I won’t go into much detail, but a member of my family is currently a student. I have emailed the university about what kind of advantages this could have, but they won’t seem to budge. So honestly, what is the best/worst I could expect if I include in my application (early decision more than likely) that we are related? I do attend a competitive school, and could be ranked somewhere in the teens or 20’s with killer EC’s. Will I still be able to hold my head above water or am I fish food?
For the sake of your application, do NOT bother the admissions office with this kind of a question. Even if it held any advantage, they wouldn’t tell you, and you are potentially hurting your candidacy by pestering them.
I think it is neither. Name dropping implies that your relative is famous. Seems almost irrelevant in any case. .Maybe relevant for financial aid purposes.
@CheddarcheeseMN If it happens to be someone that admissions officers would know, contact, and end up receiving a decent nod of recommendation from, would that change anything? Specifically, if he specifically REQUESTED the University accept me (knowing that we were related).
You seem rather convinced at your position. No one has agreed with you. Why do you continue to debate? You seem to stake a lot on this plus your orthodox practice and your Latin. You’re truly straw grasping – you can’t change who you are. Put your best foot fwd. And NO, your name dropping won’t help a lick.
If your relative were a major donor to the U, then the major donor would make this connection known (not you.) The fact that your relative is a student who wants the U to accept you and you think anyone in admissions would care is silly. Current students don’t tell the admissions staff who to admit. It is not like Greek rush or having a friend put in a good word for you at Taco Bell.
Since he is a current student, if he were to do significant work for the U, would that be similar to making a large donation? The former seems more likely by the time I apply than the latter.
You are going to do what you want no matter what suggestions posters have. Many applications ask you if you have any relatives attending, or even if you have friends attending.
Look up and read Penn’s policy on legacies. I recall that if your parents attended you can get a ‘tip’ factor or extra consideration if you apply ED. Not otherwise. Read to see if any other people are considered legacies. I think this student would have to be a sibling to be considered at all. They don’t care if it is a cousin or something. They will not look up anyone, especially a student, and ask for a recommendation. It doesn’t matter if the student has a job with them. What kind of significant job does a student have? They want academic recommendations from someone who has taught you or supervised research. Don’t embarrass yourself by emailing them further on this topic. If you want to say you know more about Penn because a relative goes there then you can do that in your application, but you need to be specific about what draws you to it and makes it a good fit for you and you for them. And NOT rely on this slender non connection.
@BrownParent Yes, legacy (by their definition) is a parent (or by extension, a grandparent) who had attended UPenn. So in that regard, I am not a legacy. They had said they will consider anyone you mention, but not promises on what would come of it.
Most application forms already have spot to note relatives who are alums. Annoying the AdComms by writing emails to further emphasize it is the kiss of death. Unless your family member is a serious celeb or MAJOR donor, no one cares.
Try starting a new thread, and maybe you’ll eventually get one response that agrees with u.
Does that member of your family who is a current know you plan to use him to gain admission?
Why would the admissions care whether you are related to him? They have thousands of qualified students who apply, it is very easy to toss your application in the reject pile.
Your plan sounds more than obnoxious.
"won’t go into much detail, but a member of my family is currently a student. I have emailed the university about what kind of advantages this could have, but they won’t seem to budge. "
What kind of “advantage” is it for Penn that you’re related to a current student? Even if it’s a sibling?
For what it’s worth, “name dropping” is generally only helpful if the name is one of the names someone might recognize.
So, for example, if the name is the same as the one on the Library door, it’s worth dropping. Likewise, if it’s on the name of the President’s office, it may help.
But the name of a student?? Nope.
The sad truth is that you may have to rely on your own application to get you into college. So instead of working angles, spend this summer figuring out how to beef up your application, and finding schools that will accept you for what you bring to the table, as opposed to who you know.
As delightful as I find this conversation, it is clear that a consensus has been achieved. It is unlikely that there is anything left to say, aside from a couple of snarky comments which I deleted. Therefore, the time to close this thread has come.