<p>Wow, the questions never end, but what a great resource (CC) to get answers. This question: The program my son was accepted into was uber-selective (only 60 people accepted across 26 majors - a little more than two people per major) and they have been great at keeping up the contact with him. But yesterday, W and I got mail: a press release for us to give to the local paper about our son getting into the program and details about the program itself. This is a little over the top, and the tone of the release is about how uber-uber the program is, etc. I won't submit it, but I wonder what the feelings of others here are. My son doesn't seem to care one way or the other, and W and I usually make fun of announcement insertions like these when we see them.</p>
<p>But what do you think? Anyone else been handed a press release on an acceptance before?</p>
<p>We didn't get anything like that, but it's fairly common for articles like to appear in our suburban weekly newspaper, particularly if the acceptance is unusual or highly selective.</p>
<p>Closest I came was a note from a publisher, "Dear Contributor: We have not received any manuscripts from you recently. This suits our present needs. Thank you very much."</p>
<p>Although it might look boa****l, press releases such as these might alert other students to programs and other opportunities they otherwise would not have heard of. It could also serve as a morale-builder for students who feel that academics are seldom recognized but sports are given wide coverage. You could consider toning down the press release and still having it published.</p>
<p>I guess it depends on the newspaper. We have a local paper that puts stuff about the local kids and it is uplifting to read about kids (esp.teens) doing well. Sometimes there is stuff in our papers about kids getting into trouble, negative press and it makes me feel as a community member and parent more vested when I read about wonderful news and accomplishments such as your son's acceptance into such a selective program. I think it is news because it is hard to get into but serves as insipration to others. </p>
<p>And it might bring a program to light that others in your area did not know about. I know the summer programs, colleges, scholarships and sports my kiddos have been in the paper for have brought to light opportunities other students and parents did not know existed!! Also generated some nice community spirit. You know the rah-rah stuff!!!</p>
<p>Dig, it sound like a very interesting program you son was accepted into. Can you tell us more about it and where it is?</p>
<p>Re the press release, I agree with Marite, that submitting it might alert other students of the program. If your worried about some of the over the top language there is no reason you couldn't edit it.</p>
<p>Our son got a press release when he was selected as his HS's Rensselaer Medalist. However he chose not to submit it to any papers. I thought it would have been a nice thing to do for the reason Marite cites, particularly since our HS didn't even nominate anyone the year before!!! I assume that is the case for a number of other HS's.</p>
<p>The Prudential community service awards folk send press releases to major papers in the area, like the Boston Globe, announcing the statewide winners and honorees. I suspect that Prudential also sends these announcements to the constituency offices of the state's senators and representatives.</p>
<p>The same press release materials may go to the high school for distribution to the local neighborhood papers.</p>
<p>I would submit it. Our local paper (well, we not really my town's - we don't have one) has announcements like that about once a week and I always check to see if it's someone from my son's HS. Even if I don't know them, it makes me feel good to know that someone from our school succeeded. Like, Yay, we did good!</p>
<p>I think it's kind of nice. I, too, enjoy seeing positive news in the paper, and it just might be useful for a junior or sophomore down the road. And, if it prints, you can buy many copies and send the clippings to elderly relatives who will be very happy that your son is doing well and you remembered to send them the update. I don't see too many negatives in this gig. And - congrats to your son!</p>
<p>Dig, it depends on the type of local newspaper you have and what it reports on kids. Ours has a decent sized section that comes out every once in a while that lists all the honors and kudos that the college kids are getting.There will be a list of college acceptances as well, and there is a blurb in the paper telling you where to send this info if you so please. So it would not stand out in our local journal as they would not post it as a singleton item but among many other college type news. And some of the news includes things like a kid getting a residential advisor position, going abroad with a program, getting into a selective program, all kinds of stuff like that. But if your local news does not have anything like this, I could understand your reluctance to just post the article by itself. I assure you that in our paper, your article would fit right in and would give useful infor for those perusing that section, as I regularly do. It is a great source for me for info on programs, scholarships, all kinds of stuff, in addition to letting me know what the local kids are doing.</p>
<p>We've gotten press releases also for DS. We were asked to fill them out AND give the names and addresses of our local newspapers. We did so (as it was part of the acceptance packet...these were summer programs). NONE of the press releases ever made it in the papers which was fine with us.</p>
<p>Since I get rather tired of big headlines and press releases about young athletes committing to schools after much fanfare and even press conferences in some cases (not kidding, just happened a couple of weeks ago here with a football player who announced his final decision at such an event), I agree with Marite and think you should go for it :).</p>
<p>I appreciate your sense of modesty but these "moments" in life are few and far between, and the community celebrates when their schools and teachers produce a high acheiver. I also think that it is A-OK for the school/program to seek a high profile with such announcements..that is just so much a part of free society and commerce. </p>
<p>If it is offensively over-the-top, I would suggest you edit to suit your own taste and sense of proportion and submit. Also, congrats on your child's accomplishments. these moments are fleeting...</p>
<p>"I appreciate your sense of modesty but these "moments" in life are few and far between, and the community celebrates when their schools and teachers produce a high acheiver."</p>
<p>They are something to treasure. I have an old, brown clipping from when I went to graduate school. In the grand scheme of things it wasn't that big a deal, but it made my mother happy.</p>
<p>My D's grandmother is very good about getting everything she can in her local paper. I don't live there anymore, but many old friends are in the area. It makes her feel good to have people congratulate her on her brilliant granddaughter:)</p>