When my son was admitted to three LACs he applied to, Williams, Amherst and Pomona, I thought the responses from each of these colleges were remarkably different and telling. For what’s it’s worth, of the three, Williams was truly impressive in the way they went about in welcoming not only my son but us parents, too. Shortly after the letter of admissions and FA package, my son received a follow-up personal letter from Williams: 1) Dean, 2) music prof, 3) music instructor, 4) biology prof, 5) student, and we parents received a letter from 6) parents of then current student attending Williams. Their FA package was not only better than the other two, but they exhibited all evidences that they had read my additional explanation (about our atypical income for that particular year) in great detail and addressed it. Why did my son receive a letter from bio and music prof’s? Because he mentioned double-majoring in them in one of his essays – which, again, told me how much care they put into reading every aspect of my son’s application and the follow-up. I was frankly blown away by such effort they demonstrated in welcoming my son, and we’re talking about just one applicant! They went about this as if my son’s a highly recruited and sought after superstar quarterback.
Pomona, on the other hand, sent us a mini decal and a mini college flag. Amherst? Nothing. No follow-ups of any kind except the official welcoming letter. Their FA package was also the worst of the three.
In the end, my son ultimately chose another college, but I always felt that sense of security as a parent that, had he chosen and gone to Williams, he’d have turned out just fine.