<p>My D received a priority app from an LAC, filled it out, submitted it. Everything is in: test scores, recommendations, essay. They promised a decision in 4 weeks. Then 10 days ago we received - it was a letter to “Mr. & Mrs. _________” from the president of the college. This was a three-page letter extolling the virtues of the college. A single-spaced, three page letter, bragging about professors (naming specific profs), the regard for the college held by external organizations (employers) etc., etc. My D visited the school, toured the campus, and was interviewed by an admissions director. They loved her. This wasn’t the first letter from the school since our visit but it was the first time we (her parents) received such a personalized letter from the college’s president. </p>
<p>What does this mean? Does this mean they really want her to accept an imminent offer of admission? Are they waiting for us to write back and say we love you too? I’m not sure what to do.</p>
<p>I had a few of them when I was senior at highschool, now I am senior at college. It is more like an advertisement for college. Sometime they got your D name from college fair and other events. I got something similar from Carnegie Mellon. Now, have that said. They might really know who your child is and really want your D. But the most important thing is to look into the school and see whether it fits your child.</p>
<p>Plainsman, we are in the same boat, and received the same letter. I was actually impressed by the letter. However, I do not think it’s anything more than a letter generated by the completed application. When did your child’s application go in? Ours was late September, but school stuff probably didn’t arrive until mid-October. I am wondering if the decision is 4 weeks from the last piece of info to arrive. Good luck!</p>
<p>The letter is from the president of Ursinus. Her priority app was submitted in late September but her file not complete until Oct. 3, when they finally received the transcript and other info from her high school. So I guess her 4 weeks isn’t up until after the election.</p>
<p>My wife and I also received a letter from the president of Dickinson College, another LAC we visited. My D was also interviewed at Dickinson, but has yet to apply. We’re trying to persuade her to apply “Early Action” which is non-binding.</p>
<p>A few years ago, my son received several letters similiar to the one you described. One offered a free fly-in visit, another an offer to apply for a substantial scholarship, and another awarding a full tuition scholarship-as my son had already applied to this university. Other letters were basic invitations to apply, some of which offered no fee applications & expedited notice of an admissions decision.</p>
Do nothing. What you have received is the higher-ed equivalent of a brochure from your local tire store extolling the virtues of the tires they just happen to carry. Rest assured the president of this college has never heard of your D and is not personally trying to recruit her.</p>
<p>The school knows that your D is likely to have many similar choices for college and are trying to keep themselves at the high end of her list. As to why the college is interested in her, who knows? Maybe its her scores, her intended major, or even that you live in a zip code that indicates its likely you can pay full freight.</p>
<p>Mikemac - I agree that no action should be taken in response to the President’s letter. However, just to clarify, his letter has been sent to parents of students who have completed applications in his admissions office. So it’s not really similar to a mass mailing from a tire store!</p>
<p>bibbist, I see; it sounds like a more targeted follow-up letter. However as to why the OP’s D received the original priority app, I’ll stick with the “who knows?” explanation.</p>
<p>I agree, no response needed. We did notice that the more personal letters our ds received from a school, the more likely they were to offer real scholarship money. We received letters from professors, alumni, admissions officers, administrators, and in one case, a letter from the gazillionaire that had endowed the department our son was interested in. The most impressive ones to me were the handwritten ones that showed they had read his application. So… probably just a good sign your student’s on their “market-to” list, but perhaps you’ll see even more!</p>
<p>We received the letter from the president last year after D1 applied to Ursinus. From our experience, if she received the Priority Application, she will probably be accepted.</p>
<p>If she is later invited to “scholarship interview day” (sometime in March), it is worth attending if she’s still interested in Ursinus. When we got there last year with D1, the dean basically told us that everyone there would be offered some merit award, and the interviews were to help them decide how much. A coach later told us that just about everyone attending scholarship day is offered at least 8K/year merit aid.</p>
<p>Plainsman, my D is a freshman at Ursinus this year. It has been a good fit (though it took some time for D1 to come to that conclusion)…I’ll gladly answer any questions you or your D have.</p>