<p>Ok so I've seen a good amount of posts on this. Concerning bush, gore, a few applicants, and that one girl who posted here.</p>
<p>Does having a family member in politics really help you? How much does it help you on your application (if you spin it off well... not like "hai my daddy is senater frum NY") versus us that don't have those connections.</p>
<p>I think it would be an interesting topic to discuss. More so on lower profile connections- not like famous senator or president.</p>
<p>I don't know about politicians, but actors, well... Last year, my son and I arrived at Yale in October for his on-campus interview. As I walked away (allowing him to go in to the Admissions Office himself), a black limo pulled up, and out came four people dressed entirely in black, all wearing sunglasses. As I passed by, Jack Nicholson, his daughter, and another woman with a man (presumably a bodyguard) all walked up to the Office. Later, when both my son and the Nicholson entourage walked out, a crowd swarmed around Jack, who was heard to say something to the effect that he'd "do a couple of the Masters Teas".</p>
<p>I guess you're right. From what I'm hearing... I'm getting at:</p>
<p>Famous (Angelina/Jack/Brad) : Definite hook, as in A list celebrity
High-Profile (Emma watson/Gov official) : Huge tip
High up (foreign dignitary): Major tip
very public role (Big Activist): Diversity</p>
<p>my dad is president of a small island and it didn't help me :(</p>
<p>You need a pretty high profile parent for it to help you. There are enough kids of governors and senators roaming around campus that it's not THAT big a deal. I think any politician below that level doesn't help much at all. Children of heads of state and cabinet members probably get a much larger boost than governors/member of Congress/ambassadors to high profile countries. Frankly, the kids of high level politicians are typically impressive. Of the ones I knew, many would have had a great chance at admission regardless of their parents. That being said, their parents gave them their genes and provided opportunities that helped them distinguish themselves.</p>
<p>I didn't know kids of people in the entertainment industry, so I can't comment on that.</p>
<p>Denzel Washington's daughter and Spielberg's son are both current Yalies.</p>
<p>What about a letter of rec from someone who works in politics/govt? Particularly someone in D.C. What if this was a diplomat and you worked with them as an intern?</p>
<p>There are THOUSANDS of letters of recommendation "signed" by the senator who's office some intern worked in. They are a complete waste of time if you didn't know the official personally. Basically they are just a volunteer hour completion log.</p>
<p>Now... if you knew him and it was significant? yes that's decent and worthwhile.</p>
<p>"Does having a family member in politics really help you? How much does it help you on your application (if you spin it off well... not like "hai my daddy is senater frum NY") versus us that don't have those connections."</p>
<p>Next to money (and of course, legacy), it's the biggest hook around. Two out of three hooks (money, legacy, political family) is virtually guaranteed to get you into a top school. You don't see Rockefellers going to West Virginia University or Marshall.</p>
<p>George W. Bush went to Yale, with a 1206 CR+M SAT score</p>
<p>^ Which was an EXCELLENT score at the time he took the test.</p>
<p>Oh really? Oops...I was thinking scores've changed since then. Kudos to him though. :)</p>
<p>I've just read that Prince Charles got into Cambridge with just 2 A-levels...(a B and a C). :o</p>
<p>
[quote]
Which was an EXCELLENT score at the time he took the test.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The depends on what you are comparing it to. Well above the median test-taker, but in the lowest quintile at Yale, even at that less selective time. It re-centers to about 1280 (CR+M) in today's scores and would certainly be in the lowest decile of Yale matriculants nowadays.</p>
<p>SAT</a> V+M Composites</p>
<p>What got him in--being the child of a wealthy legacy--probably wouldn't work today. However, viewed as the child of a wealthy legacy and former President, which he also is, he might stand a chance with those scores.</p>
<p>FYI, </p>
<p><a href="http://www.yale.edu/oir/book_numbers_original/b.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.yale.edu/oir/book_numbers_original/b.pdf</a>
See B-3.7
(1965 SAT V+M Yale 25 percentile for entering frosh = 1295 approx.)</p>
<p>Remember that at that time, and in his favor, at least half of the current applicant population was immediately disqualified for non-academic reasons.</p>
<p>If you were the child of a powerful politician / celebrity / extraordinarily wealthy person you would not mention it at all on your application. The push comes from another direction.</p>
<p>President / cabinet secretary / senator / governor (at least of a large state) is probably close to an automatic admit, at least if the kid is otherwise qualified. Below that, not really, although I imagine being in leadership in the CT state legislature would boost your kids' chances a lot. Mere celebrities -- it would depend a lot on the person. Stephen Spielberg? -- absolutely. Paris Hilton? -- not.</p>
<p>Emma Watson (and, in the past, Jodi Foster, Jennifer Beale, or at Harvard Natalie Portman, Mira Sorvino, Rivers Cuomo) is in a completely separate category -- a student who is prominent him- or herself. That's an absolute lock.</p>
<p>Haha, if you do not do well, you do not get in. They are all a part of the socioeconomic mix that Yale wants to make. They would also contribute to the name of the school. </p>
<p>YES!</p>
<p>Ok, so naturally there would be competition between celebs and politicians to get their kids into Yale because of the above mentioned. I think skull and bones drew Bush's application into the school, lol. Imagine celebs fighting to bring "my child into your school!"</p>
<p>I would totally put Nicholson jnr. into my school! The guy is fantastic! Hands down, Al Pacino wouild NEVER act The Departed any better than he did. He is a whole different person, and I would admit his kid in a heartbeat!</p>