<p>There's an interesting article in today's Chronicle of Higher Ed about how one college (Lafayette) goes all out to woo admitted students with special touches that range from personalized comments on decision letters about the applicant's essay (definitely not unique to Lafayette these days) to one-on-one meetings with faculty members. See The</a> Sweet and Subtle Science of Wooing the Admitted - Students - The Chronicle of Higher Education Admitted students also receive letters from alums and phone calls from current students ... approaches that, again, are not unique to Lafayette. Parents of admitted students even get phone calls from parents of present ones.</p>
<p>For those of you who are currently being assaulted by such friendly solicitations (or sales pitches??) from the colleges that have admitted you or your child, do you view them as helpful or intrusive or a bit too Madison Avenue ... or some of each? Which approaches have you found to be the most valuable or the most likely to sway your final choice?</p>
<p>For those of us who don’t have subscriptions to “The Chronicle” could you summarize the article?</p>
<p>S1 went through some of this 5 years ago when making his decision. I found it both interesting and helpful (the parent phone calls at least) when they were from the school he wanted versus desperate and annoying when they came in from his “back-up” school. Of course the individual schools had no way of knowing which one they were. </p>
<p>I suspect that this strategy is especially important for schools that see themselves as safety choices. During the application process the power lies with the college. They are the gatekeepers deciding who is and isn’t worthy to attend their fine institutions. But few of us realize that once the acceptance letters have gone out the power now resides with the accepted student. The student’s decision will affect yield. Their decision will affect revenue. They are essentially a walking, up to a $250,000, four-year revenue stream. Why wouldn’t a school try and entice them to make the “right” decision?</p>
<p>By this point most students have made their decisions, but many CC forums are still littered with “OMG, I have two hours to decide between Harvard and Podunk Flats CC, HELP!!!” It seems to me that a well-timed and well-trained phone call can benefit both sides in the decision process. In short, if you know where you want to go, the calls reinforce the “correctness” of your decision. If you’re not sure where you’d like to attend they can be a sign that says “we want you”. What’s the harm?</p>
<p>vinceh–Sorry … I thought that that Chronicle article was one that you could read without a subscription. (Some are, but apparently this one isn’t). </p>
<p>As my post noted, it’s about all the extra measures that Lafayette takes in order to convince admitted students to enroll. These include:</p>
<p>-Personal comments on decision letters about essays, extracurricular activities, etc.
-Phone calls from current students to admitted ones
-Phone calls from parents of current students to parents of admitted ones
-Letters from alums (working in professions of possible interest to applicants)
-Ratcheting up of on-campus events for pre-frosh, including the option to meet one-on-one with a prof or coach</p>
<p>My advice to a high school senior or parent who is receiving a phone call or email from a college’s current student or parent is to say something like this:</p>
<p>“I appreciate this personal attention, but I would like to know if you feel that you receive this same personal attention post-matriculation? Have you had to reach out to a faculty member, dean, financial aid officer, special needs coordinator, coach, etc.? If so, what was the response?”</p>
<p>If EVERY admitted student is getting a decision letter with a “personal” touch (“Loved that essay on Grandma!”), do parents and students really find these touches so “personal” or can’t they see beyond this? </p>
<p>Of course, my son has played on a dozen sports teams where every kid got a trophy at the end of the season just for showing up (and in one case, every kid got an “MVP” trophy). Most of the boys and their parents thought this was great. Only I and a couple other naysayers were suspect. So maybe the same is true for admission office accolades … it doesn’t seem to matter that everyone gets “special” treatment.</p>
<p>Many/most schools would be in big trouble in their yields were, e.g., 10% more than they expected (no dorm space, classes too big, etc.), so I have to assume that only the top applicants are being wooed. Or maybe some schools do this every year and it is part of their yield calculation. Or maybe some schools are seeing yields a bit too low so far this month and are trying to fix the problem. Obviously I don’t have a clue. ;)</p>
<p>I see college as a business and selling and supporting the brand are key components of any business. It is important for any person or group to have a network and to draw on that network. Thus if one school has parents of current students reaching out to parents of applicants - they are demonstrating their network. When my son receives an invitation to attend a gathering at the home of a parent of a student, it shows an extended network as well as, most importantly, that people have made time out of their busy schedules to support their son or daughter’s school. It reflects well on the school.</p>
<p>The Chronicle article (which requires a subscription … sorry!) said that:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>So clearly this spring’s campaign to lure admitted students is a preemptive strike. Although some prospective students and their parents may be turned off by what feels like a telemarketing campaign, many more will take advantage of the chance to engage with a “real” person at Lafayette, which might ultimately prompt matriculation … assuming, of course, that Lafayette was on the short list to begin with.</p>
<p>During the recent senatorial race in my state (Massachusetts), I was definitely turned off by the many phone calls I got leading up to the election and then throughout election day from an electronic Martha Coakley or her supporters (e.g., Bill Clinton, Barack Obama). In fact, I voted (for Coakley) bright and early on election-day morning … well before several more computerized calls came in. Finally, near the end of the day, I got yet another call … this one from an actual person, not a recording (someone local whom I actually know). I told him that I’d already voted for Martha but after being annoyed by a ringing phone for hours since, I was heading back to the polls to change my vote. ;)</p>
<p>I do feel, however, that if a real person calls and offers to answer college questions, then this can have a positive impact, even when you realize that it’s part of a marketing ploy. So, as I pointed out above, I urge parents and students to take advantage of this opportunity.</p>
<p>But I’m also curious to know if some folks feel that it’s been intrusive or overdone. And, if so, by which colleges?</p>
<p>I agree, ctyankee, that a network is important, especially an ** alumi** network that can help students and other alums with internships, job searches, etc. </p>
<p>But, as Sally seemed to be saying (in post #3) it’s important to discern between a network that is created for short-term marketing purposes (e.g., phone calls from parents) and on-going support that you or your child will get after enrollment. </p>
<p>It does reflect well on the school when parents or students give up time to help support it, but I would still want to know if that support continues throughout the four years.</p>
<p>Gettysburg became a nuisance at our house. The phone calls finally stopped after the second time we told them Son would be enrolling at Wake Forest. But the snail mail keeps coming. Some is addressed to Son, some to us. </p>
<p>Roanoke and Elon called a lot at first then stopped promptly after being told about Son’s decision. </p>
<p>Thank goodness for caller ID. A couple other schools called once. We didn’t answer. Since they haven’t called back we assume that means they got Son’s decline. </p>
<p>In a nice surprise, Wake Forest has called twice to welcome Son to the class of 2014 and offer a current student for answering any questions he has. (They never called before he sent deposit.)</p>
<p>We have been bombarded with such solicitations. Interestingly, a couple of the most aggressive comes from top 10 schools. It’s surreal going from hardly hearing anything and hoping against all hope to be admitted, to daily emails, letters, phone calls, invites, and 'you’re special" post cards. </p>
<p>I don’t think it’s annoying until the stream keeps flowing long after the school has been notified the student has decided to go elsewhere. At that point I expect it to stop, but so far with most schools it hasn’t. So yes, now it’s a bother. </p>
<p>I also think, to some extent, in unintended ways, it has also helped d confirm her decision when callers from schools she once loved, and was torn over, become rather rude and practically hang up on her when she tells them she is likely to attend elsewhere. That’s certainly not true for all, but there have been a few that lost all semblence of class in the end leaving d to reflect, “Whew! Guess I dodged a bullet in choosing not to go there.” That aspect has been very disappointing, but I think it certainly makes the “sales pitch” angle much more transparent.</p>
<p>I can’t speak for all colleges, but in our experience it did not appear that these marketing efforts were selective, ie. that only the top applicants were being wooed. S got calls and letters from the schools that had been reaches for him in the same measure as from his match and safety schools. I found the phone call to me from a parent of a current student (Colgate) to be very nice and helpful, even though I doubted S would end up at that school.</p>
<p>D applied as a recruited athlete to only two schools, and committed to her top choice back in March. Yet she is still receiving all the calls and letters from that school. So obviously, they don’t know her decision is made and no longer needs wooing! Meanwhile, she withdrew her application from the other school after signing with the first school, and the declined school still called. So I don’t think colleges spend any time culling the admitted student lists for priority candidates.</p>
<p>The only communications we found annoying were the minority recruitment ones. Some were downright patronizing or insulting. Are they sending letters to every parent telling them they understand that we might be feeling scared (ohh, I’m trembling) about sending our child away to college, or only to parents with Hispanic last names? Does every prospective student with a 2300 SAT score receive a mailing about tutoring services, or just the Hispanic kids? Obnoxious. They shouldn’t have admitted my kid if they didn’t think s/he could hack it, and once admitted, why not assume complete competence until proven otherwise? A minority kid who has the same stats as the average admittee can find these ethnic assurance insulting–like why do they think they have to assure my child that there’s a Casa Whatever on campus or they might not feel comfortable attending? These are elite schools we’re talking about. Surely all the admitted students have demonstrated some competency out in the big world of white people, no?</p>
<p>Sally,
I’m admittedly biased as a Lafayette grad, but colleges the size of Lafayette (~2300) take pride in the fact that they can and do offer individualized attention, not only in the admissions process, but in their normal operations. </p>
<p>They may have ratcheted up their efforts, but this is not a new tactic to counter recent reduced yeilds as the excerpt you posted implies. I’ve seen postings from applicants every spring on the Lafayette CC forum, going back several years acknowledging (and appreciating) the personized acceptance letters that they receive. </p>
<p>Granted, a personalized acceptance letter or phone call may be that little extra something to entice an applicant to attend, but I don’t think it is disingenous, since that is how students are treated, and is one of the benefits of attending a smaller school. I do agree, however, that that it can easily become intrusive if overdone.</p>
<p>All the examples given here (unless I missed it) are private schools. Do public schools make these “solicitation” calls too? If so, which ones? Just curious about how the two systems operate.</p>
<p>Lafayette is a wonderful school. Its in the Patriot League which prides itself on being a little Ivy…Colgate, Lehigh, Lafayette, Holy Cross, Bucknell. There are some associate members, like Army, Navy in basketball and Fordham and Georgetown in football. Fordham used to be a full member but resigned when it moved to the A10 in basketball, though retains its associate football relationship.</p>
<p>We drive by Lehigh and Lafayette every year on our way to dropoff/pickup at Fordham. Lafayette is a very, very good school. Its just not on the radar screen of many kids and if it is, they often also apply to larger more well known schools, especially in the New York area and in the upper Northeast: Ivy League. Thus, it loses a lot of kids chasing prestige. But its a gem of a school.</p>
<p>Lafayette is not alone in being aggressive chasing admittees. Its quite common in the South, in fact. Seen it at Elon, Furman, Wake, Wofford and even Duke.</p>
<p>I posted this on the LC forum, but thought it would be appropriate here as well:</p>
<p>As the parent of a freshman at Lafayette, I can say that we did not feel that the contact that the school initiated last year was intrusive (although the excerpts from the article in suggests that they were not as aggressive last year as they are this year). Of the types of contact enumerated in the original thread, we experienced two from LC – phone call from a current student, and a letter from an alum. The alum was actually a trustee, probably due to the fact that my daughter had been offered a Marquis Scholarship. This letter did factor into our decision (as did the Marquis Scholar designation).</p>
<p>The only school that had a parent call us was Colgate (and the parent was local to us).</p>
<p>As far as support post-matriculation, my wife and I (and daughter) have been very happy with her degree of interaction with her professors (and the support they have provided to her) both in and out of the classroom. So much so that her brother, one year behind her, will be attending a similar size LAC in September, with the hope and expectation that he will have a similar experience.</p>
<p>During our son’s application process this year, he received student phone calls from most of the schools that accepted him. These included state schools from NY, VA, and MD.</p>
<p>I would encourage everyone to view these exchanges as part of a business transaction waiting to happen, much like buying a car. You have your child and your money, after having made us all jump through hoops to get admitted, the college would like to get their hands on both of those things. My suggestion is the next time you get an overly aggressive caller simply say that “My son is getting a full-ride scholarship at Whattsamatta U, call back when you can match that.” It worked on the one school son 1 found annoying, (they didn’t raise their finaid, they just stopped calling).</p>
<p>To paraphrase Tessio in the Godfather II, “It’s wasn’t personal, it was only business.”</p>
<p>“You have your child and your money, after having made us all jump through hoops to get admitted, the college would like to get their hands on both of those things.”</p>
<p>The exception is if your child is being offered significant (more than 50%) need and/or merit aid; then they really want your child, not your money (they’re absorbing a loss on the money side).</p>
<p>This is exactly what I urge admitted applicants and their families to ask about when given the opportunity to speak to a current student (or parent of a current student) during those final decision-making days. Find out if that student or parent has needed any sort of special attention that this initial contact implied and, if so, was the college as ready to go to bat for enrolled students as it was for prospective ones.</p>
<p>By the way, I didn’t mean any of my earlier comments to cast aspersion on Lafayette. I have heard only good things from those I know who are currently enrolled or who have a child there. But I’m often curious about how marketing practices–at any college–are viewed by those on the receiving end.</p>
<p>More snail mail came today. I put it on the kitchen counter with a :rolleyes:. Turns out Gettysburg was acknowledging Son’s decline and telling him that his file will remain open for 2 years. In the event WFU doesn’t work out, they will welcome him. </p>
<p>G’burg, you’re alright. I feel pretty bad for dissing you up thread. :o</p>
<p>Yeah I got into Lafayette this year (though I’m not going) and speaking from personal experience, they sent a myriad of extra letters, they did have references to my essays in my admissions letter (which did actually impress me), and probably the one that weirded me out the most for Lafayette is that I got a facebook message from someone I didn’t know who apparently graduated from my school and attends Lafayette saying we should ‘hang out and talk about Lafayette.’<br>
So yes college confidential, facebook is used in the college process. ;P</p>
<p>Honestly, I think the personal attention is nice as long as it isn’t excessive and doesn’t overstep privacy boundaries.</p>