Best way to notify schools of a recent award

[-Allmusic-]

My S is sending an email with updates. Is there a benefit to snail mail?

[mammall]

Email seems to be really overloaded right now at many schools. They are posting notices that they are taking days even weeks to keep abreast of the emails. I'd logon to their sites and make sure that's not the case. Crazy how you need a strategy every step of the way, even now on how to get the information delivered. lol

[bethievt]

Yes rainmama, I think you are telling them they are important to you by sending updates with big things like NM. I confess I even got brightly colored envelopes to send the notices in. Can't hurt.

[rainmama]

Clever idea, bethie! And an excuse to go shopping

[wjb]

Allmusic: I spoke to the Admissions offices at several schools today. They asked for updates via snail mail sent directly to Admissions. At this late point, they said, both e-mail and fax are overloaded, and are unreliable methods of transmitting information. I think that if in doubt, the best course of action is to call to find out the preferred method of transmission.

[dntw8up]

Won't schools infer National Merit and Presidential Scholar nominee status from test scores? Are parents/students/guidance counselors really mailing/emailing/faxing updates about this? (I'm asking because I'm wondering if this is something I should be doing.)

[calguy22]

I called USC admissions today and they told me to fax in confirmation of national merit finalist.

[ohio_mom]

"Won't schools infer National Merit and Presidential Scholar nominee status from test scores? "

For the NM, at least, it depends if you took the PSAT and qualified to move on, and then made the cut on SAT test. So, no, SAT scores don't necessarilly mean that one is a NM nominee.

When my son was applying, he asked the regional admissions officer of his favorite school for the best way of providing the update without annoying the admissions staff. His advice was to send a letter *briefly* itemizing the awards. The letter consisted of a couple sentences expressing interest, some bullet points, and brief closure.

His letter went out in late February because of the timing of his various competitions, so I haven't a clue if it was considered or not. My thinking at the time was that if the application was on the edge, and was being reread, evidence of continued academic enthusiasm might not hurt.

[bethievt]

NM also depends on the state where you live because qualifying scores vary from state to state and year by year.

Son just sent out a 2 or 3 sentence report about the two awards and the performance with a newspaper clipping. I did see it as a way of showing interest and continued enthusiasm, as ohio_mom suggests.

[mammall]

Okay, I just have to ask - Bethievt: What color of bright envelopes did you use??