This cycle, stickers from some (especially honors programs), mini-banners for social media from several, and a pen and (low quality, plastic-feeling) socks from Hofstra. The real swag has come from tours.
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S was promised either socks or a hat from Macalester. He opted for the hat but it hasn’t shown up yet.
My hypothesis: they’ve since heard from his AP Lit teacher and are hoping maybe he’ll forget that they admitted him.
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I think 25 has gotten something in mail for everywhere they have been accepted…most are just folders with stickers. A couple added in a small pendant. Ithaca gave a small tote bag, one school sent a pen.
A clever thing - Illinois Wesleyan sent a package of microwavable popcorn and “movie ticket” with a QR code to a youtube tour show of their campus. (This was separate from acceptance letter).
Oh, and Wentworth gave a QR code for a free t-shirt.
Kid is wildly undecided so expecting lots more at a myriad of accepted students days!
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oh and they are judgey of graphic design and paper quality of folders.
They also really like schools that send personalized CoA letters (as do I!).
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The best swag for D23 came from Hope College. They sent her a high quality embroidered sweatshirt and a magnet with a quote from her essay.
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that is super impressive!
I like Clark quotes facts and things from the application in every acceptance letter! Not swag, but a nice touch. Also a few handwritten notes. (Illinois Wesleyan also is big on that! from students, from alums, etc).
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C25 was kind of blown away that Western Washington’s honors program quoted from the kid’s honors application essay in the acceptance letter, and tied the quoted line to the aims of their program.
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It works on Mom really well 
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In other exciting news for S25, he just got a job offer for the summer. He’ll be leading camping and scienc-y type trips for younger kids in Central Oregon. He’s psyched.
I’m going to go ahead and say that while I’m sad he’ll be away for most of the summer (home some weekends), I’m glad he’ll be outdoors, busy, and I’m just going to say it…away from his girlfriend. 
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That’s impressive!
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Let’s go, Flying Dutch!! Makes an alumna’s heart happy to hear they did it right!! (Although I don’t recall getting anything in my acceptance package AGES ago…when I graduated, tho, I got a laminated wallet-sized diploma, so that was kinda cool.)
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So, some news for S25. He got into JMU, which wasn’t a huge surprise.
What was a surprise was in his email tonight. (Yes, I check his email and tell him if there’s anything in there to read - it started when he was getting so much junk from other colleges and just didn’t have the time to unsubscribe and sort through to find the valuable or relevant stuff.)
There was an email from Virginia Tech - which he won’t even know if he’s admitted to until sometime in February, that said this:
The Honors College scholarship committee reviewed your application for the Stamps Scholarship, and I am pleased to inform you that we would like to conduct a preliminary, virtual interview with you.
Nearly 1,500 students applied for the Stamps Scholarship, and you are one of approximately 30 applicants who have moved to the preliminary interview stage. Based on your preliminary interview, our committee will decide whether to further your candidacy to the Stamps Scholars Program. Finalists will have another interview with the Stamps Scholars Program, which will make a final decision on your candidacy as a Stamps Scholar. We will award 10 Stamps Scholarships.
Well! I wasn’t expecting that! His essay for Stamps was good, but not, I thought, in any way great. Just to be in this cohort of 30 is pretty damn impressive! Frustratingly, the virtual interviews are only during school days, during school hours. So we’ll need to figure out how to deal with that. But I am so proud of him. Now I need to figure out how to suggest he prepare. I in no way thought that he even had a chance at this.
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This drives me batty when people do this..can they at least do it late afternoon? (I realize that messes with other things, but not core academics typically)
That said CONGRATS!! that sounds SO prestigious;)
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That. Is. AWESOME. Yay!!! Hope he takes a moment to celebrate. And you, too! 
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We all are! <3
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I only applied to one. My daughter thought I was joking.
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S25 got the Mac hat in the mail just yesterday, so you should see it soon.
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Your secret is safe with me.
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ditto 
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