How did you ask them?
Besides the actual emailing of the colleges, I spent the most time on my letter. It took me a while to come up with a solid reason to why the admissions counselor should send me a shirt. In the end, I decided to go with the idea that I was an outstanding student in school and was pretty smart. After hours of crafting and revising my letter, I reached a point of utter perfection. Next I found a list of about 1700 colleges (US New Report List). These would be my target group during my first time around. By then I had everything that I needed. With the letter and list in hand, I began the slow, but steady process of sending out the emails which looked something like this:
Besides the actual emailing of the colleges, I spent the most time on my letter. It took me a while to come up with a solid reason to why the admissions counselor should send me a shirt. In the end, I decided to go with the idea that I was an outstanding student in school and was pretty smart. After hours of crafting and revising my letter, I reached a point of utter perfection. Next I found a list of about 1700 colleges (US New Report List). These would be my target group during my first time around. By then I had everything that I needed. With the letter and list in hand, I began the slow, but steady process of sending out the emails which looked something like this:
|
1) Copy the name of the school off the list and then Google it
2) Memorize the school's web address 3) Put the phrase Admissions@ ahead of the web address 4) Enter the email address into the recipient box 5) Next paste the school's name into the greeting of the letter 6) Copy the entire letter and paste into the body of the email 7) Set "Hello" as the subject 8) Send |
Example: Fisher College
fisher.edu [email protected] [email protected] Dear Fisher College, Dear Fisher College, My name is Stewart... Hello Let the awesomeness begin! |
At my fastest I was able to get my speed down to 14.2 seconds per email.
Where did the idea come from?
During the summer of my freshman year, I was bored out of my mind. I turned to Google to solve my predicament. It was during my time surfing the internet I came across a blog by Tyler Burns, an adult now, who wrote about how he, in high school, emailed every single college and university in the United States and got around 800 t-shirts. He told a story that captured my attention and sent my imagination running. How he came across the idea, actually emailed the schools, and spoke of his journey is really neat. Here is a link to his story.
During the summer of my freshman year, I was bored out of my mind. I turned to Google to solve my predicament. It was during my time surfing the internet I came across a blog by Tyler Burns, an adult now, who wrote about how he, in high school, emailed every single college and university in the United States and got around 800 t-shirts. He told a story that captured my attention and sent my imagination running. How he came across the idea, actually emailed the schools, and spoke of his journey is really neat. Here is a link to his story.
Do you have a list of colleges that send free t-shirts?
Yes! Head on over to the Pictures of the Shirts page and you'll be able to see every shirt I received along with the name! This list is by no means the only schools that will send you shirts. As I'm finding out, it all depends on a number of factors--where you live, how good your letter is, and if they have any available at the moment. Go ahead and try sending emails!
Yes! Head on over to the Pictures of the Shirts page and you'll be able to see every shirt I received along with the name! This list is by no means the only schools that will send you shirts. As I'm finding out, it all depends on a number of factors--where you live, how good your letter is, and if they have any available at the moment. Go ahead and try sending emails!
What should I include in my letter?
When I wrote my letter I made sure everything I was said was one hundred percent perfectly true. Looking back I can say this is easily the biggest factor more than accomplishments or awards that convinced the admissions officers to send me a t-shirt. Besides this, I included how I was looking forward to continuing my education after high school, wanted to see if I could help promote their school, and mentioned how I was a good student. After that, I told them my address and shirt size so that they'd have no problem in sending it to me right away. Honest, short, and concise are the factors of a successful email.
When I wrote my letter I made sure everything I was said was one hundred percent perfectly true. Looking back I can say this is easily the biggest factor more than accomplishments or awards that convinced the admissions officers to send me a t-shirt. Besides this, I included how I was looking forward to continuing my education after high school, wanted to see if I could help promote their school, and mentioned how I was a good student. After that, I told them my address and shirt size so that they'd have no problem in sending it to me right away. Honest, short, and concise are the factors of a successful email.
So I just email the college and they will send me a free shirt? Do you have the list of colleges still?
Exactly. You just email them and see if they can send you one. It's as easy as that. When I went through I found a list on the US New Report website that consisted of the names of the colleges but not their email addresses. That's why I had to use my strategy I used mentioned above. Creating your own list and sending out emails can be easily done.
Exactly. You just email them and see if they can send you one. It's as easy as that. When I went through I found a list on the US New Report website that consisted of the names of the colleges but not their email addresses. That's why I had to use my strategy I used mentioned above. Creating your own list and sending out emails can be easily done.
How long did this take you?
For about two and weeks, I spent three hours a day sending out emails. When I first began sending out the emails it took forever because I would slowly search through the schools website for the admissions office email address until I found it. For some schools, I would spend upwards of ten minutes searching for it. After a little more than a hundred emails, I realized that nearly every school's admissions email address was simply "[email protected]." This made things a thousand times faster and I was instantly able to lessen the average time of sending out an email to thirty seconds (twice as fast as Tyler Burns). Doing this will save you tons of time. Overall it kept me busy for a good portion of those three weeks and was deeply rewarding.
For about two and weeks, I spent three hours a day sending out emails. When I first began sending out the emails it took forever because I would slowly search through the schools website for the admissions office email address until I found it. For some schools, I would spend upwards of ten minutes searching for it. After a little more than a hundred emails, I realized that nearly every school's admissions email address was simply "[email protected]." This made things a thousand times faster and I was instantly able to lessen the average time of sending out an email to thirty seconds (twice as fast as Tyler Burns). Doing this will save you tons of time. Overall it kept me busy for a good portion of those three weeks and was deeply rewarding.
Did they reply with an email or did they just send a shirt? Also, did you get a lot of rejections?
Nearly all of the replies I received by email were explanations of why the college was unable to send me a shirt. The replies you get are in no way any indication of how you will do overall. For example, all colleges A-F I only got six responses telling me they would send me a shirt. I received nearly 26 t-shirts from this group though. Don't worry about the number of rejection letters you get. These are the schools that can't afford to send shirts out to every student that asks. They are just acting in the best interest of their institution and spreading their resources where they are most needed.
Nearly all of the replies I received by email were explanations of why the college was unable to send me a shirt. The replies you get are in no way any indication of how you will do overall. For example, all colleges A-F I only got six responses telling me they would send me a shirt. I received nearly 26 t-shirts from this group though. Don't worry about the number of rejection letters you get. These are the schools that can't afford to send shirts out to every student that asks. They are just acting in the best interest of their institution and spreading their resources where they are most needed.
Can I do this?
Sure! Anyone who is looking for adventure can try this out themselves! All you have to have is an email address, a lot of spare time, and a persistent attitude. I have even had a couple of friends who have tried this out before who one of them received 100 t-shirts. None of them through made it through the entire list colleges. So I dare you to do what I'm doing now and take up the challenge to email every single one of them.
Sure! Anyone who is looking for adventure can try this out themselves! All you have to have is an email address, a lot of spare time, and a persistent attitude. I have even had a couple of friends who have tried this out before who one of them received 100 t-shirts. None of them through made it through the entire list colleges. So I dare you to do what I'm doing now and take up the challenge to email every single one of them.
