<p>After reading several of the active threads and the issue of demonstrated interest keeps coming up.<br>
A student has applied to a well known university not an ivy. The student is introduced to someone in the development office of this university. The student visits and has numerous apointments set up with people in areas of interest. Since returning home the person in development has encouraged student to return again with parents to show the parent the school and meet with some others the student might find interesting.
The said student is good not great student with scores in the lower end of the admitted students. Thought ec and personality wise the student is top notched. The student is one who once meeting you would love to have attend your school.
The parents are puzzled as to what all this means. How much contact does someone in development have with admissions? It would seem to be quite cruel to extend such interest to a student and then reject them.</p>
<p>Usually the only way development would have an interest with admissions is when the children of heavy duty donors (who may or may not be alumni) apply. And whether that holds enough weight with admission of said child is determined differently by different colleges.</p>
<p>It may simply be a case where the develop. person thinks the student is a great fit for the school & vice versa. Or maybe the parents are rich ;-)?!!!</p>
<p>Also just because the student is not in the high end of scores for that college doesn't mean they won't have a chance. Someone was admitted previously with scores on that stated "low-end".</p>
<p>I agree that development only gets involved when they think the family is promising as major donors.</p>
<p>I agree with Kirmum and Irishbird. I wouldn't read too much into contacts with Development unless the family is very well off (or parents are famous in some way). If this was just a case of Development being "a friend of a friend" who agreed to talk with the student but the family isn't wealthy, the Development person is probably just being kind by being encouraging. </p>
<p>For instance, in my work I frequently interview faculty members and public relations people at various colleges. I sometimes mention that my daughter is a junior and ask a few questions about their perception of the school. They usually are very positive about their school and say my daughter should apply --- but in many cases, my daughter's stats are WAY below the schools and I know she would not have a chance of being accepted. I suspect from this that faculty and non-admissions administrative people at many schools do not really have a clear idea of what the current stats of accepted students are at their schools.</p>
<p>Now, if the admissions office was calling and urging the student to apply, come visit, etc. --- that's a different story. I'd take that as a VERY good sign. But, if it's just a faculty member or someone in a non-admissions capacity at the school, I think it's just something to take with a grain of salt and not put too much stock into.</p>
<p>Carolyn-it is a bit of both. A friend of a friend who made the connection. But the parents are well off and in the future could be potential donors. Though previously the student was also nominated by her school for a special scholars program at this school. It is also a school that states that demonstrated interest is important. I could guess that the person feels that the student would be an asset to the University and is pushing the student to show lots of interest.
This is a student who definitely has a chance of admissions anyway.</p>
<p>Seems likes said school may be very interested in the student. We received some 'guidance' from someone in a prestigious college. At the time my student was a junior and we received emails and calls, 'pep' talks, as to how to increase our chances, what to do. I guess it's all how far you want to take it. (We did not.) For us the college was on the other side of the country and husband just doesn't want student going that far away. Secondly, we looked at the stats. 30% of freshman drop out of this said college because it is too hard. 3rdly, son wants a job in the field, he doesn't want to go to grad college and do university research. He is just not that ambitious at this point. 4. Son did not want to work so hard doing everything they told us to do! Like in addition to his AP's and honors and community service for school go find a research job or additional research.It ws like, "you want this, now how high can you jump for it?" In our house we don't need ulcers. We are not trememdous overachievers. 5.We will get little merit aid as son would be in the lower end of admission and if son fills out the FASA he will have to register with the draft (selective service), (But we won't get anything there anyway because husband makes a good salary but we have many children, and spaced in such a manner no aid would be forthcoming anyway. I mean son would have gotten something but points 1,2,3, and 4 were most important.</p>
<p>"... if son fills out the FASA he will have to register with the draft (selective service)"</p>
<p>That's interesting. I thought every male 18-year-old was required to register with Selective Service. What's the "out" that gets them out of it? (A student I know turned 18 in Sept. while he was at college and did not register for some reason; he was refused the opportunity to sign up for his 2nd semester courses until he could prove he had registered. No financial aid involved.)
--> [oops, sorry for the threadjack!!]</p>
<p>The answer can be found in any book written by past adcoms. Check one of those books at your local Barnes and Noble, and the answer will jump at you.</p>
<p>If a school considers you worthy of their interest, most bets are off. The only problem is that the "worthiness" only last until a better candidate shows up. This applies to development and athetic targets.</p>
<p>I was about to ask the same question!</p>
<p>Some colleges require a student is registered and some do not. In order ot receive any financial aid from the government you must be registered. Now, I know I'll get roasted here but the law is not enforced.</p>
<p>BHG, I think you put the cart before the horse. It's not that filing FAFSA will require your son to register for the draft, it's that he already is required to register and if he doesn't he won't qualify for financial aid. FAFSA is just one of the "sticks" the government uses to make sure that people register.</p>
<p>Edit: This isn't the only "stick", though. If you truly don't wan't your son to register you need to find out what else he might come up against. No lectures, but it's just something to consider. While there is no "official" space to state that your are a conscientious objector on the draft registration, I know many people go ahead and register but also document on the registration card (in whatever space they can) that they object to the registration and any potential draft.</p>
<p>Mootmom: it is true that young men who don't register for the draft cannot receuve government aid (such as Pell grants). However, it is also true that the penalty for not registering is $250,000, regardless of educational status.</p>
<p>I have no idea why a student who didn't register for the draft would not be allowed to register for classes, but there may have been some sort of government link of which you were unaware.</p>
<p>I started a thread about this once.Ask the college and then ask again in the registrar's office.It all depends if you are filling out any aid forms often.
Now I know about our moral responsibility and all my children have registered as they should.</p>
<p>I do not believe Big Brother is watching. If Big Brother doesn't make the effort to stop illegal aliens you are suggesting there is a LINK between registering for college classes and the DRAFT board? ha. So THAT is why Ashcroft quit!</p>
<p>I recently got some insight into how development offices work If they are put on notice to court a candidate, they go to work researching the family. They create a very detailed file to gain insight into the family's net worth to estimate your potential for giving. Any public information on your work, salary, stock trades, pasts giving, etc. is used to evaluate you.</p>
<p>Really? No.............how do you know?</p>
<p>One of my partners, very involved in fund raising for an ivy, was actually shocked to have to tell me this! I guess it's no secret. It seems such files are also kept on alums at many schools to focus fundraising as well.</p>
<p>Well they ask you right there for your S S number on any application. I guess a check could be easily done, the whole thing computerized. But to print it and put it in a file and refer to it? Gee.....don't care for that! I always wondered about the admission number for particular local private schools. Seems like specific schools will always have the same number of admissions. And others, none, even though some kids whcih apply have ideal scores and stats.</p>
<p>BHG, Detailed files of family donor potential are kept at private elementary schools and private high schools.</p>
<p>And don't forget that if your kid is a legacy, they will be checking your long-term record of donations. (Although if my consistent $100/year since graduation is what got my kid into MIT, it would have been cheap!)</p>