<p>...? (ten ch.)</p>
<p>It's when the adcom smells lots of $$$$$$$$.</p>
<p>I don't get it. As in a bribe?</p>
<p>Someone who can donate large sums of monies (like a history of giving a building, or something like that).</p>
<p>Alright, thank you!</p>
<p>It's more like the applicant's parents or other family members are rich enough to make a big donation rather than the applicant him/herself. There are very few teenagers rich enough in their own right.</p>
<p>It's not bribery. The committee members don't personally get any of the money. But some schools will give "special consideration" to applicants from very wealthy families. It's basically a very good hook.</p>
<p>Does the family necessarily have to offer money? Or do they simply look at the applicant's info to see they're rediculously wealthy?</p>
<p>They have to offer money.</p>
<p>No, they don't. In fact, they should not. It would be considered a bribe.</p>
<p>The college's development offices <em>hope</em> that the applicant's parents will be generous donors. Parents of students are approached for fund-raising several times a year. Most likely, though, development prospects will contribute large sums of money once their child has graduated.</p>
<p>How much income would your family need to have to be considered a development candidate?</p>
<p>This type of admission is normally based on existing patterns of giving, with the assumption that this family/individual will continue their generosity in the future. We are talking large money here. The person in question may have donated funds for a building or two, or for setting up an endowment. He/she may be sponsoring his own son or daughter, or perhaps a nephew or niece. Less frequently, the donor may unofficially sponsor someone who's not actually related by blood but in whose application he has an interest. Of course, the closer the blood relationship, the heavier the thumb on the scale. </p>
<p>There is usually a person within the developmental office who is in charge of developmental admits. There may be special events planned at the beginning of the freshman year where these admits will be invited to come to a reception with a particular representative from the developmental office, or with other college officials in attendance. The college has a self interest in making these powerful donors happy so that their generosity will continue in the future. That being said, a presitgious college like Harvard will not accept a candidate who's totally unprepared for admission. Most large donors understand this and do not make ridiculous requests.</p>
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<p>How much income</p>
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<p>Think hundred-millionaires and up. Ordinary garden-variety rich does not cut it. (As Gordon Gecko put it back in the day, we're not talking about flying first class. We're talking about your own plane.)</p>
<p>As for how much you have to donate to buy your way into Harvard... think about this.</p>
<p>A kids parents donated $10,000,000 to NYU and he got straight out rejected - not even deferred - rejected! from NYU!!!</p>
<p>That translates to small-former-soviet-country's-GDP-ish wealth to get into Harvard.</p>
<p>Haha, I heard about that. Nice stunt by NYU!</p>
<p>wow are you serious? can someone post a link to a story or something?</p>