Anonymous
Post 02/10/2022 17:06     Subject: When DC doesn't get into your alma mater
Anonymous wrote:I'm perfectly OK that my DS didn't get into the Ivy where I, my spouse, my spouse's brother, both my sisters, both my sisters' husbands, my dad, my aunt, and probably other connections on both sides I'm forgetting went. First, as PP said, the standards are different now and it's much harder. Second, I really believe firmly that all legacy preferences should be eliminated. 15:02's kid isn't any better qualified for Columbia by virtue of being born into the right family and having chosen the right ancestors any more than my kids are better qualified for my school. Legacy preference is just another way of perpetuating kleptocracy rather than meritocracy.

On the other hand, what I'd really like to see are eliminating athletic recruitments for colleges. That pisses me off to no end.
with neither football scholarships nor legacy admissions, colleges would go broke. You can’t fund a decent college merely through tuition.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2022 17:01     Subject: When DC doesn't get into your alma mater
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t get it. How is some celeb giving $20,000 to a rowing coach different from an alumnus giving a $20,000 donation aside from the fact one is out in the open? Both are giving money for a preferential admission for their kid which will deny another child that spot. They are both bribery.


It's totally different. The first is an outright quid pro quo. The second is giving to support an institution that you have a longstanding relationship with and feel strongly about as an alum.


NP...You don't understand quid pro quo, PP is correct.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2022 16:58     Subject: When DC doesn't get into your alma mater
Anonymous wrote:I don’t get it. How is some celeb giving $20,000 to a rowing coach different from an alumnus giving a $20,000 donation aside from the fact one is out in the open? Both are giving money for a preferential admission for their kid which will deny another child that spot. They are both bribery.


It's totally different. The first is an outright quid pro quo. The second is giving to support an institution that you have a longstanding relationship with and feel strongly about as an alum.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2022 16:44     Subject: When DC doesn't get into your alma mater
Anonymous wrote:We have a family friend - he went to Princeton UG and he did his PhD there too.

None of his three brilliant children got in and he's been really bitter ever since. One child did Harvard UG and Oxford PhD. Another son became a tech gazillionaire. Youngest child is a senior exec at Gates Foundation.

I mean, clearly none of his sons were harmed by not going to Princeton. But at least one should've attained admission. But that's what happens when you're not a deep pocketed donor or a famous person.


This post is ridiculous, I mean this is privilege at it's peak. Guy is bitter because they went to Harvard over Princeton etc. Why even post this drivel?
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2022 16:34     Subject: When DC doesn't get into your alma mater
Anonymous wrote:We have a family friend - he went to Princeton UG and he did his PhD there too.

None of his three brilliant children got in and he's been really bitter ever since. One child did Harvard UG and Oxford PhD. Another son became a tech gazillionaire. Youngest child is a senior exec at Gates Foundation.

I mean, clearly none of his sons were harmed by not going to Princeton. But at least one should've attained admission. But that's what happens when you're not a deep pocketed donor or a famous person.


They should have because they were legacy?
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2022 16:34     Subject: When DC doesn't get into your alma mater
I don’t get it. How is some celeb giving $20,000 to a rowing coach different from an alumnus giving a $20,000 donation aside from the fact one is out in the open? Both are giving money for a preferential admission for their kid which will deny another child that spot. They are both bribery.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2022 16:31     Subject: When DC doesn't get into your alma mater
We have a family friend - he went to Princeton UG and he did his PhD there too.

None of his three brilliant children got in and he's been really bitter ever since. One child did Harvard UG and Oxford PhD. Another son became a tech gazillionaire. Youngest child is a senior exec at Gates Foundation.

I mean, clearly none of his sons were harmed by not going to Princeton. But at least one should've attained admission. But that's what happens when you're not a deep pocketed donor or a famous person.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2022 16:25     Subject: Re:When DC doesn't get into your alma mater
Anonymous wrote:It wasn't the rejection that I had the strongest reaction to - it was that the AO for the school told DC's high school college counselor that because both parents were alum, and DC had the academic credentials that DC would get in. Then guidance counselor relayed this message to DC. Since the admit rate for the school is now around 5% I tried to prepare DC for rejection, but was told by DC that the counselor knew more than I did, and I was just being a downer. When the rejection arrived all I could do was tell DC I was sorry it didn't work out, and that he was fortunate to have other options.


In writing?

If not, you should have taken this nice talk with a grain of salt. 5% admin rate TODAY is so tough. I am sorry OP and hope that your DC has another strong contender.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2022 16:23     Subject: Re:When DC doesn't get into your alma mater
I was annoyed my DD did not get into my alma mater (her aunt's alma mater as well). Her stats were well within the top quartile and had a lot of extracurriculars too. She was wait-listed. The kicker was that about 2 days after she was wait-listed, they sent a letter asking me for donations. Nope.

The bright side is that she got into our state flagship with a large merit scholarship and could pay for undergrad and grad with money leftover. She would have been full pay at the elite private so the difference in price was life-changing.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2022 16:22     Subject: When DC doesn't get into your alma mater
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My Senior didn’t even apply to my school, there’s no way they would have gotten in. My own fault for having dumb kids I guess.


You sound like a peach.


Did you miss the sarcasm?


Looks like the "peach" PP wouldn't have made it in to your alma mater either
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2022 16:21     Subject: When DC doesn't get into your alma mater
Anonymous wrote:What is your reaction? I'm annoyed more than I thought I would be. Not that I've ever been a huge donor, but believe me, they'll never see another dime from me.

Any other more rational thoughts?


Step 1 - Stop donating; Step 2 - Convince as many people as possible to stop donating. Step 3 - Come on DCUM and talk down the school (this is optional).
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2022 16:19     Subject: When DC doesn't get into your alma mater
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Honestly, after my undergrad experience, I wasn't thrilled about my kids going to my alma mater (its the one that most DCUMers think is so awesome and we're so lucky that's its our in-state school!). I was just a number there.

I'm happy my kids went OOS and I could afford to do that for them.


I wouldn't say most.


You were "just a number there' because you are a dolt and didn't take advantage of the opportunities that exist there. This post is a perfect example of your social ineptitude.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2022 16:10     Subject: When DC doesn't get into your alma mater
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My Senior didn’t even apply to my school, there’s no way they would have gotten in. My own fault for having dumb kids I guess.


You sound like a peach.


Did you miss the sarcasm?
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2022 16:09     Subject: When DC doesn't get into your alma mater
Anonymous wrote:Honestly, after my undergrad experience, I wasn't thrilled about my kids going to my alma mater (its the one that most DCUMers think is so awesome and we're so lucky that's its our in-state school!). I was just a number there.

I'm happy my kids went OOS and I could afford to do that for them.


I wouldn't say most.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2022 16:07     Subject: When DC doesn't get into your alma mater
Anonymous wrote:What is your reaction? I'm annoyed more than I thought I would be. Not that I've ever been a huge donor, but believe me, they'll never see another dime from me.

Any other more rational thoughts?


Were you donating just because you thought it might help with admission? Something tells me the answer is no because if yes you didn't get a quality education there. Honestly, they could care less whether you ever donate again, they will be just fine so get over yourself.