<p>Just got an official looking solicitation for the “New Student Record” book for the school my son will be attednnng (UMiami) It says it’s indispensible for new students, to send in your photo, indicate your interests, and SEND IN YOUR CHECK FOR $21 for the book…<br>
Anyone have any experience or thoughts?</p>
<p>My son did one for his first year at Tulane. I even ordered a second copy for home. When he talked about a new friend he met, we would look at their picture and see where they were from. Now that he is a senior it is fun to look back at all the students in his life. </p>
<p>My daughter is also going to order one for Hamilton this year.</p>
<p>They call it the Face Book at Carleton. All the freshman (490) are in it with pictures and hometowns. It was handed out to all new students at orientation without charge. Although I cringe everytime I hear the “no charge” claim since I’m writing those checks for tuition/fees.</p>
<p>I sent the form back in but didn’t order the book. I felt it would be useless to spend money on something that I didn’t want. Also, with thefacebook.com, you can look up people and get the same information (though parents can’t access it without knowing their student’s log-in).</p>
<p>My S got the same one Mishdoob’s did - I thought there was a letter from the dean of students on school stationary, no?</p>
<p>My S definitely wants to do it. Now if he’d only sign up for housing…</p>
<p>we ordered one for my son’s school ($15). There was something like that when I went to grad school, and it was very handy for learning peoples’ names and getting to know classmates in a new place. I don’t know if a free online version is an option at my son’s school, but the price seems reasonable enough for the convenience of a hard copy. I must have looked at mine at least a couple hundred times that first year.</p>
<p>I should probably clarify: thefacebook.com is an unrelated website, but it can be used to find out where classmates are from, where they live on campus, what they look like, etc. The number of schools who can use it is constantly growing and I often use it to find out a little more about my friends and the people I meet on campus.</p>
<p>We realized there are typos in the letter from the “Dean of Studemts” and the school correspondence is not of the same color as other school mail, so we’re thinking of opting out. I did email the school directly too, to ask them.</p>
<p>mishdoob1-Please post the response you get from UMiami. S will also be attending and wants to do this, but like you, I am a little skeptical. I am glad to hear that others have had positives experiences with similar books at other schools.</p>
<p>Mishdoob,</p>
<p>You have sharp eyes! I went back and examined that mailing - didn’t spot the typo til I saw the return address at the very bottom. My sense is that they must have received some kind of permission from the school, since they will be distributing the books on the Student Center breezeway for quite a few days. The letter does come over the dean’s signature, and they must have gotten the addresses from the school as well. </p>
<p>I don’t think it is a scam but it is a private company. We plan to do it but I also will be interested to see just what they tell you.</p>
<p>Thanks for the detective work.</p>
<p>I received the following response from UM:
The New Student Book is a publication that is endorsed by Dean William Sandler. The publisher in Kansas does the mailing of the letters, and once the books are printed, the Dean of Students office distributes the books. The choice of whether or not to buy the book is up to the student/family, but I work in the Office of Admission, and I’ve heard it has been a great resource for new students. The book is sort of like a yearbook before the year begins.</p>
<p>So, it sounds as though students do actually submit their info and buy the book, so guess we will too! (what’s $21 in the scheme of things? :))</p>
<p>mishdoob1
Thanks for the update. My S will also be sending in his info-and I agree,at this point what’s another $21!</p>