmore.edu">www.skidmore.edu</a>"</p>
<p>What could this possibly mean? She won't get her PSAT scores until early January, but I know colleges buy the lists. </p>
<p>On the other hand, she got a big package from Swarthmore today, too.</p>
<p>I wouldn't get too excited about the mailings your kiddo receives based on the PSAT. My son's scores were ok...but not terrific (187 index). He got mail from schools that were very competitive and schools that had open admissions. There was no pattern. A big package from Swarthmore has about the same importance as a postcard from Skidmore.</p>
<p>That postcard from Skidmore IS quite odd. When I see mailings like that (not that I've ever seen one quite as weird as that one) I just shake my head and marvel that someone got PAID to create that!</p>
<p>Once you receive a Skidmore postcard, you will receive more! Each and everyone is different. My daughter receives one about every 2 weeks. I just trash them as she isn't interested in Skidmore. Just wait, more junk mail to follow!</p>
<p>Firefly - My daughter received the same Skidmore postcard last week --- not sure if it is related to taking the PSAT however. We had a good laugh over the idea that an adcom would actually look at a failing grade and say "But they took a risk! Let's take them! We need MORE failures in next year's freshman class!!" </p>
<p>Daughter was THRILLED to get a letter from Goucher yesterday but I had to remind her that it doesn't mean she did well on the PSATs - only that Goucher (and maybe Skidmore) bought a list of people interested in her likely majors - art and history. She also got a letter from Kalamazoo.</p>
<p>fireflyscout,
Case Western's mailings are good this year but were just dreadful a couple of years ago (featured guys in hokey Spatan costumes) when my nephew was a senior. People get sold on all sorts of odd marketing ideas.</p>
<p>Carolyn,
a co-worker's daughter is a freshman at Kalamazoo - she had a wonderful time on the pre-college wilderness trip.</p>
<p>Ohio-Mom - Thanks. Daughter saw the 85% of students study abroad figure and decided she could overlook the name. I hadn't thought of Kalamazoo for her at all because she seems to always want a traditional semester schedule but who knows?</p>
<p>This fall's PSAT results have already been sold to colleges, I'm sure. Beware any of you whose child did moderately well on the test!! Your mailbox will be stuffed.</p>
<p>As an advertising copywriter and creative director, I can understand what they were trying to say, which is that if you never take a risk, you can never truly succeed. While this is a great message, I would have to say the execution "missed the mark." </p>
<p>It's too bad because the idea had a lot of potential. </p>
<p>Interesteddad, yes, I can see where they might have tried to tie the concept into EA/ED.</p>
<p>OK, now I'm laughing over this - it's just so bad! But as Skidmore likes to say, "Creative Thought Matters". It is different than the usual letters - "We think you have the qualities to fit in at ---- U, blah, blah, blah, We offer unique programs, blah, blah, blah, Come visit, blah, blah, blah, We're interested in learning more about you, blah, blah, blah."</p>
<p>Does anyone else have any examples of unusual college mail - good or bad?</p>
<p>USC's beautiful, full-color magazine-quality viewbooks can be persuasive, but you know they're targeted to compel more kids to apply. Nevertheless, they provide nice reading material for parents.</p>
<p>I find the Brandeis "Wish you were here" postcards odd. If my daughter were already there, there would be no need for her to send in an application now, would there?</p>
<p>My daughter was a little taken aback by the one that read "January lst--It's sooner than you think." I can't remember if it was from Smith or Vassar or maybe even something else. Anyway, I don't think she wanted to be reminded of how soon she needs to get her applications sent in if she doesn't get into her ED choice.</p>
<p>I dont remember any strange post cards, I think Reed did send 1950s style vacation postcards that my husband liked but D rolled her eyes at
I admit I liked the CD rom they sent with the VR movies of buildings on campus and interviews with seniors and professors ( its the same as the tour on their web site)</p>
<p>DD, a high school freshman, just got her first two pieces of college mail. Apparently, her honors world history teacher had the class fill out some kind of interest survey.<br>
You know, I am a hearty Midwesterner and never really understood the number of kids on here who make their college decisions partly based on weather. . .until I saw the pictures on the University of Miami's mailing. Reminded me of cruise brochures!</p>
<p>Interested Dad, I agree, the bounce is probably it. Funny how non-ED coach calls also spiked in the first week in December. </p>
<p>I thought Grinnell had good materials...</p>
<p>One warning on all great printed matter: When we visited Hamilton there was, coincidentally, an article in that week's Hamilton newspaper that lambasted the Hamilton viewbook as been really phony and very unlike the reality of the school. So buyer beware!</p>