recommendation for williams from someone that doesn't know our kid?

Parents Forum
41

I think the OP has already made the decision not to follow up on the offer, and given those particular circumstances, that seems right.

Tweak the scenario a bit, though–and you might make a different decision. Example:

When DD was applying to colleges, a business colleague of DH offered to write her a letter for Wash U. He had been a prominent guy in the US govt and was very active as a Wash U alum. He knew DH well but had never met DD.

We thought just what many posters have said: Maybe this was a bad idea and would backfire on DD. Plus we would have to make a special trip to DC so she could meet him. Still, we asked DD’s college counsellor and he said to go ahead.

DD had been planning to apply to WashU RD, and her counsellor had pointed out that no one from her school had been accepted RD to WashU for the past several years. ED yes, but not RD. (Yield protection? Who knows.) Counsellor told us that a letter from the colleague would have one good effect–it would get her file flagged and keep it out of the “WL or deny everyone from this school” pile.

So we took DD to DC–and did a tour of GWU to make the trip worthwhile no matter what–and she had her interview. He looked at her resume, checked her stats, etc. and conducted a pretty standard, thorough interview. Said he’d be delighted to write her a recommendation to WashU. Then–out of nowhere–he asked whether she was looking at his UG alma mater, a top LAC? Said he’d write her a letter for that school as well. DD didn’t quite know what to say to this; she was not interested in LACs at all.

Anyway, she ended up applying to WashU ED2, and was admitted. Did the letter help? No way to know. College counsellor thought that applying ED was the crucial factor, given that her application was strong on all fronts.

Later on the college counselling department at her school had what they called a ‘come to Jesus’ meeting with the Wash U admissions people and told them that if they continued to admit NO ONE RD the counsellors would start recommending that their students not apply to Wash U anymore RD. Not surprisingly, they admitted a few people RD that year, and in future years.

42

Here’s one … some schools give a $$ tuition discount (endorsement grant) if students are endorsed by an alumni. (Probably not Williams though.)

My alma mater, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, offers students a $4,000k discount/grant, if they are endorsed by an alumni.
http://alumni.erau.edu/s/867/landing.aspx?sid=867&gid=1&pgid=2142

Now would I lend my signature to someone I don’t know for this? Absolutely! (I love saving money even if its for someone else)

43

The singular of a male graduate of a university is an alumnus, not an alumni.

And I doubt that most people would write a recommendation for a total stranger. That stranger turns out to be a serial killer or an ISIS terrorist and shoots up the campus library, the FBI is banging on your door at 4 am wondering why your signature is in the criminals admissions folder.

44

Do whatever YOU want, others’ thoughts are irrelevant. I always do what I want and told my kids and grandkids to only respect their own wishes and not listen to others. Listenning to the rest of humanity could only bring trouble to your life and absolutely NO correct decision fo you personally and this is the fact of life!

45

Oh, for heaven’s sake. Any time you’re asking for something in high demand/limited supply, you benefit from understanding their side, what they value and want to see. And what clutters things up. Rather than say, do what you want, what the heck, it’s a free world, the worst is they roll their eyes and reject you (or this frequent, “MY kid didn’t have an issue so I’m right,”) kids can make an informed and measured decision.

Free will? Save it for “come one, come all” venues.

46

The importance of respecting your own preference before anybody else’s become exceedingly more and more important as kids grow up. This attitude makes a huge difference in life. As a parent, I felt that I have to point out to this aspect over and over and over, it has made a huge positive impact. This does not need to be followed by everybody, somebody wants to listen and please everybody and their brother, then live with this type of attitude. I would be nowhere in my life, if I did and my experience is the only thing that I have.

47

The topic is admissions. The OP asked about a letter from a stranger. Not how to define life goals or rebel injustice. Considering expectations is a far cry from pleasing “everybody and their brother.” You know that.

48

miamiDAP,
the above 2 posts sound more like the kind of advise one would hear from a keynote speaker at a graduation.
I fail to see how they pertain to the OP’s question re asking about getting a LOR from a stranger.