<p>My son is a soph in high school at a well respected college prep. The problem is that he is a average student and he has'nt taken the ACT/SAT tests yet. Should he take them this year or wait until next year? How soon after these tests should he apply for college? Will my alumni status help him get in if he is average?</p>
<p>The University of Michigan still publicly posts the rating sheet it uses to evaluate applicants, which includes a line for "alumni relationships":</p>
<p>They also post an explanation of what they're looking for in each category, which makes it clear that having a parent or stepparent who attended as a degree-seeking student (apparently in any degree program, grad or undergrad) is more important than other alumni relationships, but any alumni relationship could be helpful.</p>
<p>
[quote} Alumni Relationships</p>
<p>The University of Michigan values the relationship it has with current and former students. These students are part of the Michigan community; they provide service and support to the larger University community. As such, reviewers should take into consideration applicants who have a direct relationship, or stepfamily relationship, with someone who has attended the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor as a degree-seeking student.</p>
<p>Strongest consideration should be given to applicants whose parents or stepparents attended the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, followed by applicants who have a grandparent, sibling, or spouse, who has attended or is attending the University.</p>
<p>Consideration is not cumulative. In other words, additional consideration should not be given to applicants who have multiple generations of family who have attended Michigan.</p>
<p>To recognize the continuing service and support provided to the University, consideration will be given for certain alumni relationships:</p>
<p>Legacy – The applicant, whose parent or stepparent attended UM-Ann Arbor as a degree-seeking student, should be awarded discretionary consideration.
Or
Other Alumni Relationships – The applicant, whose grandparents, siblings, or spouse attended UM-Ann Arbor as degree-seeking students, should be awarded discretionary consideration.
Consideration cannot be awarded for both categories.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>It's also clear they're not just looking for high donor potential. They value their alumni network for lots of reasons---money being one, career networking contacts being another, the role of alumni offspring as a constant source of high quality applicants being probably a third. No doubt these things vary somewhat by school, but what Michigan says about it is probably fairly typical of many. Kudos to them for being so transparent about it.</p>
<p>
[quote]
She's very morally opposed to the idea, especially given she feels she's already hugely advantaged by our socio-economic status (education and income).
[quote]
Just tell her that she has a moral obligation to answer the questions on the application fully and truthfully.
[/quote]
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Clever Hunt.</p>