Do you think ADs Google parents of applicants?

[Anonymous]

With all this talk of how schools give preference to parents who are "somebodies" and "media personality"/"academic superstar" types, do you think ADs Google parents of prospective students?

[Anonymous]

yes, and I think they view a good picture of your house on-line too.

[Anonymous]

absolutely they do.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely. We were courted to give a big donation to our school and the head of school knew things about us that they could have only found out by Googling DH.

[Anonymous]

I suspect the admissions people are too busy doing other things to Google-stalk the families of hundreds of applicants.

[Anonymous]

But by that point you were already at the school, right? I'm sure people get Googled once they've been identified as possible big donors, board members, etc. They probably also get Googled if they tick someone off. School staff are human. But I doubt they routinely Google prospective parents--there are too many applicants in most cases.

[Anonymous]

I'd be very surprised if they didn't, but have no firsthand knowledge of such.

[Anonymous]

Don't know, wouldn't doubt it since they do inquire. A friend is on faculty at a Big, AD inquired about our status in our profession. Feels a little country club, doesn't it.

[Anonymous]

Of course. If your educational enterprise was worth hundreds of millions of dollars in endowment this is part of stratergy and due diligence...the price of doing business.

[Anonymous]

so how much are parents expected to give?

[Anonymous]

The Development Department sure does once you're accepted.

[Anonymous]

DH works in development and they have better tools than Google. (but they use Google too).

[Anonymous]

Yes 12:00, it's more than google. They research your salary range, stock holdings if they're public, what boards you sit on, your home value and loan information and charitable giving to name a few.

FYI, a complete donor profile is typically done on parents that don't ask for Financial Aid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH works in development and they have better tools than Google. (but they use Google too).

How interesting! What kind of info is available?

They probably know that my family is broke after paying three tuitions!

[Anonymous]

They absolutely do -- and college admissions offices check facebook/myspace, etc of the applicants. There is a software that they can use that will also reveal the cyber history of the applicant. The Foundation Center has a lot of resources - for a fee - to research all potential donors. Heck I can find out what you paid for your house, etc and if/when you refinanced it. If you work for a non-profit I can view its 990 and see what your salary is.