<p>One of my close friends,a great guy but not the best student, is feeling quite confident about acceptance to an Ivy because he had his dad's friend make a "call" to a connection at the school. What exactly does this do for his chances of admission? Also what goes on in the admissions office when calls like these are made because I am sure that this is a common phenomena, are they ignored or are the applications flagged or something to that effect?</p>
<p>Unless the “connection” is the President, or some other high ranking person, it is unlikely that it helps at all.</p>
<p>If the connection was actually a major connection, then the application may receive a little boost. They’d still have to be a decent match for the school, it’d just help boost them up.</p>
<p>Here’s the deal. Those who are in positions of influence already know the channels. It’s called the Development office. Otherwise, multimillion dollar donors will cash in their chits for relatives. A buddy’s son won’t benefit. Your friend will be sadly disappointed. Be a good friend to him and let him fall softly.</p>
<p>Right now the Ivies are rejecting a lot of well-qualified alumni children and grandchildren.</p>
<p>Did the friend’s call offer $100 million for taking the applicant? Is this a 7’2" applicant with a 2300 SAT and basketball skills putting him in contention for a future NBA career? Those actually might help. Otherwise the friend may be trying to be a bigshot but is unlikely to have any effect on the admission.</p>
<p>Admitting someone to a school he isn’t qualified for and won’t be able to handle is actually no favor.</p>
<p>Did some digging, my freind’s dad’s friend is a 7 figure yearly donor and obviously and alum. Personally I feel like the school would not want to tick off a 7 figure donor in any way so they will take what he says with great consideration.</p>
<p>Sorry, multi-million dollar donors have enough frustration when they try to get their own extended relatives in. Yes, it could tick him off, but unless the kid has his own solid attractions, the Dev rep and Adm dean will know how to handle it. Let it be.</p>
<p>I doubt that a friend’s call could get them in. Especially considering he’s only a 7 figure donor (That sounds strange, but top donors have donated more than 7 figures).</p>
<p>You’re also assuming that this donor actually did make the call for his friend’s son, rather than simply saying he would.</p>
<p>I predict he will get waitlisted as courtesy to the alum/donor, and then never get off the waitlist.</p>
<p>At my old school it just meant you got a different rejection letter or a courtesy rejection “call”.</p>
<p>Not enough info. Some calls are more effective than others for a variety of reasons.</p>