Email from college saying they will waive application fee

[Anonymous]

DS has received quite a few application waivers - most of which are for schools he’s not interested/never shown interest in and doesn’t plan to apply to.

There are four that *are* for schools he’s was applying to anyway so he plans to use those.

[Anonymous]

Yea, the desperate schools do this for the semi-smart kids who might actually consider attending (and no surprise theyre also offered an acceptance) , but not offered to the super nerds who would laugh if a place like ODU offered a waived fee.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, mine got some from Pitt, UMN, Colorado School of Mines, etc

[Anonymous]

DS is getting quite a few. He signed up for a Niche account and selected some areas he was interested in. At one point in August he was going to try their direct admissions, just to see what happened. He has a 3.7 and no honors classes.

Now his email is blowing up with spam and these fee waivers with schools he doesn’t want to go to, even after he cancelled the account. It’s marketing. He didn’t even take the PSATs so it’s not that.

[Anonymous]

^should say SATs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes my DC gets these along with direct admission offers. I think it may have to do with if they selected these options on College Board.

what's this?

No such thing. They want your kid’s application, not necessarily kid’s admission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes my DC gets these along with direct admission offers. I think it may have to do with if they selected these options on College Board.

what's this?

https://www.commonapp.org/directadmissions
Direct Admissions - "Participating colleges set their requirements, including a minimum GPA, and perks, like waiving the personal essay or financial aid...
Common App identifies first-generation and students from low- and middle-income communities who meet these requirements based on their Common App questions in the app."

My student started his Common App and currently has 80 "Direct Admissions" offers from colleges across the country. He is not first-gen but attends a low-to-middle income high school in Richmond VA area. It varies by college what it means exactly, but for instance, Christopher Newport and George Mason will waive their application fee and recommendation and essay requirements; my understanding is he could submit his app without those and he will be accepted (as long as he then submits proof of his grades and having no discipline issues). The trade-off is we get no college counseling so I have to stalk forums