College applications back in the old days

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by melindawarren

When I got into UCLA, I just didn't have the same feeling. For everyone I've heard saying that the switch to email-only admissions is the way to go, I have to strongly disagree. There is nothing like the feeling of getting the "big envelope" and knowing that you're in.

Agreed.

When I got my acceptance letter from MIT, it came in a thin envelope. Apparently it's their practice to send out the "big envelopes" to both early and regular admits at the same time, in the spring, but I didn't know this.

I'd given my parents strict orders not to open any letters from MIT because I wanted to be the one to open the letter. The day my letter arrived, my mom had arranged to pick me up at school after track practice. She handed me the thin envelope without a word. My heart SANK. I opened the envelope, opened the letter, got as far as "Congratulations! You are admitted to MIT." - and ran back into the school building screaming to my coach and teammates and anyone else in earshot, "I GOT INTO MIT! I GOT INTO MIT!"

The letter explained that I would get my packet in the spring, along with the regular admits, but dammit, I wish they sent big envelopes early to the early-action admits. How many other early-action admits felt that "rejection" feeling on seeing the thin envelope?

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[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

How many other early-action admits felt that "rejection" feeling on seeing the thin envelope?

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I did!

[TriDeltaSallie]

I've really enjoyed the discussion!

I agree with the points made that the solidly middle class will struggle the most. I grew up in a GM family as did my husband. None of our parents graduated from college and my grandmothers didn't even finish high school. My husband and I are both college graduates and own our own business after working in the marketplace for quite awhile. I don't think we will achieve what either of our sets of parents did. I look at where we are now and where they were at our age and just don't see it happening.

My approach with my daughter will be to do my best to prepare her for college AND for owning her own business. As certain skills and gifts begin to show up consistently in her development, I want to help her understand how to develop those abilities to make them marketable. I do not want her to think of only college, but that college is just one small part of preparing for life. I think those who have a diverse set of marketable skills that cannot be outsourced are those who will stand the best chance of making it.

So we will do whatever we can reasonably do to prepare her for higher education and keep her debt free. But I would rather invest more time and money helping her develop marketable skills and business savvy, than invest a lot of time into trying to get her into a top tier university as opposed to a solid school.

Just my two cents. Your mileage may vary.