Why is the University of Chicago so desperate?

[Anonymous]

My 3.6 1300 SAT DD has gotten around 20 mailers from the University of Chicago when the 50% range of admitted students is 1490-1560.

Are they that desperate to increase applications to look better in the rankings?

[Anonymous]

Some schools hire "higher ed marketing" consultants who basically push these strategies. I have no idea why they continue to do this, but I know people who work in that field (consulting for higher ed marketing) and it's a total joke.

[Anonymous]

Because they don’t know your students score (they get ranges).

Because they want a diverse (in multiple ways) pool. Maybe your HS is diverse economically or your census tract is.?

Because your kid may be a junior and most SAT scores go up over time?

More apps = greater selectivity. BUT ratings don’t include that.

[Anonymous]

They are marketing their school. Why is that a problem?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 3.6 1300 SAT DD has gotten around 20 mailers from the University of Chicago when the 50% range of admitted students is 1490-1560.

Are they that desperate to increase applications to look better in the rankings?

Yes. Exactly that. There is an article somewhere that goes in to all the details about how they made themselves a high-reach hard to get in to school. They focused their resources on whatever it would take to get their rankings up in the US News list of top colleges.

[Anonymous]

If you're new at this process, don't assume it means interest.

[Anonymous]

It's a business. Every app gives them money. Marketing LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a business. Every app gives them money. Marketing LOL

Yes, but it's not about the application fee -- it's about getting the largest application pool, which benefits the school in numerous other ways.

At an average of $65, when you think the of the time and effort that goes into every application and the costly systems behind them, minus the cost of the marketing it would take to drive those numbers, and discount fee waivers etc... it's easy to see that "generating application fees" is one of the worst and most unprofitable business ideas ever. It's not why they do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a business. Every app gives them money. Marketing LOL

Yes, but it's not about the application fee -- it's about getting the largest application pool, which benefits the school in numerous other ways.

At an average of $65, when you think the of the time and effort that goes into every application and the costly systems behind them, minus the cost of the marketing it would take to drive those numbers, and discount fee waivers etc... it's easy to see that "generating application fees" is one of the worst and most unprofitable business ideas ever. It's not why they do it.

This. They want as many people as possible to apply, so they can have a low admit rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
If you're new at this process, don't assume it means interest.

That's the pity. Some people do think so, and then they submit aps they can't afford.

[Anonymous]

True, but U of Chicago is rare in that they do not charge to apply.

[Anonymous]

U Chicago has been doing this for years. A few years ago they sent a t-shirt to any kid that sent the post card back.

Our guidance counselor didn't say them by name but I know it was U Chicago that she was talking about when she said that there is a top school out there that will send you a bunch of stuff and make you think that they are interested in you but in reality you have no shot of getting in so don't get your hope up.

[Anonymous]

It is the same reason that Tulane give everyone a free app -- the more people that apply, the better they look in the rankings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is the same reason that Tulane give everyone a free app -- the more people that apply, the better they look in the rankings.

The more selective the school is = the better others think they are. The more people who apply = the more selective

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:True, but U of Chicago is rare in that they do not charge to apply.

test scores aren't free to send.