Would a big donation help with admission?

[Anonymous]

Can you offer to endow something? A wealthy family at my high school endowed a private classical concert for the students every year. It was lovely.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. I’m in NYC and I’ve heard of schools returning the donations if they’re made during an admissions cycle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, OP. People buy their kids’/grandkids’ seats all the time. Make sure you mention to the “development” folks that you are a prospective parent. Very excited and hoping little Larlo has a chance for admission next year. Know it’s so very competitive but really hoping and wishing he gets a chance.

Big smiles!!

Only if they have been affiliated with the school. And been giving for years. Not one big donation right before admissions. OP would be seen as giving a bribe.

It IS a bribe.

This. If you make the donation before your kid is admitted it's a bribe. If you make it after they're admitted it's a donation.

[Anonymous]

Please offer your big donation OP. I hope you get whiplash so fast when you are immediately rejected from NCS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please offer your big donation OP. I hope you get whiplash so fast when you are immediately rejected from NCS.

Lol. You are naive if you think doesn't happen, even at NCS, I know someone who bought their way into NCS. Their kid was rejected on the first attempt and then the family met with the development office prior to attempt two.
(Pretty stupid IMO to do this at a school like NCS which is only a good fit for a small cohort of girls but it definitely happened and probably happens (plural))

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please offer your big donation OP. I hope you get whiplash so fast when you are immediately rejected from NCS.

Lol. You are naive if you think doesn't happen, even at NCS, I know someone who bought their way into NCS. Their kid was rejected on the first attempt and then the family met with the development office prior to attempt two.
(Pretty stupid IMO to do this at a school like NCS which is only a good fit for a small cohort of girls but it definitely happened and probably happens (plural))

I should add that this family was pretty open about this to a rather large circle of friends in their (non NCS) community. They didn't keep it quiet (weird but whatever). I wouldn't be surprised if others reading this now know who I'm talking about.

[Anonymous]

I think the main issue I see is that while 200-250K is a big donation, it’s actually not enough money to achieve what OP wants it to.

We donated a similar amount to a similar but less prestigious school by dcum standards (and we did so after our kid had attended for four years). We certainly got a letter from the head of school and a big “thanks” but no one is kissing our butts. Turns out we’re one of many families who donate that much regularly.

(And btw, I’m actually glad we don’t get special treatment for our donation, and presume that means others don’t either)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the main issue I see is that while 200-250K is a big donation, it’s actually not enough money to achieve what OP wants it to.

We donated a similar amount to a similar but less prestigious school by dcum standards (and we did so after our kid had attended for four years). We certainly got a letter from the head of school and a big “thanks” but no one is kissing our butts. Turns out we’re one of many families who donate that much regularly.

(And btw, I’m actually glad we don’t get special treatment for our donation, and presume that means others don’t either)

+1 hedge fund managers and big law partners being able to spend 300k are dime a dozen. Yet private school is still competitive. If it was easy enough to write a check more people will do it.

[Anonymous]

How much are we talking about here? 100K, 200K or more?? OP, are you still here??

[Anonymous]

Lol at those of you who think this will work. You will offend the school for suggesting this. PP was correct in suggesting that you donate heavily to the school you currently attend. This will be a sign for them that you will likely do the same. However, if you tie this to admissions or suggest before you’re admitted that you’ll donate, you will hurt your chances.

[Anonymous]

There is a very large chance that it won't work.

When you are working in a gray space like this, it's not like you are going to get a contract that stipulates 1 entrance for X$$.

You have no idea what amount of money will even register with the devo crew or the HOS. They get $25K and $50K gifts all the time.

Worst case scenario, you make what YOU think is a big donation and your kid still doesn't get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the main issue I see is that while 200-250K is a big donation, it’s actually not enough money to achieve what OP wants it to.

We donated a similar amount to a similar but less prestigious school by dcum standards (and we did so after our kid had attended for four years). We certainly got a letter from the head of school and a big “thanks” but no one is kissing our butts. Turns out we’re one of many families who donate that much regularly.

(And btw, I’m actually glad we don’t get special treatment for our donation, and presume that means others don’t either)

+1 hedge fund managers and big law partners being able to spend 300k are dime a dozen. Yet private school is still competitive. If it was easy enough to write a check more people will do it.

No, most people with the money don't think to do this or wouldn't do this. I mean, come on. Who is actually going to stoop this low for elementary/high school? Not many people.
Plus most of these schools aren't that hard to get into to begin with (I'm someone who went through the admissions process 3 times with kids from public and got a kid into at least one Big3 school each admissions season we tried).

[Anonymous]

Reading this thread makes me think about the St. Ann's suicide tragedy.

Why are people fighting so hard to get their kids into a school that isn't right for them?

If it's not the right school for them, or if the kid feels like you are disappointing them for not being the "kid" you wish you had, they are going to be miserably unhappy.

[Anonymous]

Prestigious private schools stopped running their report of donor gifts. Probably to make it less obvious which families need to prop up their mediocre kids with big $$$ every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reading this thread makes me think about the St. Ann's suicide tragedy.

Why are people fighting so hard to get their kids into a school that isn't right for them?

If it's not the right school for them, or if the kid feels like you are disappointing them for not being the "kid" you wish you had, they are going to be miserably unhappy.

Exactly. I have seen this happen multiple times at the two Big3 schools my kids attend. The kid ends up with Bs and Cs and then goes to college at a university like JMU or Penn State.
Both of these schools are perfectly fine but they really worth the outlay of money and stress for 4 years?