So question for everyone who says that elite schools are only mailing to their kids to improve their admission rate, rather than genuinely hoping to find some gems of kids out there. Do you think the same of schools that are way below your child’s range, when they mail to your kid? Are you just as cynical that Low Tier U from a faraway state who is sending your kid mail and offering them a free application is doing so just to increase the size of their denominator, not because they really hope to persuade your kid to go there? I don’t see any reason to put all your harsh thoughts on one type of school…they’re all just casting a wide net and hoping for the best class they can attract. In all cases, direct marketing may result in increased applications, but I am not sure why it is seen as more negative if you are a top school.
My kids got mailings from ALL types of colleges around the country; far away geographically; many at a totally wrong level of competitiveness for them. At this point, the colleges don’t have the info to target only the kids they will accept and that will want to go to them. So they mail widely. Discard what you aren’t interested in, but no need to ascribe evil motives and get upset.