Anonymous
Post 09/10/2014 13:20     Subject: Re:Question about board influence
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is complete hogwash, having been on the board of one of the highly selective PK-12 schools sought after. Sure, a letter from a board member that knows an older kid in particularly really well might be a slight positive all else being equal, but not a "gee I know this 4 year old having seen her once at the pool and she seems well-behaved", that is just absurd. A 7th grader, really really doubt it. Any board member that starts trying to make demands like that would not be long for the board. As someone said, with say 6 -12 openings or so at most of these schools for MS, or 20-40 for high school, or 10 or less for P or K not counting siblings, how could the above "urban legend" possibly be true?


+1. Can't speak for every school, but I've served on two boards and in neither case could I gain an "admit" for a kid just by virtue of my board seat. And more to the point, it would be considered completely out of bounds for me to try. Every board member at EVERY school (yes, every, as it's one of the foundational principles of the regional/national school board organization for independent schools) is taught from the first day that curriculum, staffing, discipline, operational/day-to-day, and admission decisions are the province of the Head and staff, and that the Board's role is reserved for long-term strategic, risk management, and other "big picture" issues.

Is it out of the realm of possibility that a board member abuses his/her role to try to pressure the Head or staff to admit an applicant? No. but very unlikely. Is it out the realm of possibility that a Head would be susceptible to such pressure? Even less likely, given that Heads rather jealously guard against encroachments by the Board on their authority (justifiably so).

Is it possible and within the bounds of good Board behavior to mention to the Head that you know and respect a particular applicant and family, and would not hesitate to recommend admission? Of course not. I'm sure that happens all the time, and would probably carry great weight with Admissions if the board member is respected. But that's true of any recommendation.


+1,000
Anonymous
Post 09/10/2014 13:18     Subject: Re:Question about board influence
Anonymous wrote:This is complete hogwash, having been on the board of one of the highly selective PK-12 schools sought after. Sure, a letter from a board member that knows an older kid in particularly really well might be a slight positive all else being equal, but not a "gee I know this 4 year old having seen her once at the pool and she seems well-behaved", that is just absurd. A 7th grader, really really doubt it. Any board member that starts trying to make demands like that would not be long for the board. As someone said, with say 6 -12 openings or so at most of these schools for MS, or 20-40 for high school, or 10 or less for P or K not counting siblings, how could the above "urban legend" possibly be true?


+1. Can't speak for every school, but I've served on two boards and in neither case could I gain an "admit" for a kid just by virtue of my board seat. And more to the point, it would be considered completely out of bounds for me to try. Every board member at EVERY school (yes, every, as it's one of the foundational principles of the regional/national school board organization for independent schools) is taught from the first day that curriculum, staffing, discipline, operational/day-to-day, and admission decisions are the province of the Head and staff, and that the Board's role is reserved for long-term strategic, risk management, and other "big picture" issues.

Is it out of the realm of possibility that a board member abuses his/her role to try to pressure the Head or staff to admit an applicant? No. but very unlikely. Is it out the realm of possibility that a Head would be susceptible to such pressure? Even less likely, given that Heads rather jealously guard against encroachments by the Board on their authority (justifiably so).

Is it possible and within the bounds of good Board behavior to mention to the Head that you know and respect a particular applicant and family, and would not hesitate to recommend admission? Of course not. I'm sure that happens all the time, and would probably carry great weight with Admissions if the board member is respected. But that's true of any recommendation.
Anonymous
Post 09/10/2014 12:01     Subject: Question about board influence
There are lots of caveats here. I don't think a board chair gets an unqualified kid in. If the kid is qualified, it will be a factor, but remember, every year there are lots of preferential kids that don't get in, incluing siblings, teachers' kids, legacies etc.

There are two other factors. Is the board chair recommending other kids too? The director of admissions can say things lke, ``it's not going to work out this year, but she should reapply in high school.''

Bottom line is that having a board chair rec helps but is not the lock the conspiracy theorists suggest.
Anonymous
Post 09/10/2014 11:49     Subject: Question about board influence
A very prominent board member helped our dd get off the waiting list at a prominent school in a non-admit year where there weren't many spots. Our dd happened to have gone elsewhere since we had already committed elsewhere. It was very nice nonentheless.
Anonymous
Post 09/10/2014 08:33     Subject: Re:Question about board influence
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is complete hogwash, having been on the board of one of the highly selective PK-12 schools sought after. Sure, a letter from a board member that knows an older kid in particularly really well might be a slight positive all else being equal, but not a "gee I know this 4 year old having seen her once at the pool and she seems well-behaved", that is just absurd. A 7th grader, really really doubt it. Any board member that starts trying to make demands like that would not be long for the board. As someone said, with say 6 -12 openings or so at most of these schools for MS, or 20-40 for high school, or 10 or less for P or K not counting siblings, how could the above "urban legend" possibly be true?

\
Perhaps, in DCUM parlance, you were a lesser, or second-tier, board member?


But remember, the claim was that EVERY BOARD MEMBER gets a Monopoly "Free Parking" pass for one child. Silly on its face.

Do board members have influence in admissions, though? Yes, of course. Is the influence of a Board Chair likely to be more significant than that of an "ordinary" Board member? Yes, of course. Will the school blindly accept a Board recommendation of a particular child? No, of course not.
Anonymous
Post 09/10/2014 08:27     Subject: Re:Question about board influence
Anonymous wrote:This is complete hogwash, having been on the board of one of the highly selective PK-12 schools sought after. Sure, a letter from a board member that knows an older kid in particularly really well might be a slight positive all else being equal, but not a "gee I know this 4 year old having seen her once at the pool and she seems well-behaved", that is just absurd. A 7th grader, really really doubt it. Any board member that starts trying to make demands like that would not be long for the board. As someone said, with say 6 -12 openings or so at most of these schools for MS, or 20-40 for high school, or 10 or less for P or K not counting siblings, how could the above "urban legend" possibly be true?

\
Perhaps, in DCUM parlance, you were a lesser, or second-tier, board member?
Anonymous
Post 09/10/2014 08:08     Subject: Question about board influence
OP here. This was supposedly the board chairperson hinting about getting the kid in. I will post here in March and let you know what happened.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2014 22:35     Subject: Re:Question about board influence
This is complete hogwash, having been on the board of one of the highly selective PK-12 schools sought after. Sure, a letter from a board member that knows an older kid in particularly really well might be a slight positive all else being equal, but not a "gee I know this 4 year old having seen her once at the pool and she seems well-behaved", that is just absurd. A 7th grader, really really doubt it. Any board member that starts trying to make demands like that would not be long for the board. As someone said, with say 6 -12 openings or so at most of these schools for MS, or 20-40 for high school, or 10 or less for P or K not counting siblings, how could the above "urban legend" possibly be true?
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2014 21:46     Subject: Question about board influence
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes. Unless the child is well below cut offs they will be admitted. Keep the $$$ happy


Board doesn't always = money anymore. Diversity is more important these days.


Is that code for "diverse" folks don't have $$?


Socio-economic diversity
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2014 21:35     Subject: Question about board influence
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes. Unless the child is well below cut offs they will be admitted. Keep the $$$ happy


Board doesn't always = money anymore. Diversity is more important these days.


Is that code for "diverse" folks don't have $$?
Anonymous
Post 09/08/2014 22:10     Subject: Question about board influence
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes it does happen. At one top private, every board member gets a free pass for an admit every year. But the board member approaches you if they are willing to sponsor your child. You don't ask the board member.

This sounds like an urban legend.

Sounds more like real life to me since that's how we got in.

What school?


Not telling because I'm on the board. But it's not urban legend.


So now that you're on the Board, do you get to demand the acceptance of one student every year?
Anonymous
Post 09/08/2014 21:58     Subject: Question about board influence
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes it does happen. At one top private, every board member gets a free pass for an admit every year. But the board member approaches you if they are willing to sponsor your child. You don't ask the board member.

This sounds like an urban legend.

Sounds more like real life to me since that's how we got in.

What school?

Not telling because I'm on the board. But it's not urban legend.

You're lying then.
Anonymous
Post 09/08/2014 21:28     Subject: Question about board influence
Anonymous wrote:My neighbor plans to apply her child to a very selective school (7th grade) this year. Her DHs boss happens to be the chairperson of the school's board. She is convinced this will gain her child admittance to the school and apparently the boss has been hinting it won't be a problem to get her child into the school. Does this kind of thing really happen? I suppose in a town where it's who you know not what you know that I shouldn't be surprised, but I am.


Hey, It works for the Quatari Gov't : own Brookings and you get to tell POTUS what position he should take. Why should any mover in this town expect the Privates to operate any differently.
Anonymous
Post 09/08/2014 20:36     Subject: Question about board influence
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes it does happen. At one top private, every board member gets a free pass for an admit every year. But the board member approaches you if they are willing to sponsor your child. You don't ask the board member.

This sounds like an urban legend.

Sounds more like real life to me since that's how we got in.

What school?


Not telling because I'm on the board. But it's not urban legend.
Anonymous
Post 09/08/2014 20:34     Subject: Question about board influence
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes it does happen. At one top private, every board member gets a free pass for an admit every year. But the board member approaches you if they are willing to sponsor your child. You don't ask the board member.


This sounds like an urban legend.


Sounds more like real life to me since that's how we got in.


Not saying it doesn't happen...just the part that a school gives a free pass to a board member every year. Boards for most schools around here probably range between 20-25 members. Let's go low end of 20. No school is giving a free pass to 20 new admits every year. Yes...sometimes this is a way to get into a school, but schools are not giving free passes to that many year in and year out.