Getting recommendation letter from an Ivy professor? 4 questions

gibby
Sat, 11 Oct 2014 12:30:09 +0000

@akova1: I was trying to correct misinformation you had about Harvard — specifically how difficult it is for international students, no matter what country they come from, and the value of recommendations and extracurricular activities in the applications process. Information that you could have gleaned by reading many of Harvard’s websites. If you felt I was bullying, I apologize. That was not my intent. Nor was it my intent to kill your dream. I was trying to give you a dose of reality, which I sorely thought you were missing.

No, I did not cut you slack because of your age, as I feel the age of an applicant is irrelevant. I personally know a 14 year student who was admitted to Harvard. For all I knew, you could have been just like him — mature and wise beyond his years.

My kids are at Harvard and Yale because of the massive amounts of financial aid those institutions are providing — and I’ve been very vocal about saying that. It’s actually cheaper for my family to send them to HY than to our flagship state school. There is no shame in saying you need financial aid, or require it, so I’m not sure why my financial aid comments made you so incensed.

I’m on College Confidential because I was able to successfully guide my two kids — who are just normal, average kids with great transcripts and no hooks — through the applications process. Many other folks have found my comments to be helpful and instructive. I’m sorry you have not also found them to be that way.

I wish you nothing but the best during your high school years and may you have much success in your college applications.