<p>We live in a fairly wealthy school district. There is a kid who is applying to Wharton whose Mommy and Daddy went to the school with a big check to get their kid admitted. Wow if I were that kid, wouldn't I be embarrassed that my parents had to pay my way in rather than earn it like every other kid?</p>
<p>I do know the reality that this happens all the time. But I know that being the top student at the school should get one admitted before someone just walks in there with a 100K or 500K or maybe more.</p>
<p>I would hope to think that Penn wants the top dogs at each High School before admitting a kid with rich parents who are not alumni. It seems unfair. And I know all of you out there will just tell me life is sometimes unfair.</p>
<p>Yeah, I would too. Every unhooked applicant out there just truly has to be great, but with this kid you mentioned, do you know how good his academic stats and EC’s are?</p>
<p>There’s a term in the admissions biz for these types of applicants–they’re called “development admits.” Here’s a 7-year-old Wall Street Journal article about this fairly widespread practice:</p>
<p>I know it sucks that kids like that get into these schools. However, step back and think how hard Penn/any ivy would be if every single admitted applicant was off the charts brilliant. The curves would make classes impossible. What I have found is that for unhooked applicants, Penn is actually a really easy place to do well because so many kids are honestly not all that qualified.</p>
<p>500K won’t get a kid in these days. Look for more than a million plus. </p>
<p>Penn will act on Penn’s behalf, not any single individual’s. If tons of money can come in to support kids who otherwise can’t pay, of course they’ll take development admits. A certain number of slots are set aside each year anyway.</p>
<p>I agree with Rtgrove123…I was shocked when I first got to penn and realized how unqualified a good percentage of the student body was. Penn is notorious, compared to other ivy leagues, for development (i.e. rich) and legacy admits. That said as a non-legacy/development you do get to meet a ton of cool and very well connected people that will be good connections down the line in your career. I only graduated 2.5 years ago and am already seeing the benefit of some of my wealthy connections…plus take advantage of it while at penn…I have to say that having friends with private jets is quite convenient for those weekend trips to vegas, st. tropez, etc. :)</p>
<p>That’s a good point Whartongrad08, but it is still hard for me to accept. I am sure if all of the others that told me to “get over it” get rejected over someone significantly less qualified than them they would be enraged. But maybe these kids aren’t the top kids at their school. Anyway, if he gets rejected than he truly belongs somewhere more academically challenging. </p>
<p>Whartongrad08: you did make some good points</p>
<p>gmabcd: Sorry if I was too snarky with my “get over it” remark. As a matter of fact, I matriculated at another Ivy that some would consider “better” than UPenn. Regardless, having worked in alumni relations and in many non profits in my professional life, I am fully cognizant of how funding goes and how development plays a vital role. I find nothing inherently unfair about a certain no. of slots set aside for an institution’s development dept for cases where millions of dollars roll in to fund programs and scholarships for families who have no other funding option. Accept one marginal rich donor’s kid and it funds 60 middle class kids’ education? You bet I’ll take it: every time.</p>
<p>But FYI: at places like UPenn, you’re talking +$1million to even get consideration</p>
<p>T26E4: Thank you for explaining this to me. I guess what you are saying is true in the bigger picture. Wow, didn’t realize it would take 1 million or more to be considered. That’s alot of $$$. This kid’s parent who made the donation isn’t even alumni. So could he possibly be rejected and then penn keep the money? or his it a done deal when you give the money?</p>
<p>Tuition at penn, as high as it may be, actually does not even come close to covering 60 percent of the costs per student. It is people who are generous enough to donate that make it possible for the rest of us to study at Penn.</p>
Actually, the school does tell parents that, in a way. At a legacy advising session I attended, the group was told that the level of annual donations (e.g., $25 vs. a few thousand) does not affect legacy advantage in the admissions process. And I’d also dispute your assertion that legacy + any amount of money (no matter how small) is the same as applying nonlegacy. Penn make its very clear that during early decision, at least, legacy status bestows a slight advantage on a legacy applicant, all else being equal. But that’s about the legacy status, and not the amount of money donated by the alumni parents.</p>
<p>Development admits, on the other hand, are a completely different matter and, as pointed out elsewhere in this thread, are about 7-figure donations to the university, and not about the legacy status of the applicant. These two separate concepts shouldn’t be confused.</p>
If you mean the academic quality of students, as measured through GPAs, test scores, etc., the answer is no. First, the number of ED admits was actually reduced this year over last (1190 vs. 1200), and has remained fairly constant over the past several years. What did increase this year is the number of ED applicants, by 18.3%, which allows the academic quality of the ED admits to actually increase:</p>
<p>Also, as it makes clear in both statements and actions, the admissions office generally doesn’t lower academic standards in any way in ED admissions, and the average stats of the ED admits tend to be the same as–if not higher than–those of the enrolled class in general.</p>