My baby sister is in the middle of her senior year of high school and is currently trying to figure out where she wants to attend college. She has been presented with many letters of acceptance from both secular and Christian schools; yes Grove City is one of them. She is stuck between schools as is in the middle of this process. Now naturally, I attempt to be a good older brother and try to “sway her decision” into accepting Grove City’s offer, but this got me thinking about the ways schools often sell to students in the application and acceptance process.
Schools are constantly advertising to high school students with a variety of letters, pens, and other small things like stickers and cheap sunglasses in order to help influence these individuals to apply to their school. Often times these come with information with the prospect’s name on them and some major information that the prospect has mentioned before– whether that be on a form or in an interview. As deadlines grow closer for applications, schools will tend to send more stuff to us in the mail. I am almost positive we can all remember receiving these things.
Schools will also send information about the cost of their programs, campus life, and some of their athletic and art programs. The amplification of a schools culture is important for a potential student to know about as well as the parents of that prospect as they often have a very large impact on the prospect’s choice.
Even after a prospect has accepted the offer of a school, the school can sometimes send shirts or other small gifts to the student for saying thank you for accepting their offer: a gift show appreciation for the closing of the sale. Colleges are very smart about getting people to attend their academic establishments.
The fact that schools are actually selling to us can be difficult to process, but this is something that basically every college in America takes part in. These colleges want to fill up their dorm rooms and have some of the best students in order to build their reputation, and also need to make sure that these students are a good fit to their school. Money is not the only factor that comes into play for colleges.
I agree, numerous high schools are always trying to sway prospecting students into attending their school through the many techniques you explained. Money is a huge factor in these decisions, but at the same time you have to weigh in on these other options as well.
I agree with you. Selling a school is a huge business in the United States. School try very hard to sell their education to prospective students. They can do this buy selling their education, athletics, or social experiences. Money is a very big factor in the buying process for education.