Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dad is a lifetime board of trustees member for a Top 25 school. He has written letters over the years and his number 1 requirement before he will do so is that the applicant absolutely, without any doubt, will attend the school if admitted. It makes him look really bad if he recommends someone and they end up not attending. He makes this very clear. He also is very particular about who he will write letters for- he doesn't want to write one more than every other year or less. Too many and they lose their significance. He will write a letter and also call the director of admissions to let them know in advance the letter is coming and to let him know if they need more information, etc. There are separate admissions officers for students with letters like this.

Your Dad is very kind and makes a thoughtful and generous offer while protecting his reputation so that he can help future kids effectively. Unfortunately, a kid who isn't full-pay can't take advantage of this offer. The substantial bump in the likelihood of admission doesn't mean the school will in turn kick in financial aid (beyond loans). That's particularly true if it's your Dad's recommendation that lets the kid squeak in--meaning the kid is at the bottom of the barrel in terms of admittees. So based on how you phrased it, a kid worried about this can't take up your Dad on his offer unless your Dad is somehow certain that an offer of admission will come with enough aid to meet the kid's financial need.

How many non-full pay kids personally know college board members? I mean this isn’t even an option for 98% of the applicant pool.

Don’t worry about something you can’t control.

Right? People that have these sorts of connections are not needing financial aid. Please.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dad is a lifetime board of trustees member for a Top 25 school. He has written letters over the years and his number 1 requirement before he will do so is that the applicant absolutely, without any doubt, will attend the school if admitted. It makes him look really bad if he recommends someone and they end up not attending. He makes this very clear. He also is very particular about who he will write letters for- he doesn't want to write one more than every other year or less. Too many and they lose their significance. He will write a letter and also call the director of admissions to let them know in advance the letter is coming and to let him know if they need more information, etc. There are separate admissions officers for students with letters like this.

Your Dad is very kind and makes a thoughtful and generous offer while protecting his reputation so that he can help future kids effectively. Unfortunately, a kid who isn't full-pay can't take advantage of this offer. The substantial bump in the likelihood of admission doesn't mean the school will in turn kick in financial aid (beyond loans). That's particularly true if it's your Dad's recommendation that lets the kid squeak in--meaning the kid is at the bottom of the barrel in terms of admittees. So based on how you phrased it, a kid worried about this can't take up your Dad on his offer unless your Dad is somehow certain that an offer of admission will come with enough aid to meet the kid's financial need.

How many non-full pay kids personally know college board members? I mean this isn’t even an option for 98% of the applicant pool.

Don’t worry about something you can’t control.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dad is a lifetime board of trustees member for a Top 25 school. He has written letters over the years and his number 1 requirement before he will do so is that the applicant absolutely, without any doubt, will attend the school if admitted. It makes him look really bad if he recommends someone and they end up not attending. He makes this very clear. He also is very particular about who he will write letters for- he doesn't want to write one more than every other year or less. Too many and they lose their significance. He will write a letter and also call the director of admissions to let them know in advance the letter is coming and to let him know if they need more information, etc. There are separate admissions officers for students with letters like this.

Your Dad is very kind and makes a thoughtful and generous offer while protecting his reputation so that he can help future kids effectively. Unfortunately, a kid who isn't full-pay can't take advantage of this offer. The substantial bump in the likelihood of admission doesn't mean the school will in turn kick in financial aid (beyond loans). That's particularly true if it's your Dad's recommendation that lets the kid squeak in--meaning the kid is at the bottom of the barrel in terms of admittees. So based on how you phrased it, a kid worried about this can't take up your Dad on his offer unless your Dad is somehow certain that an offer of admission will come with enough aid to meet the kid's financial need.

Anonymous wrote:My dad is a lifetime board of trustees member for a Top 25 school. He has written letters over the years and his number 1 requirement before he will do so is that the applicant absolutely, without any doubt, will attend the school if admitted. It makes him look really bad if he recommends someone and they end up not attending. He makes this very clear. He also is very particular about who he will write letters for- he doesn't want to write one more than every other year or less. Too many and they lose their significance. He will write a letter and also call the director of admissions to let them know in advance the letter is coming and to let him know if they need more information, etc. There are separate admissions officers for students with letters like this.

Anonymous wrote:My DC’s friend used a connection for UVA. Ultimately was not admitted (stats were too low), but connection did call the family the 3 days before admissions decisions came out to let them know the applicant would not be accepted and the exact number of kids from their school that would be accepted, WL and rejected. Local DMV private school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It makes sense that influential donors and board members would be able to help kids get admitted. I have a job where I spend time with rich people. These folks don't have as many of these chits as you may think (esp. for non-family members). Usually these kids have a great applications, and it goes without saying that your kid has to go if a board member/donor is supporting their application.

-1 don’t kid yourself.

Op. I personally witnessed this pitch 30 years ago. School UVA. Member of university board and northern Virginia economic development member who tripped over himself telling an influential business member how he could secure Larlo’s admission to ‘the university.’ Mentioned each board member had limited number of ‘slots.’ He would gladly use one for Larlo.

This is how the world works.

Anonymous wrote:It makes sense that influential donors and board members would be able to help kids get admitted. I have a job where I spend time with rich people. These folks don't have as many of these chits as you may think (esp. for non-family members). Usually these kids have a great applications, and it goes without saying that your kid has to go if a board member/donor is supporting their application.

Anonymous wrote:Wow. You know a lot of important people.