K2 signed up for whatever search comes with the PSAT. So far K2 has been unimpressed with whatever has been sent to K2 based on K2’s PSAT (it was ok but not near NMF. The net result being a lot of clutter that K2 does not even look at.
Now that K2 is registering for SATs/ACTs, is there any way shape or form signing up for more clutter helps K2? K1 ended up accepted at a school that never sent her mail and was rejected from a bunch of peer schools that sent her piles of mail.
Is Harvard (or any other college) going to see K2’s 1200 and basketweaving club presidency and suddenly decide K2 must attend and offer her a full scholarship? Or can she just opt out of the junk mail without missing out on anything?
We did get several free applications offered through the mail from schools that we had not contacted in any way. I assume they got her name from college board. Most were in safety range, but there were a couple that were in the right ballpark and one that she applied to, was accepted at, and was a strong contender. So it saved us $75.
Keep in mind a university’s marketing group is different from the admissions office. The admissions office won’t have detailed knowledge of individual students getting the mailings.
If you want “ideas” and possibly vouchers for free applications, check off the box but use a dedicated email address.
There is absolutely NO correlation between the bulk marketing mailing and admissions. No need to sign up for more- but bad news is that this is the gift that keeps on giving: K2s name is spread far and wide on mailing lists, so don’t expect the mail to peter out any time soon!
K2 (and pals) will know who is on a marketing spree (it was UChicago for my lot, Vandy for the ones just ahead of us)- it’s all about driving up applications.
Part of the problem is K2 has been disappointed with the mail. They are mostly low targets and safeties and K2 seems to think it means something (they all do I realize if it does not). Some of the schools we are going to look at but only because I am insisting.
So K2 is disappointed with the level of college that is impressed enough by the PSAT score to send mail? that is hard. Obviously, who courts you is not your ‘upper limit’, but looking at K2 as a whole, is this a useful piece of adjusting expectations?
Remind K2 that admissions is a 2-way street: there is a reason colleges court kids, and it has to do with their objectives for themselves, not for the student. So schools who are looking to lift their average test scores will target students who are likely to be in the top end of that schools range score-wise- and many of them will offer merit aid to tempt the student.
Sorry K2 is unimpressed with the college junk mail? Personally, I wouldn’t take the “level” of college as any indication. I thought elite colleges were fishing for applications when they sent marketing brochures to my child (who did not have a high PSAT score). Your kid is feeling unappreciated because the absence of elite colleges sending the same brochures. It seems colleges can’t win either way.
I say don’t do it. Just results in a ton of useless mail. Of the doznes of different colleges that sent mail, only one, U of Chicago, provoked any interest at all, only because they did have really clever mailings. Further research put her off though.
App fee waivers were useful, but my D got those by signing up on various colleges’ websites.
This is the 21st century. Your kid can find almost any college that would be a decent match simply by running a couple of the search engines. There is no need to set your self up for a seemingly un-ending flow of snail mail and email.
For various reasons, I advise parents and students to not allow the College Board to provide colleges with the student’s information. There are some compelling reasons not to but I am too tired to review them now. Will try to do it tomorrow.
Thank you for the responses. @lostaccount I would be very curious
Since K2 does not have real scores, all this does is play into K2’s insecurities. K2’s PSAT were decent enough that with some studying, K2 could be competitive for any elite college or K2 may not improve and the upper limit of these are targets. Either way, it just stresses K2 now. I have explained to K2 that K1 was accepted at a school that never sent her mail and rejected from a peer school that hounded her (not uCh!) so it means nothing.
It would be nice if there was an option to let them know that you do not want mail from certain schools.
So K2 is registering for the ACT. If K2 is checking No on the college search, what demographic information gets reported to schools that score reports are sent to when K2 is a senior? Intended major? GPA, courseload taken?
K2 is being asked all these things, does it matter what major is put down on the ACT registration? Courseload? GPA? Seems they ask for a lot of information that is none of their business if K2 is not doing their college referral service.
I guess what I am asking is the office score report sent to colleges that K2 applies to, does it just have the scores or does it have other demographic information based on what K2 fills out today?
@SeekingPam, the colleges will only get the scores.
The rest of the info is for the ACT people, for their own marketing materials and trend analysis.
CollegeBoard (SATs, APs, etc) does the same thing, using the info develop their own marketing materials, for demographic summaries in the Online Reports it provides educators, and for the “Trends in Education” reports that it sells.
For both, it is all at the collective level (ie, no individual info).
Sounds as if you are already doing what I think more of us should do: teaching our kids that just b/c a form asks for info does not necessarily mean you have to give it. We just did new patient paperwork for the orthodontist, and fully a third of the questions were unnecessary / none of their business. We left those blank and the office didn’t even blink about it.
We received the benefit of application voucher offers as mentioned earlier by @me29034 . One other benefit my son received was he was offered provisional acceptance by one of his top schools based on his scores and other info given to the Collegeboard . Let your daughter know that this is just the first wave Of mailings. There will be more, and they will cover the spectrum . It’s not a reflection of her intellect . Some schools just send out more than others.