Great advice!!

I told DD to check "NO" on all those tests -- PSAT, SAT, ACT -- where they asked about personal information, e.g. potential major, sports, gpa, etc., precisely because I did not want to be flooded with email and junk mail. It's a waste of paper and time (to recycle and delete all that stuff), and it's distracting from the process.

Despite her vigilance, DD still got a bunch of junk emails and some junk mail from schools DD has ZERO interest in. Some are still sending emails begging her to apply, waiving the fee, etc. They are doing this because they want their application numbers to go up, that's all.

If your kid has high stats, or even pretty good stats, s/he may get emails from Ivies and more selective schools, also trying to drive up their application numbers, but which have no intention of accepting your kid. It's emails and invitations like that that prompted me to tell DD to check "NO" to every box and not to give any personal information about herself on those tests -- which is the main source of all the junk college email/junk mail.

My advice: help your kid to find the schools s/he wants to go to. Read Petersons, ask your guidance office, visit schools that are nearby, and see what your DC thinks. But make sure the process is directed at least in part by your child's desires, and don't let your DC get distracted by sales pitches from schools. You go to them. That's the best way to find the right fit.

Best of luck to you and your child, OP.

Thanks PP - great article and it turns out that Wash U and U of Chicago are two of our stalkers - so there you have it. Sadly, I get the sense that the primary objective of these solicitations is to up their application numbers. I wish I had thought of creating a separate email - the various perspectives are helpful.

OP, you might relate to this thread from College Confidential about "stalker" schools.

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1731244-what-are-your-stalker-schools-and-have-you-caved-in-to-them.html

Your thread is quite timely. Yesterday, DC wanted to start receiving the tons of college junk mail and emails. I went on the College Board and checked yes for junk mail (DC previously checked no) using our post office box where all the junk mail goes anyway. I also created a new gmail just for college information and anything the College Board wants or needs to send. DC is in total agreement with my decision.

So, they can knock themselves out since it won't impact our personal mailbox and now have a college junk email address.

If they are schools your DC is interested in then go ahead and click. Allegedly some schools measure interest that way. But don't go crazy because otherwise you will be getting mail every week from those schools. Keep in mind these are mass mailings - the schools buy the mailing list from the College Board with whatever screens they want. While it's nice to get mail from these schools - my DC got letters from nearly all the Ivy League - it doesn't mean much.

Sending first kid to college so sorry if this sounds naive....

We are receiving a lot of junk mail. I know it does not mean much, but it does not seem entirely random either (there are a few schools that we hear from a lot, and in various forms).

Should we do anything with this stuff that says "respond immediately" or "click here", or "join us for a local session with an admissions counselor" whatever for schools where we may consider applying?

I don't want DC to waste time on schools where his acceptance is highly unlikely, but just looking for general thoughts.

Thanks,