<p>So, I understood when Duke rejected my oldest S, his resume wasn't quite there and I'd guess his teacher recommendations were solid but not spectacular. But now they've rejected my D who has a much stronger profile that definitely fits their stats and is just like the world's greatest kid. And THEN they have the nerve to call the next day about alumni donations. It was a REALLY good thing I was on a business trip and wasn't home to get the call. Planning on using that lovely phone number of the person who is the liaison between the alumni office and the admissions office in the near future. Quick, guess what I'm going to say.</p>
<p>Sorry to hear about your D's result at Duke, soproudofkids. I'm with you. I didn't enjoy my time at Duke in the first place, so I've always been ambivalent about donating. With my (very clearly qualified) S's waitlisting, I'm much more certain about my future response to any solicitations.</p>
<p>ummm ok i give up...what are you going to say?</p>
<p>and map if u didnt enjoy ur time at duke why would u have ur son apply there? u obviously did enjoy ur time there and are being bitter</p>
<p>i am sorry that ur kids did not get in but understand that being the child of an alumni does not entitle someone to admission</p>
<p>fyi, it is better to donate BEFORE ur child applies rather than AFTER</p>
<p>i thought legacy has its greatest impact during ED round....</p>
<p>Actually, dude08, I had tried to dissuade my son from applying. I couldn't see him at Duke because I did not see a great match between him and Duke's overall "vibe" or between his academic interests and Duke's particular strengths. I think the waitlist decision was, in many ways, quite appropriate insofar as it may have reflected the admissions' people's perceptions of a lack of fit in an otherwise very strong, interesting candidate. </p>
<p>Never have I thought that being an alum would (or should) entitle my child to admission. I am well-aware of the many complexities of college admissions. Additionally, while I have numerous flaws, feeling "entitled" to pretty much anything is not one of them. I am chuckling, not feeling bitter; despite my very mixed feelings about my own experience at Duke, I've not only donated to but also been an alum interviewer for Duke in the past. </p>
<p>Of greatest importance to me, my son is fine with being waitlisted; although he had some interest in Duke, Duke was never his top choice and he is very happy with the several excellent acceptances he's received elsewhere. I think Duke is a wonderful school, but - like all schools - it has its downside. My propensity to donate had already been shaken by a variety of circumstances; not accepting my son just seems like the icing on the cake.</p>
<p>Being a legacy didn't entitle my D to admission. But her excellent profile did entitle her to admission, and being a legacy should have sealed the deal.</p>
<p>Dude08, what I'm going to say is to please remove me from the list for all future solicitations for donations.</p>
<p>ok i guess i dont really get what ur saying,</p>
<p>"I think the waitlist decision was, in many ways, quite appropriate insofar as it may have reflected the admissions' people's perceptions of a lack of fit in an otherwise very strong, interesting candidate."</p>
<p>so if u think the waitlist decision was appropriate i dont see what the big problem is and if ur son wasnt going to go to duke anyways its even better because it gives someone else who really wants to go there a chance</p>
<p>but just out of curiosity what did u not like about duke? because its one of my top choices right now and i want to know as much as possible about a school(both good and bad things) before i decide</p>
<p>and soproudofkids how do u define "excellent profile" because i dont believe any profile entitles u to admission to a school like duke unless u a) cured cancer or b) are the most scouted bball player out of high school</p>
<p>and even then im not so sure</p>
<p>regardless ur daughter will end up somewhere great if she was a viable candidate at duke</p>
<p>it is also nice that u asked them to "please" remove u, please is such a pleasant word</p>
<p>Dude08 you're now officially invited to GTHOMT</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>different school, mom AND dad alums, same alumni donation call the same week</p>
<p>I'm sorry, soproudofkids. One school's loss is another lucky school's gain.</p>
<p>I can totally understand the parents being turned off by Duke's waitlisting or rejecting their kids. I would be too if Duke turned my really qualified child away without explanation after I had stayed involved with the school years after my graduation. That said, I am sure your really qualified kids have gotten and will get into other great schools and end up doing great wherever they go, and I am guessing that if they had applied early decision to Duke their admissions situations might have ended up going differently.</p>
<p>should i rsvp?</p>
<p>can't believe the sense of entitlement displayed by so many people in this thread. =X</p>
<p>My impression is that Duke will only care that you are a legacy if you donate a significant amount of money to the school.. otherwise, they will look for the most qualified applicants.</p>
<p>It hurts that it seems that the school you went to doesn't think your child is special the way you do, but the legacy factor is one tiny part. My husband and I are both alums, and our son was waitlisted. I think it was a perfectly reasonable thing to do despite his high SATs and qualifications because he had one low 1st semester grade. They've asked to see his transcript at the end of the year. He knows what he has to do to stand a chance, and is choosing to do it. I cannot believe the credentials of some of his classmates who were admitted- perfect SATs, 5.0 GPAs (one actually did something towards curing cancer). I also know of several legacies who were deferred from ED to RD, and then got in, so I do think ED shows you are serious. Good luck and I hope they find their own Duke...</p>
<p>I really don't understand this whole legacy business. You go to a school, you have a great time there, you donate so others can also have a great time there. Why should kids of that school's alumni get in because the alumni donate? I can understand being sad that your kid who had great scores/essays/recs didn't get in, but your legacy status shouldn't mean she should get in over someone else who is slightly more qualified - that's like punishing the slightly more qualified student for not having legacy parents. Just my take on it, and I think most of my fellow students here would agree. I am having a blast at Duke, but I certainly am not going to be angry with Duke if my kid gets rejected 30 years from now just because I'm legacy so s/he should have gotten in...Though I agree that call for donations was more than <em>slightly</em> bad timing...</p>
<p>If you think Duke isn't generous with children of alumni, you should look at MIT and Brown. They care nothing about legacy status unless you've donated like $100,000+. Duke is actually quite nice with children of alumni. Does it guarantee admission? Of course not. It is one piece of a very complex puzzle. However, FIFTY percent of children of alumni are admitted on average. This year there was a record number of legacy applicants, so that may come down a bit. But to say that Duke doesn't treat its legacy applicants well is ridiculous. Most people at Duke complain that it plays too large a role.</p>
<p>This year, I'm estimating that around 36% of legacy applicants were accepted.
Thats based on the 300 number here:
<a href="http://news.duke.edu/2008/03/admissions.html%5B/url%5D">http://news.duke.edu/2008/03/admissions.html</a></p>
<p>Divided by an estimated 10% increase from last year's legacy number which is described here: <a href="http://news.duke.edu/2008/01/regular_admissions.html%5B/url%5D">http://news.duke.edu/2008/01/regular_admissions.html</a>
That figure would be around 825</p>
<p>300/825 = 36.36% estimated legacy acceptance rate</p>
<p>Based on these statistics, Legacy is a marked advantage, however, it is by no means a shoo-in.</p>
<p>Too bad. . .</p>
<p>I've got one child at Duke and one who will be applying ED next fall with similar HS stats. These postings about legacy rejections are disturbing. For those whose kids were rejected, did your S's/D's apply ED or RD? </p>
<p>I have heard that the real boost for legs is ED...demonstrating your devotion to your mom/dad/sibling's alma mater. If a leg applies RD, it means Duke was not a clear first choice, so no real leg advantage.</p>
<p>So, was it ED or RD for your rejected/waitlisted kids?</p>