<p>One of my dad's friends has helped many people into college, since he knows a lot of people at the top universities. He will hopefully lay in some good words about me to the schools I want to apply to, but I was wondering how much it can help?</p>
<p>Let us say he knows the president of a top-10 university very well. I know this is a very obscure question, but still, would you say my shots of being admitted could increase perceptibly? Or do I still need at least 2100 on the SAT? Could i get away with a 2000 on the SAT?</p>
<p>I have the highest grade in every subject so far and I attend one of the absolute most difficult and hardworking schools in Sweden, so I am not dumb, but my english could be better.</p>
<p>I would be very greatful for some serious and well thought-out responses!</p>
<p>Sometimes this sort of thing can help. However, it won’t help at all of you don’t meet their minimum standards. You will need to be within the range of what that college/university normally admits.</p>
<p>Well, friend of ours is a dean at a top 10. Her son exceeded the criteria for admission academically, but still didn’t get in. What ‘knowing the president well’ got the boy was, perhaps, a second look and a personal call to her from the president saying that he regretted that they couldn’t offer her son admission. I suspect this is typical unless you also come with a very generous donation attached.</p>
<p>Ok, thanks for your inputs on the matter! The person I am talking about has helped at least one person into Harvard, one into Middlebury and a few more into other top schools. I am not sure how much he has helped them or how much the students did themselves, but I thought it sounded promising :)</p>
<p>Ok, I also think that those who do get in thanks to a connection don’t know it themselves and even if they do know, they probably don’t go around chattering about it. So perhaps it does affect my application more than anyone would think?</p>
<p>In Sweden we don’t have the same culture of giving out awards for everything and we don’t volunteer to the same extent as americans. Furthermore, there are no mentionable school clubs and therefore my application will probably not look as “fancy” as it is. </p>
<p>I just hope they realize I will contribute to the school, even though I haven’t done it in my school here in Sweden so far since we students don’t have much of a say.</p>
<p>I am definitely among the smartest students in my class which is unofficially ranked as the most rigorous high school in the country. Does anyone have any tips on how I should convey this message without sounding like a total duche bag?</p>
<p>Have you paid a visit to the EducationUSA office in Stockholm? [EducationUSA</a> - Center Profile - Swedish Fulbright Commission](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.info/Fulbright-Sweden]EducationUSA”>http://www.educationusa.info/Fulbright-Sweden) The counselors there can help you with your applications. That is what they are there to do! You don’t have to make yourself into a Swedish-speaking clone of a US applicant. The admissions officers at the colleges/universities that you will apply to know that students from different cultural backgrounds spend their time in ways that aren’t the same as the ways US students spend their time. The differences are some of the reasons why colleges/universities want to have international students on campus. Don’t worry about this so much. Be yourself.</p>
<p>Thanks happymomof1! I have been there a couple of times actually My brother just got their scolarship for graduate studies, so they know who my family is. I haven’t really gotten the sort of help I need, but I will try again soon! I really hope they will look at my application the way you described.</p>
<p>The only way you’re guaranteed to get in is if you know the President personally and/or have a parent who is internationally recognized in his/her field (by that I mean extremely well-known in academia) who can vouch for you. But the latter may not even suffice. Family ties to a foreign or domestic government official helps too. (ie. Senator, President, Vice-President)</p>
<p>A friend, for example, got into Harvard thanks to the help of family connections (his grandmother is related to the President of Switzerland, and his uncle was Vice-President of one of Switzerland’s top universities).</p>
<p>Of course, being able to make six figure donations helps as well.</p>
<p>Write good essays. Talk about your life experiences, your talents, what makes you “smart,” what makes you, you. You could talk about Swedish culture, why you want to come to the US , why you feel it would benefit you, and what you can contribute. I don’t know if you can express yourself clearly in writing, but try your best. Essays can only do so much, but if admissions officers “get you,” that will definitely give you a leg up.</p>
<p>Well this guy I mentioned knows Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, George Lucas, presidents of different top universities and many more. He and my father are pretty close friends and this guy, just as I mentioned, would love to help me on my quest to college! Has anyone changed their mind about wether this will help me or not?</p>
<p>What we think doesn’t matter. The only people who know whether or not his assistance will help you are the people in the admissions offices at the colleges/universities that he offers to help you with.</p>
<p>If he seems to be a truly nice person, who has your best interests at heart, well then let him help you with your applications. If you think he isn’t sincere, or you think he’s crazy, or a liar, or dangerous, well then you don’t have to accept his assistance. It really is up to you.</p>
<p>What you do need to know, is that even if he does know everyone, he cannot get you into a college or university that you are not qualified for in the first place. He may be able to get them to move you from the “maybe” group to the “yes” group, but you have to get yourself into that “maybe” group.</p>
<p>There’s help and then there’s help. Depends what he does. He could write a nice letter to his friend the college president saying that you’re a family friend a nice kid. That probably won’t help much, but it won’t hurt either. Or he could do a little arm twisting. In my experience, if he’s actually going to call in some chips on your behalf, it will be because you are on the waitlist or on appeal. He’ll do if at one school and you will need to commit to going there if it works.</p>
<p>I don’t really even know him! He is not that kind of guy you are describing, qialah. He is extremely (too) honest, hardworking and he loves when people struggle to get where they want. My job is to be that guy. He has made it very clear that if I work hard he will help me get into a great college. Not by studying with me or helping me write my essays, but by making phone calls. He wouldn’t say a couple of “nice” words about me since he isn’t that guy! He knows exactly what to say to impress the schools.</p>
<p>Maybe you are right, happymomof1, because I think it is dificult to describe my situation. Thanks anyway everyone for trying.</p>
My brother just got their scolarship for graduate studies, so they know who my family is. I haven’t really gotten the sort of help I need, but I will try again soon! I really hope they will look at my application the way you described.</p>