Your spouse's friend has tons of friends. You really think he's getting all of them into the elite college? The President of the college has friends too. So does the Head of Development. It's not the hook you may think it is.

So I guess you are not so into, "Be the change you want to see in the world."

Your approach sure worked for Epstein for quite a while, game that system to help you and yours.

Anonymous wrote:It is so amusing how parents say they are using pull just to get into schools they are equally qualified for anyway.

If you had faith your kid could get their on their own merits, you would not feel the need to put your thumb on the scale.

Remember that gaining admission includes MORE than academic stats, such as an interview, EC's, teacher recommendations. Perhaps in your heart you realize that your kid is not as special as you had hoped for, and therefore, you need to research how one greases the skids.

Poor kid. I hope he or she does not pick up on the fact that you think the things they can attain on their own would not be good enough.

You are right, there are other factors at play. There are athletes who are not as strong academically who will get in over kids who will perform better academically at the college level than the athlete. There are kids whose parents went to the school and donate money to the school who will get preferential treatment. I teach my kids that being qualified is only one component of being successful in life. You need to be able to connect with people, build relationships, and seek out resources you can utilize in accomplishing your goals. I feel sorry for the poor kids who think life is a strict meritocracy. They are in for a rude awakening.

It is so amusing how parents say they are using pull just to get into schools they are equally qualified for anyway.

If you had faith your kid could get their on their own merits, you would not feel the need to put your thumb on the scale.

Remember that gaining admission includes MORE than academic stats, such as an interview, EC's, teacher recommendations. Perhaps in your heart you realize that your kid is not as special as you had hoped for, and therefore, you need to research how one greases the skids.

Poor kid. I hope he or she does not pick up on the fact that you think the things they can attain on their own would not be good enough.

A more ethical way to approach this issue would be to NOT apply to friend's school but ask friend to help DC prepare apps for OTHER comparable schools. (If she is truly close and ethical this is likely what will be offered).

This person will have a unique perspective on the trends in college admissions and what colleges are looking for. DD#1 Graduated in 2015, DD#2 Graduated in '18 and DS is a rising senior. All attend rigorous high school and were/are prepared to attend elite colleges. Things have gotten markedly harder between '15 and '18. No one really knows what, if anything, will change this cycle bc its the first full one since the the scandal broke.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you not learn anything from the recent Lori college admissions scandal? Grrrr

So if you have friends in Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, your kids must pass over these schools in silence?

If you can't see the difference, you have a bigger issue.

You are full of it. OP is not talking about a $400,000 “donation” here. If you get pulled over and Officer Friendly gives you a warning, will you insist on the ticket you just got pulled over for? You are just jealous cuz you don’t have the pull OP has.

Actually admissions is going to be under a microscope because of the scandal. An admissions director who does a favor is going to risk losing their job. No one is worth losing their job over be it Suzie from Langley or Dina from Potomac. So don't ask for a favor because your kid will probably be automatically rejected because they don't want to deal with you.

Anonymous wrote:1) What are you teaching your children when you pull strings to engineer their (so called) accomplishments?

2) Why would you want your child at a college that is over their heads? That would be setting them up for struggle, low self esteem and possible failure (unless you have some plan to engineer their grades).

It is not to late (hopefully) to teach them to take the high road (=do their best, and feel proud of what they have achieved on their own merits -- not their parents' connections)

Who said anything about putting the child at a college that is over his head? OP's child may have the stats for the school in question, but so do thousands of other students. I would never put my child where they would struggle, but if my contacts can help get them an interview over an equally qualified candidate, I'll make the call. If my contacts can be the deciding factor for something my child if fully qualified for, I'll make the call. You live in a bubble if you don't think that's how life works. Stay on your high road and I'll live in the real world.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you not learn anything from the recent Lori college admissions scandal? Grrrr

So if you have friends in Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, your kids must pass over these schools in silence?

If you can't see the difference, you have a bigger issue.

You are full of it. OP is not talking about a $400,000 “donation” here. If you get pulled over and Officer Friendly gives you a warning, will you insist on the ticket you just got pulled over for? You are just jealous cuz you don’t have the pull OP has.

Actually, I am not. I went this morning. High fiber diet, try it.

No wonder even hiding behind a keyboard you can’t pass the smell test.

Only to you sweetheart

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you not learn anything from the recent Lori college admissions scandal? Grrrr

So if you have friends in Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, your kids must pass over these schools in silence?

If you can't see the difference, you have a bigger issue.

You are full of it. OP is not talking about a $400,000 “donation” here. If you get pulled over and Officer Friendly gives you a warning, will you insist on the ticket you just got pulled over for? You are just jealous cuz you don’t have the pull OP has.

Actually, I am not. I went this morning. High fiber diet, try it.

No wonder even hiding behind a keyboard you can’t pass the smell test.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you not learn anything from the recent Lori college admissions scandal? Grrrr

So if you have friends in Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, your kids must pass over these schools in silence?

If you can't see the difference, you have a bigger issue.

You are full of it. OP is not talking about a $400,000 “donation” here. If you get pulled over and Officer Friendly gives you a warning, will you insist on the ticket you just got pulled over for? You are just jealous cuz you don’t have the pull OP has.

Actually, I am not. I went this morning. High fiber diet, try it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you not learn anything from the recent Lori college admissions scandal? Grrrr

So if you have friends in Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, your kids must pass over these schools in silence?

If you can't see the difference, you have a bigger issue.

You are full of it. OP is not talking about a $400,000 “donation” here. If you get pulled over and Officer Friendly gives you a warning, will you insist on the ticket you just got pulled over for? You are just jealous cuz you don’t have the pull OP has.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you not learn anything from the recent Lori college admissions scandal? Grrrr

So if you have friends in Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, your kids must pass over these schools in silence?

If you can't see the difference, you have a bigger issue.

Anonymous wrote:Did you not learn anything from the recent Lori college admissions scandal? Grrrr

So if you have friends in Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, your kids must pass over these schools in silence?

1) What are you teaching your children when you pull strings to engineer their (so called) accomplishments?

2) Why would you want your child at a college that is over their heads? That would be setting them up for struggle, low self esteem and possible failure (unless you have some plan to engineer their grades).

It is not to late (hopefully) to teach them to take the high road (=do their best, and feel proud of what they have achieved on their own merits -- not their parents' connections)

Did you not learn anything from the recent Lori college admissions scandal? Grrrr