In an increasingly digital world, high school seniors still get a thrill checking their mailboxes for acceptance letters and other correspondence from colleges and universities.
Although social media is filled with viral videos of prospective collegians checking online portals to see if they were accepted to their dream schools, other students value receiving official word through the U.S. Mail.
“While most colleges send their admission acceptance and aid award decisions by email or through an application portal, some schools also send formal acceptance letters by mail. Others may send congratulatory letters by mail, or packages to students who are incoming enrollees with information about next steps,” said Rob Franek, the editor-in-chief of the Princeton Review, a New York City-based education services company.
Colleges and universities also use mail to help students celebrate their acceptance.
Since 2019, McDaniel College in Westminster, MD, has mailed incoming students a package that includes a personalized acceptance letter, confetti, balloons, keyboard stickers and thank-you cards to recognize those who helped along the way.
“We are proud of our mailed acceptance packet,” said Jill Centofanti, the college’s admissions dean.
The school’s research shows the personal touch makes a difference.
“We hear from students who have been admitted and who ultimately choose us — as well as some who may not choose us — how impactful it was and how much they appreciated how it was personalized and stood out to them,” she said.
Mailed acceptance letters also become treasured mementos, according to Khala Granville Williamson, director of high school programs for the Baltimore-based CollegeBound Foundation.
“The nostalgia of the mailpiece is really important because students like to take pictures and share those things with family members and school leaders. The excitement of a mailed piece in terms of decisions is absolutely still a favorite part of the student experience,” she said, adding that she saved all the letters from the schools where she applied.
Jamira Collins, who recently graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, said she “scrapbooked” all of her letters.
Collins went through the application process during the COVID-19 pandemic and appreciated the connection of mail.
“I remember looking forward to the physical letters in the mail and I still have every one of them. I appreciated the online portal messages too, but a letter is more exciting,” she said.
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