<p>why do schools care what your parents do for a living (other than for financial aid, which is a different application), where they went to college, where they went to high school (assuming they're not alumni), etc.. is this to determine social standing or maybe to measure the differences between parents and a students (eg, the student has aspired for more than their parents did or something.. eg, if the parent went to another boarding school or ivy college, they may think that the student was expected to do both from an early age so they're just following along or something idk)... any particular reaosn they would need that info?</p>
<p>If parents went to that school, I read that they think it makes sense to let a kid in whose parents have donated the school, and most alumni do donate.</p>
<p>Also, they like kids with blue-collar backgrounds, because they like people who can succeed despite their background. (i.e. most parents who went to prestigious colleges are very demanding of their children)</p>
<p>Agree with what Olivia said, and also that they can learn about an applicant by what their parents do. Just another thing they can do to learn about their home life.</p>
<p>much more trans"parent".Mama or Diddy went to Yale so child is Legacy.Thus higher percentage chance for bumping Ivy placement stats.Neat huh.</p>
<p>Or just the fact that if kids have parents that go to prestigious universities then the kids will probably be going to one at least as good as their parents'.</p>
<p>probably all of the above depending which BS we are discussing</p>
<p>so they prefer kids whose parents went to prestigious universities? i thought they liked kids who are aspiring for more than their parents. that's sort of elitist.</p>
<p>I think it's more true that it's helpful to know if a child is a legacy; I don't think they really favor children whose parents went to university most of the time. And blairt, that's not sort of elitist. That's extremely elitist.</p>
<p>There are a few reasons to ask. However, I think a primary reason is to find out where the parents went to college/graduate school for legacy status. When they ask about work and position of the parents, I think they want to know if there are development possibilities.</p>
<p>so they look for ivy legacies?</p>
<p>"developement possibilities"? meaning, someone they could do business with?</p>
<p>The mission of AESD have morphed since the founders declaration of a "boy from every quarter".It once meant all connected boys to prep for HY, then all white , then URMs to mix with the elite, Then a mixture of world cultures to mix with the elite.One constant - Elite and the need for generous contributions.It is unfair , but the ssat/modern leadership/less classism have made the schools open to more people.We would not like AESD to be like ITT in India where it is best test scores win.</p>
<p>The development office of a school is the fundraising arm.</p>
<p>so.. do they want people who go to private middle school, their parents went to yale, and their father is CEO of some company - so that they the school can donate? i thought that the wanted diversity... so is it really the very elite and the URM's</p>
<p>pretty much. they want money and diversity and culture to attract more people</p>
<p>so if they saw that someone's father was in real estate and oil business, they would be a bit more likely to admit them? because they assume they're rich?</p>
<p>well not all rich applicant would donate. they're more likely to submit people they know that would (ie. famous people, legacies, etc.)</p>
<p>so, to put it bluntly, they look for "old money" characteristics, like waspy-names and stuff?</p>
<p>blairt, the truth that you have to face is that the majority of the applicants' families do have money. How else would 60+% of students be able to afford a $160,000 high school education, especially with the prospect of a top college tutition? For better or for worse, wealth is a part of prep schools.</p>
<p>So does it look really bad if your parents aren't american or if they didn't go to college?</p>
<p>That's a little 1950's and simplistic ,but you get the idea.Did you interview?Have you checked out the faculty degree profile?Look at any of the Ten Schools Headmaster and top Admissions Rep.All Ivy or top eastern education. This is the time to really understand the world that you are trying to join.Also, many of the folks on CC are Legacy's who are pretending to be nervous , uninformed,and are doing this for fun.</p>