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09.10.19, 18:22 PM General Topics
24 replies
DC just started 6th grade, and last week received a 60 page admissions brochure from a nearby private high school. I was curious how they received her name (likely her current school?), and was turned off by the whole thing. It was mostly photos of good looking kids, in what is best described as a cross between a Ralph Lauren and college catalog. I feel like kids that age are easily influenced, and considering the magnitude of the investment at 4 years of this school, it was grossly inappropriate. DC is 11. We aren't thinking about this for 3 more years. Am I crazy to find this a big pushy and predatory? The school is not marketing $100 sneakers or videos games. This is easily a $100K+ investment they are pedaling. [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
General Topics 09.10.19, 06:22 PM Flag
 

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If she just started 6th then you only have two years to think about it, not 3. You have to do the application cycle starting at the beginning of 8th grade. I don't know why you are offending about receiving a brochure. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:23 PM Flag
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Ok, you're right. 2 years. But why send it to the kid, not the parents? And why 2 years before application time? There was little substance to the brochure. I was slick marketing. I know that kids are easy targets. I can accept marketing sneakers, clothing and video games. Private educations that parents select and pay for - why target the kid? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:25 PM Flag
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np. loosen up, you sound really uptight! they got your kid's name from somewhere. what are you afraid is going to happen, your DD spots it, declares she will attend this school and only this school, and you have to do it because she's Veruca Salt? If your kid is so easily influenced by marketing that receiving brochures is a problem, you can say no. You are the parent. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:30 PM Flag
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thanks, that's super helpful [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:33 PM Flag
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They send these brochures to everyone enrolled in that year. (Well only if you’re not in nyc!) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:24 PM Flag
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We are not in NYC. I asked her school if they sold her contact info to nearby schools, and they said no....thought I'm skeptical . [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:27 PM Flag
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Don’t over think this [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:53 PM Flag
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It may sound difficult, but when we receive stuff like that, it goes in a bin for recycling. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:24 PM Flag
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I trashed it before DD saw it. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:26 PM Flag
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It's a good thing. Your daughter sounds like a sheep. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:28 PM Flag
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um, ok. whatever that means. I think the only thing I mentioned was that DD is 11. So, yeah, I totally get why you drew that conclusion [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:29 PM Flag
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Look, if your kid is so heavily influenced by mailers, stop and consider why. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 07:05 PM Flag
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Do you watch the news? There are more important things to be upset about right now. I think inappropriate is a big stretch too. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:26 PM Flag
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Of course this is petty! this is why I'm asking UB and not anyone in real life. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:27 PM Flag
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So call the school that sent it and let them know your objections. Send a letter. Alert the media. Don't take this sitting down. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 07:29 PM Flag
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I think the private middle school brochures are also addressed to the kids. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:34 PM Flag
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That seems a little weird to me. Is your current school a feeder for that school? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:35 PM Flag
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I think you are overreacting. If you are not interested, recycle the brochure. Sheesh! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:44 PM Flag
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much more likely they got your name from a sports activity or summer camp. i want my kid to be able to see marketing at all levels levels (toys r us catalog, celebrity instagram account, clothing catalog) and think critically about the product and message so it wouldn't bother me. that said, I would likely trash it pretty quickly because we get too much mail. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:49 PM Flag
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Using a word like "predatory" to describe marketing practices deflates the meaning of the word. Yes, it's aggressive, and they want to make an impact on your kid. They are not trying to harm her in any way. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 07:15 PM Flag
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Very good point. OP calm down. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 07:34 PM Flag
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Why don't you call the school and ask? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 08:41 PM Flag
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There are large herds of marketing MBAs released into the wild every year. They're at my university making us look crass, and now they’re coming for the high schools. Complain! To the HOS and board, if you can [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 11:13 PM Flag
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you have the right to be upset. someone is selling your child's data. it's one of the things that education activists are working to prevent. it's also a big part of what opting out helps combat. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.11.19, 12:34 AM Flag
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