<p>My friend who is an alum at WashU told me she can nominate my son for a Danforth Scholarship. I know that GCs can also make nominations. Is there a disadvantage to being nominated by an alum instead of a GC? Do they look at it differently?</p>
<p>I am not an expert, but the entire Danforth process seems so secretive that I have never seen anyone else on these boards who seemed to be “in the know” either. So I think most of the advice you get will be educated guesses. </p>
<p>We went through the process last year. It was a GC nomination, and as I understood it, that was the only way to enter the process. I assume your friend knows otherwise, but I would advise that you ask your GC to nominate anyway. I do not believe they have a limit so there is no real cost to them other than their time.</p>
<p>Past that, from what I could see, there would be no distinction based on how you were nominated or who did it, unless, of course, your friend’s last name is Danforth. 
</p>
<p>Lastly, keep in mind that Danforth scholars tend to be the kind of people who could have gone HYP, and turn it down for the money at Wash U. If your son does not have that kind of application I wouldn’t get your hopes up, but the process is still worthwhile. My son went through it knowing it was very unlikely, but it was a good experience nonetheless.</p>
<p>Alumni may nominate. It does not matter where the nomination originates.
As a merit-based full or partial-tuition scholarship the selection process is, as HartinGA states, very competitive.</p>
<p>WAMOM2 - IJReilly is correct. I have experience with the program and just sent you a PM.</p>
<p>My daugther is interested in WU. I don’t know the abbreviations that are used: GC, HYP.</p>
<p>I know two graduates of WU. Would they help recommend for admissions as well as fin. aide?</p>
<p>BTW, we are also thinking of UC Berkeley and the Honors programs at U of Maryland.</p>
<p>GC = Guidance Counselor</p>
<p>HYP = Harvard, Yale, Princeton</p>
<p>Not as far as I’m aware. The only alumni that help are your parents and sometimes your teacher who’s writing the rec. No one else means anything unless they’re high on the totem pole (e.g. my friend is currently entertaining the prospect of playing football for Princeton, largely because he has strong connections in both the football program and the admissions office.)</p>