Are the college mailings targeted?

[Anonymous]

I thought all on DCUM were in to saving the planet with the strings on all things non-disposable for lunch containers etc., regifting, by nothing campaigns, and yet you don't opt out of the student search service on the College Board and get all this mail? Go figure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it unusual to get mailing from Harvard
Or OOS public like UCLA

My kid got mailings from UCLA, Harvard, Chicago, UofMich, and so much more, many I had not heard of. Granted, DC is in a magnet with a high SAT Score.

It is a numbers game. They are definitely trying to drive up app numbers for their rankings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it unusual to get mailing from Harvard
Or OOS public like UCLA

My kid got mailings from UCLA, Harvard, Chicago, UofMich, and so much more, many I had not heard of. Granted, DC is in a magnet with a high SAT Score.

It is a numbers game. They are definitely trying to drive up app numbers for their rankings.

As has been pointed out, acceptance rate is not part of USN rankings calculations, so no they are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it unusual to get mailing from Harvard
Or OOS public like UCLA

My kid got mailings from UCLA, Harvard, Chicago, UofMich, and so much more, many I had not heard of. Granted, DC is in a magnet with a high SAT Score.

It is a numbers game. They are definitely trying to drive up app numbers for their rankings.

As has been pointed out, acceptance rate is not part of USN rankings calculations, so no they are not.

so why do they send out so many mailings then? It's a small fortune. Some of those pamphlets are kind of thick and costs a lot to print, not to mention to mail. The UCLA packet DC got was pretty thick. UCLA is a public school, so it's not like it's awash in money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not some secret conspiracy to get their admissions rate down.

They want as many applicants as possible to build the class they want.

That’s a goal if every admissions office on the planet.

They mail to people who can't get in. So don't fall to the trap.

So nasty and pathetic. Grow up!

Agree with PPs. They mail to a wide range of students. Each university has different budgets and different parameters. I work at a university in marketing. It probably seems so exciting to parents to get these mailings at first, but not every mailing really means anything for your child.

It’s true, though.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s slightly targeted. My DCs are a year apart, and my older child, who has slightly lower stats than my younger child, received mailings from slightly “lower” schools than my younger child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it unusual to get mailing from Harvard
Or OOS public like UCLA

My kid got mailings from UCLA, Harvard, Chicago, UofMich, and so much more, many I had not heard of. Granted, DC is in a magnet with a high SAT Score.

It is a numbers game. They are definitely trying to drive up app numbers for their rankings.

As has been pointed out, acceptance rate is not part of USN rankings calculations, so no they are not.

so why do they send out so many mailings then? It's a small fortune. Some of those pamphlets are kind of thick and costs a lot to print, not to mention to mail. The UCLA packet DC got was pretty thick. UCLA is a public school, so it's not like it's awash in money.

To get as many applicants as possible to build the class they want.

That’s a goal of every college in the country.

It’s not conspiratorial and it has nothing to do with rankings.

Don’t make it more complicated than it is. They have no idea if your kid can get in or not. They leave that up to you. They can’t know until they get the application, and they can’t get the application until you decide to apply, so they do their best to get you to. Just like all advertising, not everyone buys or can afford.

[Anonymous]

Definitely targeted, and just like any other advertising, it is meant to attract attention from viable candidates. Nothing untoward about it. I have twins with completely different academic profiles and interests. The college mail for each was drastically different between them.

[Anonymous]

How can we stop the mail?!!!!

[Anonymous]

They are targeted to a very wide range. Don't let the mailing get your hopes up. Harvard sends mail to kids who have zero change of begin admitted.

[Anonymous]

Early in our search process, I was on a website of a school and filled out a form asking for more information about the nursing program. That opened a floodgate of printed material being delivered from all sorts of schools. I think you need to be ready for a lot of mail.

[Anonymous]

Also, be careful if when your older kid discloses that they have a younger sibling and their age.

My younger kid is now getting personalized mailings from schools my older kid applied to.

[Anonymous]

You kid enters a bunch of info about their interests and academic profile, which is used when the colleges buy names.

So your kid enters they have a 4.0+ GPA with an interest in econ or business and that can get them into the list the college buys. It’s not JUST the SAT score in the purchase parameters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How can we stop the mail?!!!!

Opt out of the college board mailings and tell your kid not to fill out that part of the SAT registration (it used to part of the score sheet, not sure where it is now). It’s on their website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it unusual to get mailing from Harvard
Or OOS public like UCLA

My kid got mailings from UCLA, Harvard, Chicago, UofMich, and so much more, many I had not heard of. Granted, DC is in a magnet with a high SAT Score.

It is a numbers game. They are definitely trying to drive up app numbers for their rankings.

As has been pointed out, acceptance rate is not part of USN rankings calculations, so no they are not.

DP: But they care very much about acceptance rate, and it matters independent of USN ranking. They are all trying to look elite and exclusive with single-digit acceptance rates. It's a game.