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On another board we all know there is a thread discussing the enclosure of a cover letter in the application. Dave and David, I thought this suggestion of yours in your book was inspired and helpful. Seems to me that with scores, recommendations, and supplemental materials of all sorts arriving with the application and under separate cover, it makes sense (and is basic business practice) to send along a letter simply listing what is arriving when. (I notice you don't recommend mentioning anything about why you really want to go to this particular school, etc., and that makes sense to me -- that approach would be overkill and this should come across in the application.)

But the objections I'm hearing to the cover letter say that this is an extra sheet of paper colleges (already deluged with paper) don't want to get stuck with. People are also saying a cover sheet serves no function, since no clerical person working for the adcom is going to sit there and check to see whether everything has indeed arrived. Me, I thought the adcom members would look at it and realize, "Oh, this application contains an art porfolio," or something along those lines.

These folks are saying you are better off *calling* the admissions office to be sure every piece of the application is in their hands. Can this be true? I would have expected that to be *really* annoying to busy people. Please advise.

By AMD on Wednesday, October 03, 2001 - 09:28 am: Edit

hopingtohelp,

I wouldn't sweat it too much one way or the other. Go ahead and send in a cover letter if you feel that it is necessary. Wait a couple of weeks and call.

Just remember that it is (still) a buyer's market, in all but the top 50 or so schools. In their own interest, colleges will work with you through the process.

My two cents.

AMD

By AMD on Wednesday, October 03, 2001 - 09:39 am: Edit

I forgot to add:

Judging by Princeton, it appears that even megaselective universities do not want us to sweat the little stuff so much - just do what comes naturally.

AMD

By hopingtohelp on Wednesday, October 03, 2001 - 12:47 pm: Edit

I am usually a strong advocate for trusting one's instincts. This particular process is so nutty that very little seems to work the way one might expect, though.

By AMD on Wednesday, October 03, 2001 - 01:29 pm: Edit

In my opinion, it is not so nutty, except in the top 50 colleges. Even there, I think that the nuttiness is overstated.

It is a very complex situation. In theory, one can go to any one of the 3 or 4 thousand colleges in the country and Canada. Prices vary considerably. Quality varies. What colleges will and will not do varies considerably. I think that this is where the perceived nuttiness comes in.

By Dadster on Monday, October 22, 2001 - 12:19 pm: Edit

I think nuttiness in applications varies, too - there is a fine line between looking goofy and doing something distinctive. For example, sending one's application in a paper-mache replica of the college's administration building or accompanied by a box of chocolate-chip cookies might make the applicant look memorable or ridiculous depending on the mood of the recipients. (And, of course, a lot might depend on how good the cookies tasted!) Personally, I'd avoid these kinds of strategies unless you have something really, really creative, or your application has so little chance of being accepted that you couldn't possibly make things worse.

By Kaisersoze43 (Kaisersoze43) on Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 01:32 pm: Edit

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