Hello,
I am a 18 y/o college freshman going into sophomore year w/ net-worth of around ~1.5MM through a rapidly growing boutique firm I founded a year ago, I want to transfer sophomore year into Harvard to expand my networking connections, would $150k donation suffice for admission given a transfer college GPA of 4.0 w/ 35 ACT? Also, don’t know if it would support my candidacy, but I am a member in several high IQ societies for IQ of 150+.
Thoughts? Thanks.
It’s very straightforward - just call the Harvard undergraduate admissions office and ask to speak to someone in the Sales Department. They should be able to tell you what the price of admission is this year (it varies depending on how the endowment performed the previous year). I think they take credit cards.
Is this a serious question? If so, I can tell you that you may have an IQ of 150+, but you have a lot to learn about how admissions to Harvard works. First, seats aren’t for sale (certainly not explicitly), and, if they were, the advertised price would be a lot higher than $150k. People whose families have given millions and been associated with the university for generations may not get in, while students who are the first in their families to go to college may get a full ride. Harvard will certainly turn you away if you offer to buy your way in.
I’d suggest you start your research by reading what Harvard says regarding transfers here: https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/application-process/transferring-harvard-college. In my opinion, “expanding networking connections” is unlikely to be seen as the “clearly defined academic need to transfer” that Harvard requires. The application deadline is March 1, so you have some time to think about alternative reasons for transferring.
I think you have a good chance. I believe Harvard is in need of another campus boutique, as the book store selection of campus swag is a little downmarket. For one million, you might have just enough for The Crimson Crumpeteer Boutique. The other 500,000 can be used to add gilding and marble as finishing touches. Call the college architectural planning department and ask if an architectural studies major can draw up plans for you. I am sure you will enjoy your new college.
Jared Kushner’s father pledged $2.5M in 1998. Apparantly Jared was a less than stellar applicant.
There was a paper out a few years ago that suggested the price for some Chinese nationals was $10M.
Harvard’s endowment is almost $40B, so I would think even $10M would be a pittance to them. They are basically a whale of hedge fund with a small college attached. I
I have heard the $50,000,000 would make you a viable candidate for admission.
Harvard accepts about 12 transfer applicants per year, some of whom are athletic recruits, and the balance of whom have shown a major academic need to transfer. I suspect that based on the larger than average freshman class this year, that they will accept fewer transfers.
With that said, Harvard will gladly take your 150K and say “Thank you.” Harvard has been around long enough to recognize sn initial donation is the same year as the application for what it is. It’s highly unlikely that there will be any quid pro quo admissions offer, though.
“but I am a member in several high IQ societies for IQ of 150+”
Your post belies this.
Really? I wouldn’t advise any educational institution to accept you as a transfer. Re-evaluate yourself.
In case this isn’t a joke, assuming you have a 4.0 at a top college, you could see if 20million might help although no guarantee .
Basically you cannot buy your way in. Several million are just a nudge for an otherwise qualified student. They won’t help if you’re not as qualified as everyone else.
@TheCrumpeteer $150k aint gonna cut it. You are definitely qualified, but it will also depend on what school you are currently attending. if you are already attending a top school, but you want to transfer to Harvard for the additional prestige, that won’t sit well with the AOs. They dont like people transferring solely for prestige reasons. If you re currently not attending a top school then you could argue that Harvard could make a big difference for your academic and professional career, and then you might have a case. Of course keep in mind that they only take a handful transfers each year a to of whom are athletes.
More than you have.
I assume this is probably a joke, but aside from the ridiculous $ question, the sentence “I want to transfer sophomore year into Harvard to expand my networking connections” would probably be a quick way to end any remote chance.
You might look into Wharton (NOT to make a donation, just an application) as it is ever so slightly easier to transfer into than Harvard and sounds like a better fit for you anyway.
Read Daniel Golden’s book The Price of Admission.
Its a fascinating read on the behind the scenes activity in college admissions and fundraising.
You just earned 1.5 million in 1 year…what the heck do you need to go to college for you clearly have a business acumen so it would be a huge waste? You are young invest that 1.5MM and the compounding interest alone has you set for retirement. Next year earn another 1.5 MM and with some wise investing you can supplement any future income from that and live off of what you earn from the boutique from this point forward…geesh. I mean call the Kardashians surely they can tell you how to build your empire off of nothing. Or better yet, just sit around the Harvard campus and pretend you are a student, you know get some books and a cup of java and make your business connections that way, why waste the 4 years of tuition?
@labegg: it sounds like his company is ‘valued’ at $1.5MM. Having a valuation at $1.5 MM is far different than having the same in profits. If you really have a business that is generating this much cash-flow, then indeed I agree that you don’t need to worry about college.
But note that a paltry $150K will do almost nothing. The development people at Harvard will gladly take your money and in return they will offer you a nice pat on the back and invite you to all their development dinners.
^You might get a nice key chain with that donation.
Usually if you are on the waiting list, that means they will accept you with a sufficient contribution. You may or may not be qualified from their point of you. I guess the way to find out is to call admissions and ask in the proper way. They must have ways of handling that sort of thing. After all, where do you think they got the $40 billion endowment? You might be able to buy your way into a somewhat lesser school cheaper.
^ No, no wait list bump for a last minute donation. No, nada, nope. Period. Where’d you get that idea?
Donors with pull have long time relationships. They don’t show up for a horse trade. And there’s a long-ish contract process, legal reviews, etc.
OP, maybe you’re kidding. But if not, you aren’t thinking at the level they expect.
I love that about wanting to transfer to Harvard to build networking connections and how much it will cost. Seriously, that sort of attitude might not go over well with Harvard.
I am sure they prefer that donors went there and then they consider it for their kids and grandkids It probably cost a lot if you are some crass businessman looking to buy your kids in.