<p>If a family friend's dad donated over a million dollars to school X and writes a letter on my behalf to school X.</p>
<p>It might be good for your app but I honestly wouldn't call it a hook. If it was your dad , then that would be different...</p>
<p>na its like anything else, a friend of a friend. It just seems like a poor way to gey into a school IMO</p>
<p>Yes, it's a hook if they don't do it for many. If they've given a mil and the school wants more, they will pay attention to that that family's wishes. They would really have to go to bat for you and you have to be in range.</p>
<p>The better hook would be if you were the kid of the person who donated a few million dollars to a school ;)</p>
<p>I agree with suze and also it would depend on the letter. Simply saying badkarma is a nice kid and I have known him/her for X number of years is not going to cut it they would really have to write somehting of substance because you are not a deveopmental admit (and an opportunity for the family to give even more $$). If you have dismal scores and grades letter writing is not going to do anything for your cause.</p>
<p>Badkarma, you remind me so much of a good friend. A really smart guy and self admitted slacker who was totally ****ed at himself when he realized junior year that he didn't have great options for top schools. So do what he did, stop looking for loopholes, go to the best college you can realistically get into, work like a dog and transfer. My friend is going to Columbia as a junior this fall.</p>
<p>I don't think it would be considered a hook since you're not part of their family who donated.</p>
<p>suze: haha, yea that's pretty much me. I wasn't planning on asking for a rec from the man, it was just wierd finding out that the man who is on first name terms with the dean of admissions is also a family friend.
I'm trying to walk the fine line between looking for loopholes in a dishonest way and trying to salvage my situation with everything that can/could help.</p>
<p>Can he adopt you for a couple months? Seriously though, depending on how small the college is and how tough it is to get into, I'd imagine they wouldn't want to do anything to tick off a guy who just gave them enough money to do some significant things--and who might give them more money. If there is a throw-out-the-ideals real-world aspect to colleges, it's when big money is at stake.</p>
<p>suze, what school did your friend that is transferring into Columbia start off at?</p>