knowing the vice dean of Harvard helps admissions?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
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<p>I'm applying for harvard early. My supplement was a recommendation from a harvard alumus who is a partner of a major investment firm.</p>

<p>But there is another person in my school who is applying for Harvard. She and I have almost about the same grades, scores, EC's (just different fields.)</p>

<p>She said that her dad's business partner is a good friend of Harvard's vice dean. And her dad is trying to ask his business partner to help. When I heard that, I was extremely angry! </p>

<p>I'm assuming the vice dean will make a call to the admissions office and say, "xyz is qualified; i know her for years. She is a great candidate for Harvard."</p>

<p>Then she will get in while I am in the middel of nowhere! This is not FAIR!</p>

<p>Is it true that it really just depends on WHO YOU KNOW?</p>

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<p>of course not, FIRST you have to have all the "stuff"...but then im sure it doesnt hurt.</p>

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<p>she does have all the "stuff", which is ticking me more! I'm on the same level as she, but she has more connections!</p>

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<p>um...i wouldn't be too worried.</p>

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<p>Do you all think she will get in through her connections? I think so.
And I'm mad that she will go in through relations while we people here...</p>

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<p>...isn't that just reality? </p>

<p>Why do URM's get looked upon highly by the admission office? Theres no real practical reason besides the moral/ethnic issues.</p>

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<p>Shouldn't you sort of get over it...?</p>

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<p>Don't you need some connections to intern at an investment firm, much less get a recommendation from a partner?</p>

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<p>SO? Welcome to America. it may not be fair, but life isn't fair.
no, connections will not get a 2.5/1800 kid into harvard, but if you're just as qualified as everyone else, it can make you a shoe-in.</p>

<p>Most schools also accept kids who are children of faculty, assuming they are "qualified" and they pretty much bypass the admissions committee deliberations. Fair? no. Life? yes.</p>

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<p>my advice: apply EA to Yale, and then someday, never ever ever let your kids apply to Yale and list you as an alumni, for fear they might get an edge in admissions. that wouldn't be fair, now.</p>

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<p>Like others have said...face it.
Nepotism happens EVERYWHERE in life and it's been like this since the beginning of time. </p>

<p>Being upset about it here won't do you any good- cuz it won't go away. Just apply and hope to get in on your own merits. </p>

<p>Anyway, your friend's "connections" aren't that rare...in fact I'd say they seem quite removed. Her dad's business partner's friend is a Harvard 'vice' dean?
Come on...</p>

<p>Ever heard of six degrees of seperation?
With that logic, I would (and many on this board) with have connections with George Bush. </p>

<p>And by the way, I don't think Harvard has vice deans any more. They are called associate deans and there are a lot of deans (some with very limited powers) around. </p>

<p>And by the way, what school does this 'dean' belong to? You do know that individual schools in Harvard function seperately from each other don't you?</p>

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<p>I would still think it good to get an alum that you personally know to write a rec for you.</p>

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<p>apparently, she has been bragging about her connections around school!
she is applying for economics. Have no clue about which dean it is but it has something to do with international stuff since her dad works in Latin America. </p>

<p>She just said that the friend who has close relationship with the vice/associate dean is also a harvard alumnus and invests in her dad's company...i'm guessing a close relationship? </p>

<p>I never really cared if ppl got in coz of the ppl they knew; but when this happened to me when she gets the better advantage, i really feel sad :-(</p>

<p>I'm wondering if I should apply to Harvard now!</p>

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<p>Apply. (10 chars)</p>

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<p>Well, what are your stats?</p>

<p>Give us some tangible numbers and information to work with.</p>

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<p>Windcloudultra is correct. We don't have a "vice" dean. We have MANY deans. That already causes some doubt. In addition, no dean will ever go in front of the admissions committee and tell them to accept a certain student. It won't happen.</p>

<p>Anyway, if she does indeed have connections, that's life. If I had that kind of "connection," I would use it as well, though I wouldn't flaunt it like she is. That already calls into judgment her character, but there are always two sides to one story.</p>

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<p>You know how much of a chance you'll have if you don't apply? </p>

<p>ZERO.</p>

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<p>Harvard often takes more than one from the same school. The other person's connections should have no impact on your decision, but lots of other things (including good grammar and spelling) will.</p>

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<p>This is an interesting thread. OP is applying early with connections ("a harvard alumus who is a partner of a major investment firm"). But then it turns out that OP's classmate may have better connections ("her dad's business partner is a good friend of Harvard's vice dean. And her dad is trying to ask his business partner to help.") Which OP believes is unfair ("This is not FAIR!") But the concern about fairness doesn't seem to apply to OP's connections. </p>

<p>Then again, OP's first choice is MIT and second choice is Penn ("My second choice is Upenn..my first is MIT." <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?p=2436656#post2436656)%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?p=2436656#post2436656)&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p>

<p>An interesting thread.</p>

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<p>Yes...interesting because the irony seems to be lost on her.</p>