Trustees / Board of Directors

Colleges & Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>I am a rising senior at a prep school that is commonly referred to as the best secondary educational institution in the nation. Although the classes are very difficult, my grades are superb; my extracurricular activities are also oustanding and very unique. </p>

<p>Anyway, I wish to apply early to Stanford in the fall as it is my first choice school. I will be attending the JSA program at Stanford this summer, and if I really enjoy the place, I will no longer consider applying to an Ivy. </p>

<p>Because the chances of being admitted to Stanford are slim, I was wondering how much advantage I'd gain if a Trustee and a member of the Board of Directors at Stanford both write recommendations or speak to the admissions officers on my behalf in the fall. They both treat me like their son, and I am hoping this might help me get in (I am a male student from Asia, attending a school in New England, while my family maintains a secondary residence in New York; so technically, I am an international student). </p>

<p>Thanks! </p>

<p>**I am writing this at 1 in the morning, so I don't know whether or not what I just said made any sense... hmm ...</p>

2

<p>What's the point of asking a question like that when you know the answer.</p>

3

<p>what's the answer?</p>

4

<p>Well, if they treat you like a son, of course it'll help. It won't guarantee admission, but it can't hurt. Just out of curiosity, do you go to Roxbury Latin?</p>

5

<p>Best high school in america
Outstanding grades
Superb ECs
Board of Directors / Trustee connection</p>

<p>hmm..i smell admission! (assuming the rest of your app, like test scores and essays, are on par)</p>

6

<p>nope, not roxbury latin. i go to a more prestigious school. </p>

<p>anyway, i was just curious about how much "pull" or power the board of director member / trustee have. i guess it's not a guarantee, then.</p>

7

<p>Bump, i'd also like to know in more detail than just "it won't guarantee admission"...what will it guarantee? Or, to what extent will it help?</p>

8

<p>I wouldn't recommend using their letters in place of the two letters of reccomendation from your teachers, but if they've offered to speak on your behalf and feel that it would be to your advantage I say go for it. However, I would caution that the adcoms might dislike your use of family connections (I assume that the trustees are family friends/relatives, if they are someone you met through your own activities than disregard this warning) because they like to feel that they offer admittance based on merit, not on ol' boy network connections.</p>

<p>Something else you might consider: if you really impress the profs at Stanford during the JSA they would make good recommendations as well.</p>

9

<p>No, they will be either writing separate letters or calling the office on my behalf. I guess they have their ways of doing it because many of our common acquaintances were accepted in the past years because of their help. Anyway, I concur with your suggestion. I hope the profs at Stanford will be impressed by my work.</p>

10

<p>In!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>

11

<p>"I guess they have their ways of doing it because many of our common acquaintances were accepted in the past years because of their help."</p>

<p>ehem...seems to me like you never even needed to post this thread in that case!!</p>

12

<p>I completely agree.</p>