[Redrum]

And,  shocked, SHOCKED that Stanford has discovered that money talks.

"Despite common perception, enrollment applications received at Stanford from children of alumni - known as ‘legacies’ – are treated differently than those received from children of faculty and donors. While all receive preferential treatment, legacy or even double legacy status does not put a student in the same category as children of faculty or children of top donors."

http://belmont-ca.patch.com/articles/inside-stanfords-exclusive-admission-path-cc01e0e8

This is at the heart of a web story based on information from former insiders in the Stanford admissions office:  they have ripped the mask off the policy of giving consideration to otherwise qualified children of faculty  AND  major donors a preference advantage in admissions.  Just makes your blood boil.  How bad is it?  Even the Kal Suicide Outrage Squad on Cyberbears saw the obvious:  If donors benefit the Stanford endowment and that endowment makes it possible for kids from the middle class to attend almost tuition free,  where's the harm?  The majority benefits far more than the few donor and faculty kids.

[Redrum]

And,  shocked, SHOCKED that Stanford has discovered that money talks.

"Despite common perception, enrollment applications received at Stanford from children of alumni - known as ‘legacies’ – are treated differently than those received from children of faculty and donors. While all receive preferential treatment, legacy or even double legacy status does not put a student in the same category as children of faculty or children of top donors."

http://belmont-ca.patch.com/articles/inside-stanfords-exclusive-admission-path-cc01e0e8

This is at the heart of a web story based on information from former insiders in the Stanford admissions office:  they have ripped the mask off the policy of giving consideration to otherwise qualified children of faculty  AND  major donors a preference advantage in admissions.  Just makes your blood boil.  How bad is it?  Even the Kal Suicide Outrage Squad on Cyberbears saw the obvious:  If donors benefit the Stanford endowment and that endowment makes it possible for kids from the middle class to attend almost tuition free,  where's the harm?  The majority benefits far more than the few donor and faculty kids.

[Hank 91]

Here's what I know: if I were a Stanford prof and my child had the numbers to get in, I would expect my child to get a spot in the class. Without question.

[Hank 91]

Here's what I know: if I were a Stanford prof and my child had the numbers to get in, I would expect my child to get a spot in the class. Without question.

[yvonne]

Patch is a collection of community websites.

[yvonne]

Patch is a collection of community websites.

[FarmBoy]

I saw this thread on BearInsider yesterday as well (coincidence as I only check it out when something big related to Kal happens.) I was surprised at the lack of interest in running with the topic most of the posters exhibited. The consensus seemed to be that UCB should develop a similar model where 100 high value donors' kids get a free pass in admissions.

[FarmBoy]

I saw this thread on BearInsider yesterday as well (coincidence as I only check it out when something big related to Kal happens.) I was surprised at the lack of interest in running with the topic most of the posters exhibited. The consensus seemed to be that UCB should develop a similar model where 100 high value donors' kids get a free pass in admissions.

[pefloresjr]

If you have to ask, you don't have enough.

Cheers,
Pete F.

[pefloresjr]

If you have to ask, you don't have enough.

Cheers,
Pete F.

[CowboyIndian]

What's the belief around here as to how much you need to donate as a member of Stanford's middle class to make sure your kid has some kind of unfair advantage in admissions?

I think a donation of a photo with an Admissions officer in flagrante with livestock would do the trick.

[CowboyIndian]

What's the belief around here as to how much you need to donate as a member of Stanford's middle class to make sure your kid has some kind of unfair advantage in admissions?

I think a donation of a photo with an Admissions officer in flagrante with livestock would do the trick.

[GoodGrief]

I don't think a member of the middle class could possibly donate enough to make a difference. You gotta be up in the range where buildings are named after you.

No problem. Henceforth, I will change my name to GoodGrief Arrillaga. I look forward to receiving all of the perks of my new name.

Oh and in response to Publius's query, the article says, "At least two sources connected to the Stanford admissions process - who requested anonymity - told us the threshold for preferential treatment was $500,000." Since I imagine that we all sometimes teeter between giving $400,000 or $500,000, it appears that the latter would get you more bang for your buck.

[GoodGrief]

I don't think a member of the middle class could possibly donate enough to make a difference. You gotta be up in the range where buildings are named after you.

No problem. Henceforth, I will change my name to GoodGrief Arrillaga. I look forward to receiving all of the perks of my new name.

Oh and in response to Publius's query, the article says, "At least two sources connected to the Stanford admissions process - who requested anonymity - told us the threshold for preferential treatment was $500,000." Since I imagine that we all sometimes teeter between giving $400,000 or $500,000, it appears that the latter would get you more bang for your buck.

[jacketree]

I'm assuming that is at least $500,000 in total donations, but with Stanford you never know. I wonder if it takes annual donations at that level to make a difference.  I never assumed my three figure annual donation would ever give my kids much leverage had they wanted to go to Stanford...

[jacketree]

I'm assuming that is at least $500,000 in total donations, but with Stanford you never know. I wonder if it takes annual donations at that level to make a difference.  I never assumed my three figure annual donation would ever give my kids much leverage had they wanted to go to Stanford...

[Redrum]

  I never assumed my three figure annual donation would ever give my kids much leverage had they wanted to go to Stanford...

Are you trying to tell me that rather than leveraging your donation to Stanford for personal or family gain,  you just do it because you think it's a decent thing to do?    Gawd.  You really are a naive chump.

[Redrum]

  I never assumed my three figure annual donation would ever give my kids much leverage had they wanted to go to Stanford...

Are you trying to tell me that rather than leveraging your donation to Stanford for personal or family gain,  you just do it because you think it's a decent thing to do?    Gawd.  You really are a naive chump.