GDS application - grandparents?

[Anonymous]

Any insight on why GDS asks (although it's optional) for grandparents' info on the application. I can think of many reasons why a school would ask for this information from current students, but applicants? Is it just so they can tell if your family might be "important"?

[Anonymous]

Just leave it blank. Nobody cares who the grandparents are.

[Anonymous]

Money.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP. I suspect it is about being able to reach out to them for fundraising if your child ends up attending.

[Anonymous]

They can get grandparent info for fundraising the same way everyone else does, by asking parents once they have signed the contract and started class. That is not why they are asking.

If this bothers you -- be aware: GDS has been known to do LinkedIn searches on parents of prospective applicants, too...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with PP. I suspect it is about being able to reach out to them for fundraising if your child ends up attending.

Yes. This.

[Anonymous]

Many of the schools do this. There are a good number of kids at independent schools whose grandparents pay the tuition. Makes sense to collect the info.

[Anonymous]

Our school asked to. They send them invitations to Grandparents Day and solicitations asking for money.

[Anonymous]

I am unclear why they ask this prior to admission, but I filled it out fearing it might prejudice the admission not to do it. One school also asked for every institution of higher ed DH and I had attended.

I do not give grandparents' emails or phone #s - just street address ( not local).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They can get grandparent info for fundraising the same way everyone else does, by asking parents once they have signed the contract and started class. That is not why they are asking.

If this bothers you -- be aware: GDS has been known to do LinkedIn searches on parents of prospective applicants, too...

I assumed all schools googled the parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They can get grandparent info for fundraising the same way everyone else does, by asking parents once they have signed the contract and started class. That is not why they are asking.

If this bothers you -- be aware: GDS has been known to do LinkedIn searches on parents of prospective applicants, too...

I assumed all schools googled the parents.

In this day and age, is anyone out there so naive as to think that they are not googled by prospective schools, employers, dates, etc.?

[Anonymous]

Yes, it's to get money from them and try to get in their wills. My mom always got letters from my DD's school.

[Anonymous]

My mom actually enjoys getting mailings from the school and gives small donations - don't think she minds snail mail. I would not give out a phone or email however.

[Anonymous]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Anonymous]

I'm cynical and figured it was because:
a) they wanted to know if your extended family really fit in with their world view;
b) they wanted to know if the grandparents were important and/or wealthy.