<p>So I might be related to someone who recently donated 100 million to my number one choice school. I'm unsure if there is any relation beyond having the same last name and originating in the same country. If anything, they are a very distant relative. Is there any way that could help me in my admissions process? Would I need proof of relation/to be closely related?</p>
<p>Please don't get all angry if this is ridiculous, I'm very aware that it just might be, I'm throwing this out there out of curiosity. Thanks!</p>
<p>no, it will not help. End of story; one can always dream, though :D. It's almost like saying, if I get the Senator of my state to write me a recommendation letter, will it help? Unless you know them personally, it will not.</p>
<p>it doesn't matter how closely related you are to that person. they could even be unrelated to you by blood.
the question is: did they donate that money with the intention of getting you into that school? from the sound of your post, i doubt it. the link, as you state it, is dubious at best. and even if you do put it down, guess who the admissions office will call to discuss this with?</p>
<p>That's a tough question. I would definitely try and find out whether that person is related to you at all or not though. Do you have a common last name or is it pretty unique?</p>
<p>It's pretty unique. He has a whole like, foundation under his name... should I write to the foundation and ask if there's any way to find if there is any relation? I feel like I'm stretching it.</p>
<p>Well personally, I would be more interested in finding out WHO this rich person is that I could possibly be related to haha. There's nothing bad that would come with being related to someone rich =)</p>
<p>As for college, I think it's a stretch unless you can confirm his relation to you.</p>
<p>try to get in touch with the development department of the school and tell them you're a relative of that guy who's interested in attending their instiution, and would like to maybe visit and meet with them or something. otherwise see if the foundation can hook you up
as long as you word it correctly you should be able to get your way in</p>
<p>Gotta love your idea, but yeah I think it's stretching it. Some dead rich guy you don't know and have never heard of has the same last name as you, so maybe you are related, but you have no reason to think you are, so maybe you can use that to get into a school he gave a lot of money to! I don't think it will help and ethically it seems like a kind of weird call. But it's creative!</p>
<p>If you don't know if you are related to this person, it is unlikely that you could be closely enough related for this to make any difference. If this is your long-lost father or brother or maybe even uncle, the thing to do would be to re-establish contact with the person to see if he is interested in helping you in some way. The school will not be too interested unless they legitimately believe that admitting you will somehow result in more money being given.</p>