UMD Handwritten Letter

[Anonymous]

My son got a rather long handwritten letter from UMD, inviting him to visit campus and talk to professors in his intended major. It came with a business card for someone to contact to reply. He applied early but hasn't received an official acceptance. Did anyone else get one? Does it just indicate admission, or Honors Program/Merit Money admission? He asked some of his friends but none of them got it.

[Anonymous]

I find this really strange. I am completely out of the college admissions game, so I don't know what the norms are these days, but a handwritten letter sounds unconventional, especially before any sort of acceptance. Who did it come from--admissions, or the major he is interested in? It just makes me wonder if he is trying to major in something super-unpopular, and that department is doing its own recruiting separate from what's going on in admissions.

[Anonymous]

Actually handwritten? Or cleverly printed to look like it was handwritten?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find this really strange. I am completely out of the college admissions game, so I don't know what the norms are these days, but a handwritten letter sounds unconventional, especially before any sort of acceptance. Who did it come from--admissions, or the major he is interested in? It just makes me wonder if he is trying to major in something super-unpopular, and that department is doing its own recruiting separate from what's going on in admissions.

It came from the "Coordinator, Undergraduate Admissions Counseling & Recruitment" but not from the university as a whole, from the "College of Computer, Mathematical & Natural Sciences". The major is comp sci, which is a very popular major, especially at Maryland.

Anonymous wrote:Actually handwritten? Or cleverly printed to look like it was handwritten?

Actually handwritten.

[Anonymous]

Well, he contacts the person on the business card, and stays polite and alert.

[Anonymous]

My child applied to UMD early, and he did not receive a handwritten letter. That sounds odd to me. Why not a phone call? My child has received phone calls from other colleges, usually students who call to ask if he has questions about the school. But a handwritten letter??

Well, call the person who sent it and see what happens.... And let us know!

[Anonymous]

Son received hand written card.

[Anonymous]

Is he a superstar? Maybe they're being aggressive with recruiting great talent.

[Anonymous]

Super star? No. But he is a high stat kid.

[Anonymous]

Same for me (OP). He's not a superstar (deferred at both of his early schools) but his stats are high enough for UMD to be a pretty safe safety.

[Anonymous]

UMD is working hard right now to get great students, ride the wave.

Compsci at UMD... No brainer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UMD is working hard right now to get great students, ride the wave.

Compsci at UMD... No brainer.

I agree! That is one field where you don't have to drop 100k on college tuition to ensure his success. Send him to UMD and if he does well, he'll succeed. Take advantage of the internship and career placement services.

[Anonymous]

I hadn't heard about handwritten letters. My DS is in his second year at UMD, in a limited enrollment program, and he never received anything such as that.

Your DS should definitely take advantage of the opportunity!

[Anonymous]

And keep in mind that some tech mogul just gave $31 million to the UMD comp sci department, so it's a very good place to be.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/brendan-iribe-co-founder-of-oculus-vr-makes-record-31-million-donation-to-u-md/2014/09/11/0c557ffc-39cb-11e4-bdfb-de4104544a37_story.html

[Anonymous]

It's probably the UMD booster - trying to encourage some quality students to attend. You know in his spare time writing posts on DCUM.