<p>Do you think it is worth it to be accepted into a top boarding school because your family donated a lot of money to the school? Or would you rather get accepted into the school on your own effort?</p>
<p>my own effort but then again i'm not from a family that donates a lot of money so i don't have their perspective</p>
<p>If my parent's donated to a school for the sake of me getting a better chance of getting in, I would rather go to a lower tier ranked school (40% +/-) on the basis of my own effort. Even if the school I went to wasn't exactly A/E or whatever, at least I would know I got accepted without cheating.</p>
<p>What if it got you in over another candidate with equal qualifications but they could only take one?</p>
<p>Are you asking "me" or just people in general? personally, I think that the chances of that are slim to none. I'm not exactly sure what I would choose though. I know I would be bummed If I did not get accepted, but at the same time, I'm hesitant to leave. maybe I should start another thread about leaving vs. staying. :D</p>
<p>I'm sure most people would rather get into a school without any family influence. But using family money to help gain admission is far from cheating. Perhaps leekleek123 used the wrong word. The fact is that many schools openly state that applicants who are also applying for financial aid are in a more completive applicant pool than full pay applicants. Isn't it really the same thing?</p>
<p>Also keep in mind that families that are full pay and the families who make large donations to endowments help subsidize financial aid for other students.</p>
<p>Okay, if given the choice between getting in to a school only because of family influence, or not getting into the school, what would you choose? By the way, I'm just curious, I'm not actually contemplating to ask my parents to donate millions to a school just so I can go.</p>
<p>Sorry for the typo in my last post, I wasn't paying attention to spell check. I meant competitive not completive above.</p>
<p>I would happily go to a school or take a job or insert any other applicable item here, using family influence. When my daughter applies to college, if she wants to go to the same college as me, she is welcome to (and I would encourage her to) use the fact that me, my wife and one of her grandfathers all went there. Not that it's much of a hook but it's the same idea.</p>
<p>thanks for the honest answer!</p>
<p>Go in with family influence....</p>
<p>family influence.....</p>
<p>People who have millions rarely talk about it.</p>
<p>? Ya, but you don't need to talk when you live in a mansion or drive an expensive car or have a thousand dollar suit on. That talks for itself. Plus if your family donates a significant amount the offspring will most likely benefit from the donation.</p>
<p>My message was directed at the OP. If her parents had millions to donate, she'd hardly be asking total strangers on a discussion board whether or not to feel conflicted.</p>
<p>The question was never whether or not I should feel conflicted, but rather what other people would prefer. I also never stated my parents' financial circumstances. I'm sorry if this caused any confusion.</p>
<p>Things Lost: Excellent question. This is something I've actually thought about (hypothetically, of course). Another question I've been pondering is if given a choice, children of celebrities would apply to prominent schools anonymously rather than ride their parents' fame. If anyone has any thoughts, I'd like to hear them. </p>
<p>As for what I would choose, it would depend. Obviously, getting in based on my own merit is the best solution. However, if I had to choose between begging mum and dad to buy a new building and not being accepted, I think I would not ask them to. Even if they had the means (and before you jump all over me, baseballmom, I'm not saying they do, or claiming in any way they are "people who have millions"), I'd want the knowledge that I earned my spot. </p>
<p>I, however, do not think that financial aid and regular tuition at non need blind schools create the same sort of moral dilemma that an "extra" donation would. However, it is a very good point to bring up.</p>
<p>I hate this keyboard. DO children of...</p>
<p>It's unethical, but people do it and it might actually work especially since the economy is so bad right now. But what's the point in getting in somewhere that you can't get in without donating? What makes someone think that getting into the school by donating means that they will be able to do the work there?</p>
<p>How exactly is it unethical?</p>
<p>Because you are trying to cheat other people of a spot by "bribing"(in a way) the school with money.</p>