Would a big donation help with admission?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here, I only posted the op so the comments about ncs were not me. I'm nowhere near the DC or NY area (as stated in op) but these comments were helpful. I would be as one poster put it "a Joe Schmo" 3-400k donor (at 100k/yr to make it even less impressive) and as others stated I'm sure there are donors giving much more but most families likely don't as I noticed their donor circles didn't seem to go too high. It just doesn't look that hopeful as there are just a few spots and many applicants. I thought just maybe there was something we could do and I didn't know how much donations influence decisions, if at all. This doesn't seem like a school that needs to go that route, especially for somethings many others could offer. I'm glad I didn't embarrass myself by hinting at the prospect.

I think it is not likely at the amount you are considering, but maybe add another 0.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’ll be shooting your self in the foot. The only time it’s appropriate to do this is if you are an alum or a grandparent was. Otherwise it’s crass. How many rich parents can afford to do what you are doing? Tons. Money is a flush in DC and NYC.

The schools do it all the time. You may think it’s crass but there it is. Where do you think the term development admit comes from?

The schools do it all the time but it has to be in an innocuous fashion. Like the head of school recommending you as a good donor. Or you expressing an interest in the school and donating for multiple years before you actually do admissions. Whipping out your check book and saying how much is bribery. And frankly five years of tuition, let’s say 300k, these schools are so competitive most rich people can do that if they thought that guaranteed them a place.

I think at our school the bribe rate is at lease 7 figures. Most rich people can’t do this, but some can and everyone knows. You will also have to acknowledge the fact that you kid will know they didn’t get in on merit. AND your kid will have to wonder if the other kids just want to be friends because their parents did this. Some kids don’t care but the more adjusted, socially savvy ones do.

This is such a giant bunch of bunk. First of all, how is a kid giong to know this? What parents would tell them?
"Hey son. Just wanted to let you know that we're writing a big check to help your application because without the cash you weren't getting in".

And these kids don't stand out as being inferior students. There are plenty of kids floating around the top schools who aren't academic super stars: legacies, siblings, lifers, athletes, etc. Probably a full 50% are not there on academics alone.

At our school some of them do stand out as academically inferior. And of course the parents don't tell them; the other students do. You don't think when students question why their super smart athletic friend didn't get in but Larlo did the parent refrain from making a flippant comment about the donation size from Larlo's parents, not a chance. I've seen/heard these from MANY parents. Private schools are no stranger to the gossip mill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a family who didn't make it initially then offered to pay double tuition every year going forward. Created a fully paid scholarship slot. Accepted. I know another family, annual "ask" of them was 250k on top of tuition. I doubt those examples even begin to touch folks with truly deep generational wealth, owners of large companies - there's always someone with more than most of us could really understand. One might ask what kind of donations year in and year out are typical for the top board members - to start gently a serious conversation.

I find this difficult to believe that it was structured in this manner.

DP. Our school does this too, so not difficult for me to believe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school will probably love it and it is gross. Can you live with yourself? Only you can decide.

It’s gross that these schools give preference to certain kids based on their race. Hopefully, that will be illegal given the recent Supreme Court decision on affirmative action in colleges.

If your black, polite, full pay, and score average of 5 on the ISEE, you can get in anywhere. My rich white kid has to score 8s and have a hook. Is that fair? No, and everyone knows it the game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know it's obnoxious but how abhorrent is it to offer a big donation when applying to a private? How would one go about doing so? Is it ever done? I'm not in the dcum area but I imagine it would be a similar type of culture across private schools. I was thinking the equivalent of 5 years of tuition for this school. Does everyone do that anyway so it's not a big deal and not a boost at all?

I think if you donated half a million plus, they would give you extra consideration because it shows that you’re a team player and you’re “all in”—and even before you are technically in.

Its this in your budget, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know it's obnoxious but how abhorrent is it to offer a big donation when applying to a private? How would one go about doing so? Is it ever done? I'm not in the dcum area but I imagine it would be a similar type of culture across private schools. I was thinking the equivalent of 5 years of tuition for this school. Does everyone do that anyway so it's not a big deal and not a boost at all?

I think if you donated half a million plus, they would give you extra consideration because it shows that you’re a team player and you’re “all in”—and even before you are technically in.

Its this in your budget, OP?

Sure.

Let me check under the sofa cushions.

[Anonymous]

They have a great business model to take from the poor and givento the rich in the name of Jeebuz

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know it's obnoxious but how abhorrent is it to offer a big donation when applying to a private? How would one go about doing so? Is it ever done? I'm not in the dcum area but I imagine it would be a similar type of culture across private schools. I was thinking the equivalent of 5 years of tuition for this school. Does everyone do that anyway so it's not a big deal and not a boost at all?

Do you plan to buy your kid all through their lives? It is awful. I'm glad you at least admit it's obnoxious. And I hope the school immediately sees through your tricks. Take your money and reject your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know it's obnoxious but how abhorrent is it to offer a big donation when applying to a private? How would one go about doing so? Is it ever done? I'm not in the dcum area but I imagine it would be a similar type of culture across private schools. I was thinking the equivalent of 5 years of tuition for this school. Does everyone do that anyway so it's not a big deal and not a boost at all?

Do you plan to buy your kid all through their lives? It is awful. I'm glad you at least admit it's obnoxious. And I hope the school immediately sees through your tricks. Take your money and reject your kid.

It’s been almost 2 years since op posted. I’m sure life has moved on, so should you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know it's obnoxious but how abhorrent is it to offer a big donation when applying to a private? How would one go about doing so? Is it ever done? I'm not in the dcum area but I imagine it would be a similar type of culture across private schools. I was thinking the equivalent of 5 years of tuition for this school. Does everyone do that anyway so it's not a big deal and not a boost at all?

Do you plan to buy your kid all through their lives? It is awful. I'm glad you at least admit it's obnoxious. And I hope the school immediately sees through your tricks. Take your money and reject your kid.

It’s been almost 2 years since op posted. I’m sure life has moved on, so should you.

It moved on. Someone just bought in the Whitehouse and is now taking charge and making the city poor. This is more relevant than ever.

[Anonymous]

I think so. But should be something like 1 million to be noticedZ everything has a price.

[Anonymous]

Greasy people. Come into your neighborhood. Greasy people never up to any good. Greasy people!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school will probably love it and it is gross. Can you live with yourself? Only you can decide.

The school admins somehow live with themselves when wealthy donors do this

🤷🏼‍♂️

There is literally a category universities have to reward the children of big donors. It’s legal bribery. One professor suggested setting aside a percentage of Harvard seats in each class to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. I tend to agree it would be more transparent than our current system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know it's obnoxious but how abhorrent is it to offer a big donation when applying to a private? How would one go about doing so? Is it ever done? I'm not in the dcum area but I imagine it would be a similar type of culture across private schools. I was thinking the equivalent of 5 years of tuition for this school. Does everyone do that anyway so it's not a big deal and not a boost at all?

They'll research you to get an idea of your finances. I would wait until DC is accepted and then start donating during year one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know it's obnoxious but how abhorrent is it to offer a big donation when applying to a private? How would one go about doing so? Is it ever done? I'm not in the dcum area but I imagine it would be a similar type of culture across private schools. I was thinking the equivalent of 5 years of tuition for this school. Does everyone do that anyway so it's not a big deal and not a boost at all?

They'll research you to get an idea of your finances. I would wait until DC is accepted and then start donating during year one.

That defeats the purpose of getting an admission boost.