The content of a generic letter from MIT we received was interesting. It was addressed to the parents of Elliot Lee.
While it may seem tempting to be involved at every step [of the application process], the role of “the applicant” must truly belong to your child. Our application is carefully designed to help us get to know the applicant, and to be effective the voice must be exclusively his or hers.
Did they think I was going to complete the application myself instead of letting my son do it himself? Are there really parents who would do that? For the Dean of Admissions to say that in a letter must imply there is a fair number of applications that are not written by the propective student. But then how would they know? What if they find out after the student is admitted?