<p>I know this sounds somewhat envious and jealous, but I am upset about something my friend has recently told me. We are both juniors, and both wanting to attend Penn. I feel that I am well qualified, but I am not asking chances or anything like that.. My friend is also very smart and we are on nearly the same level of everything including scores, gpa, ec's etc. But my friend, who comes from an amazingly wealthy oil family, told me that his dad was planning on donating up to 1 million dollars to Penn. Will this automatically allow him to be accepted? I know that he may have been exaggerating somewhat, but I know that 1 million out of their pocket would be worth his acceptance to penn. He has had no family attend Penn, so I am just wondering if they will realize the donation for acceptance, or if he will automatically be chosen. Thank you all very much</p>
<p>It will probably work unless he is retarded. Life isn't fair, at Penn or anywhere else.</p>
<p>What I'm curious about is, given wealth gap and all, will it ever reach a point where everyone who gets into Penn will be from famlies that donated.</p>
<p>Most colleges and universities put what they call "development admits" into a separate bucket when it comes to admissions. They do get a huge edge. This status is usually reserved for those who can be expected to contribute down the line, not just a one time donation. It sounds like your friends rich oil family would be in that catagory.</p>
<p>It doesn't mean you won't get in, however! If you know you want Penn, an early decision app will really help someone who doesn't have another hook going for them.</p>
<p>My dad and his old classmate from Wharton are both alums. My dad donated next to nothing. The classmate is incredibly wealthy and his daughter applied ED this year too, so I'll assume he donated a fair amount. I got in, the friend's daughter didn't. Donations aren't everything. Penn may defer your friend after ED and your friend may donate more to increase his chances. Then Penn may outright reject him and keep his money.</p>
<p>
[quote]
My dad and his old classmate from Wharton are both alums. My dad donated next to nothing. The classmate is incredibly wealthy and his daughter applied ED this year too, so I'll assume he donated a fair amount. I got in, the friend's daughter didn't. Donations aren't everything. Penn may defer your friend after ED and your friend may donate more to increase his chances. Then Penn may outright reject him and keep his money.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That would be hilarious to watch!</p>
<p>What's wrong with this "gentleman's agreement. So what a few people got in because their parents donated a lot of money. All this does is perhaps sacrifice an unnoticable or marginally noticable amount of talent and academic credentials (not all of the time) and with the millions of dollars donated penn can be vastly improved. A little sacrifice makes it better for the rest of the students. And I don't think it would ever be invaded by only unqualified rich kids like it once was, academics are still the main priority. (It won't be like USC)</p>
<p>Also, would you be mad or jealous of jon huntsman's grandchildren went to penn on the basis that he donated the wharton building. I know this is kind of an extreme example but it's the same concept. Also, if there's no preference in admissions to those who donate money, then a lot of people will stop donating money and penn wouldn't be as great as it is now. </p>
<p>PS: I don't mean this in a snobby manner, where I am sympathizing with those who donate lots of money. I just think that their money is necessary.</p>
<p>there was a firefight!</p>
<p>well, huntsman's daughter is actually here...</p>
<p>oh i thought he was older. Well, do you think it would be reasonable to not give her prefernce in admission because her father's great generosity. I see it as a way of returning the favor. (200 million dollar favor)</p>
<p>there was a firefight!</p>
<p>ahh, some boondock saints fans at penn?</p>
<p>Jesus Christ, people would donate that much money to get their kid into Penn? If the family has got $1 million to spare, the kid doesn't need to go to f***ing college. The priorities/perspective of this family frighten me.</p>
<p>...is it dead?</p>
<p>who cares about them, lets see it as how we benefit from it</p>
<p>Don't be jealous until your friend actually gets in and you don't. "Development admits" are given a preference but there are limits - even if you gave a zillion $ they wouldn't take someone with 500 SAT's across the board because they would feel he is incapable of doing the work. But, Penn is a private institution - they can give people preference for whatever reason they want (athletic talent, minority status, legacy, child of a celebrity, etc.) and a $1M donation sounds like a pretty good reason to me - they could use that money to fund 20 worthy scholarship students. Your friend sounds well qualified - why shouldn't they take him and his million $ donation over you? If you were running Penn are you saying you'd give no weight to a major gift? The real world doesn't work like this.</p>
<p>i agree. very good points</p>
<p>"If the family has got $1 million to spare, the kid doesn't need to go to f***ing college. The priorities/perspective of this family frighten me."</p>
<p>Prioritizing your children's education sounds like they have a good perspective to me.</p>
<p>If your kid is only getting into Penn because of a $1M donation, then you should have prioritized their education a lot sooner.</p>
<p>Nobody knows whether he would get in without the donation as well...</p>