2008 Woodie Awards
RSSProspective students remember their manners
By Emily Mason
Issue date: 10/19/07 Section: News
Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Leon Washington opened his mail earlier this year to find a bag of brown and white M&Ms from a prospective student with her name inscribed on them. A note that came along with the candy said: "Keep me on the tip of your tongue when reviewing applications."
This was one of the many thank-you notes prospective students sent Washington this year.
Washington is receiving more notes than before, he said, and prospective students are becoming increasingly creative.
"In past years, [thank-you notes] were more formal," Washington said. "They would be typed out on the computer. Now they are hand-written and personal."
One note Washington received was written on Lehigh stationery purchased at the bookstore. Another was written on stationery from a hotel the sender was staying in while visiting Lehigh. All senders make sure to thank Washington for a pleasant campus visit and express continued interest in Lehigh.
Thank-you notes do not play a role in the admissions process, Washington said.
"They are not used in an evaluative way, but it does become a memorable quality for an admissions officer," Washington said. "It's a mental reference for a person."
Washington is not the only thank-you note recipient. Notes are also sent to admissions counselors and campus tour guides, he said.
Tour guide Heidi Shonbeck, '09, said she received thank-you notes from students and parents via e-mail.
"As a tour guide, it's really great feedback, and it's nice to know they're so excited about Lehigh and the application process," Shonbeck said. "I also work in admissions, so I see other officials receive them. I think it definitely makes students stand out in their memories, and it's just a really nice gesture."
Another campus tour guide, Kristen Klingler, '10, said she received a few thank-you notes in the mail, but mostly she gets e-mails.
"A lot of people will e-mail me later asking more questions about specific programs and things like that," Klingler said.
This was one of the many thank-you notes prospective students sent Washington this year.
Washington is receiving more notes than before, he said, and prospective students are becoming increasingly creative.
"In past years, [thank-you notes] were more formal," Washington said. "They would be typed out on the computer. Now they are hand-written and personal."
One note Washington received was written on Lehigh stationery purchased at the bookstore. Another was written on stationery from a hotel the sender was staying in while visiting Lehigh. All senders make sure to thank Washington for a pleasant campus visit and express continued interest in Lehigh.
Thank-you notes do not play a role in the admissions process, Washington said.
"They are not used in an evaluative way, but it does become a memorable quality for an admissions officer," Washington said. "It's a mental reference for a person."
Washington is not the only thank-you note recipient. Notes are also sent to admissions counselors and campus tour guides, he said.
Tour guide Heidi Shonbeck, '09, said she received thank-you notes from students and parents via e-mail.
"As a tour guide, it's really great feedback, and it's nice to know they're so excited about Lehigh and the application process," Shonbeck said. "I also work in admissions, so I see other officials receive them. I think it definitely makes students stand out in their memories, and it's just a really nice gesture."
Another campus tour guide, Kristen Klingler, '10, said she received a few thank-you notes in the mail, but mostly she gets e-mails.
"A lot of people will e-mail me later asking more questions about specific programs and things like that," Klingler said.
