Father used to work at Penn - How much of a boost, if any?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

Hi! My father used to work at the University of Pennsylvania (Adjunct Prof. at the graduate level), and, while he hasn’t worked there for about 10-15 years, he still knows professors there.

How much, if any, will this help my application to Penn? I am not applying ED.

What can he do to help? My college counselor mentioned “talking to people he knows”, but he doesn’t really know anyone in admissions.

I know I sound entitled or privileged etc. - I know I’m lucky to have this, but please give advice!

2

It won’t hurt, but my gut feeling is that I don’t think it will do all that much to boost your RD application. Too much time has passed and there are a lot of adjunct professors who have taught at Penn at one time or another. I guess he could talk to professors he knows there to see if anyone can help.

3

I don’t think him working there will help. They give boosts to people whose parents went to Penn, not who worked at Penn.
If he doesn’t really know anybody in admissions, then I don’t really think it can be much use.

4

@rdeng2614


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They give boosts to people whose parents went to Penn, not who worked at Penn.

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The only thing is that I hear “faculty children” literally all the time when people talk about hooks.

5

Thanks, @happy1! I don’t know if/how profs could help?

6

Current, influential faculty parents maybe? He hasn’t been there for more than half of your life.

7

I’m not sure professors can help at all, but it seems worth posing the question.

8

Maybe if he knows a faculty member that knows you personally and would be able to write a rec? That could be helpful.

9

A faculty rec will not help at all unless the faculty knows OP well as it is generally generic.

10

That’s why I said “knows you personally”

11

If he were currently faculty there, it could be a slight boost. 10-15 years out = no boost.

12

Colleges want recommendations from teachers who have taught the student. In some cases, they accept additional recommendations, but, again, they need to know you well enough to write a strong letter.

13

@a20171 Yeah sorry missed that.

14

Adjunct at the graduate level ten years ago? This is a pretty tenuous connection. I’d say no. Do any faculty members know you and can talk about your academic prowess? If so, that can help but not a hook.

Penn used to accept faculty children many years ago. Now that Penn has become much more selective, I’m not so sure that’s still the case. They don’t need them for yield purposes anymore.

15

They may not need them for yield purposes but colleges do this to attract/retain valued faculty/staff. It’s a perk that’s offered as an employment enticement.

16

Faculty children definitely do receive a boost for the reason T26E4 said. That being said being an adjunct prof carries little to no weight because he was just part-time help. The fact that it was so long ago makes it almost of zero importance.

17

@T26E4 “They may not need them for yield purposes but colleges do this to attract/retain valued faculty/staff. It’s a perk that’s offered as an employment enticement.”

It is also beneficial as a signaling device. For example, the Dean of Engineering is Dean Kumar. If he is being asked about the school, it is one thing to say that he thinks it is great, but he has to say that. It is another thing entirely to say that it is the best there is, and his daughter goes to it.

18

Not so bad for him either – he doesn’t have to shell out a quarter million to see his kiddo go to a rival school when it’s free (not 100% sure) for her to attend Penn…