<p>I should probably post this on the graduate school thread, but I really do want information from fellow parents who have seen-it-been-there-done-that.</p>
<p>Our son took the GMAT a while ago and did quite well. He is receiving communications from well respected programs that go like this:</p>
<p>"Dear Mafool's son,
Congratulations! Through the Graduate Management Admission Search Service (GMASS), you have been identified as a preferred candidate for XX Universitys management programs.<br>
For the 2011 entering class, over XX% of our students received scholarships; incoming students with a GMAT score similar to yours received a XXX Prize Scholarship valued up to $ pretty big bucks.00 for the program...."</p>
<p>Excited no, but worth putting into the “more research later on this” pile. Not many students receive funding for their MBA programs, but I have known a couple who did.</p>
<p>It is the equivalent of being a pretty girl and getting a big smile from the fellow across the room. It’s a nice compliment. But before we start packing the bags for the honeymoon, a lot of work and research comes first. Just who is this fellow with the smile? Research, research, research and tiptoe forward with an open but careful mind. </p>
<p>Being a preferred candidate may mean that Mafool’s son can apply with out an application fee – or be first in line for certain programs. It may also only mean that he gets to go to coffee with the Dean once before the tuition bills are due. </p>
<p>I would not get blindsided by what other students in other years have garnered in scholarship money. What matters is what YOUR kid gets. The only way to know is for him to apply. </p>
<p>There may be a gem of an opportunity in that pile of mail. I’d say you need to do what the mother hen of any gorgeous chick needs to do: look carefully, think deeply, and be a bit slow to be impressed. Tell son that your fingers are itching to do some research and see if he’ll give you the green light to rampage around some of the college websites – you are, after all, a loving parent and you might turn up something that is an excellent fit. Point out that the time that you are on line researching is time that you are not mentioning to him the chores and tasks that you feel he should be doing. </p>
<p>Absolutely anyone and everyone who has a pulse can be admitted to a ‘graduate level’ ‘management program’ somewhere, somehow. The inside joke is the higher the tuition, the shorter and faster that program will be too! I picture one day you can just write a check to WELL-KNOWN-U and you’ll get some kind of nice sounding diploma in the mail. </p>
<p>Like all other college related things, what matters is not the discount/scholarship but what you will actually end up paying. Your son might have a scholarship opportunity but take it all now with grain of salt (b-schools DO offer real scholarships to high scoring applicants, especially those trying to move up into top 10, and I have no idea if that would be an option for your son). </p>
<p>Mafool, if you send me a pm with a specific example of a b-school program, I’d be happy to give you my opinion if I have one.</p>