Merit vs. Need-blind marketing

interesteddad
Sat, 16 Apr 2005 18:38:38 +0000

The selective schools just seem to be “take it or leave it.”



I can’t speak for all schools, but there is a very strong hesitation against the hard-sell at Swarthmore. They really do take the approach that, if it is the right school for you, then they would love to have you. But, if it’s not the right school, then that’s OK, too. The admissions Dean would like to be more aggressive, but it’s just not in the school’s culture.

I mean, at last year’s Ride the Tide, one of Swat’s favorite professors talked to the specs about reasons why Swat might not be the right school for some of them! Not flippant stuff, but detailed specific examples of students who would be better served by a different kind of school. I’m sure the Admissions Dean wanted to shoot him, but that’s just the way the place is.