Letter from Andover and Exeter? Is it important?

neatoburrito
Tue, 07 Dec 2010 09:10:23 +0000

They are inviting you to APPLY. Don’t you think it’s a bit odd that you are already in their database and they still sent this mass mailing to you?

I don’t mean to be cynical. I’m not. What that letter means is that both Andover and Exeter have access to the addresses of kids who either participate or have done well in AMC. No more, no less.

Last year, I (parent) got an auto generated letter from Exeter in November from another parent extolling the virtues of PEA and it ended with something like, “I hope your family chooses Exeter.” My son got one addressed to him from a student (like-wise, auto generated). As great as the material in the letters were, I was a bit turned off at the heavy-handedness of it. I knew that they sent these to more applicants who are accepted and it made me feel a little bit like they were trying to manipulate my son into thinking that all he had to do was “choose” Exeter. He had interviewed, but that was it. Even though he was actually admitted and is currently enrolled, I know other families who received the same but were denied.

Still, these form letters bother me. I know that the schools are just trying to market themselves and I don’t fault them for that. What I like and appreciate are the mailings that are more informational. Why can’t they just send a letter detailing their math programs and leave it at that. It’s after March 10th that these sort of “come to our school!!” letters should go out.

end rant