<p>Recently I sent in materials to several schools for transfer admissions but before the application deadlines were up I go accepted into my first choice. I was ecstatic and I talked to both my parents about it. I told them that was where I really wanted to go and my dead said not to worry about the other schools, so I didn’t and the deadlines went by.</p>
<p>Now my mom is saying how irresponsible I was for not applying to other schools, especially Rice University. You see my parents know an alumni at Rice who makes substantial donations to the school and he said he would put in good word for me if I were to apply (this was back in december). My parents heard that and took that as me automatically being in. </p>
<p>Now my mom wants me to still apply to Rice even though the deadline was almost a month ago! She’s thinking that because she knows this alumni he can pull strings to push through my late application, AND get me into the school, AND get me scholarship money.</p>
<p>I think my parents are seriously overestimating this man’s power. I just don’t feel like I’m Rice caliber and I honestly like my first choice, even though its lower ranked, better.</p>
<p>How do I get my parents to see the error in their way of thinking? Oh and we’re not american so I don’t think they really understand the U.S. college system well either.</p>
<p>I think your parents are wrong. The deadline has passed. The decisions have been announced. It’s waaaay too late to impose on the alumni. Your parents will embarrass themselves by asking. </p>
<p>And, anyway, it might not even work. I know someone who has a facility named after him at a school like Rice. He couldn’t even get his grandson an admission.</p>
<p>What have you got to lose? Just half-*** the application and you’ll be pretty much guaranteed to rejected, and you won’t hearing anything about it again. I mean, your parents are paying for you, so I’m sure you can indulge their fantasies for a little while.</p>
<p>Your parents are banking on the fact that you’ll slip in as a “development” admit and yet still get scholarship money? That’s crazy thinking.</p>
<p>Unless your file contained a seven figure banker’s draft, I’d say your parents hopes and dreams will be unfulfilled.</p>
<p>Just because your family knows him matters little. What matters is how much (literally) he’ll go to bat for you on your behalf. He’d have to cash in many chits to get you in – and the Million plus would go along with it.</p>
<p>Now if that were to be arranged, I’m sure Rice Development office would shoe-horn you into the school’s rosters -deadline or not … but seeing as you don’t really want to go – it’s pointless.</p>
<p>I agree with T26E4. The more I think about it, it’s futile. And it will harm your parents’ relationship with the alum. They’ll be asking a LOT of favors:
Ask the admissions staff consider a late application
Ask the admissions staff accept you
Asl the financial aid staff give you a scholarship. </p>
<p>And the kicker is you don’t even want to attend. If he did all that and found out you don’t even want to attend he’d really resent it.</p>
<p>yea my parents are crazy, over-ambitious, kinda naive and doe eyed
And I hear and agree with what all of you saying, thanks for your input, the chances are slim to none. But my main problem is, how do I tell my parents all of this in nicer terms? I can’t exactly say “Asking Mr. xxxx to pull these favors is a very silly idea and you’ll only end up embarrassing yourself.” And although I could half-*** an application, my schedule is so busy now that I don’t have time to get professor’s evaluations and all the other stuff required for common app.
How do I tell them everything you guys are telling me in a respectful manner?</p>
<p>Oh and when my mom found out I didn’t submit the app she got real B****y about it. She started talking about how I wouldn’t like my top choice, because of weather and economic situation, yadda, yadda. And she said money is a big factor even though both of my parents agreed to pay for school before I even started the application process.</p>
<p>uh, no. don’t apply now. that just looks bad. and who knows, maybe word gets out to the school you chose about your crazy late and half-baked application. that wouldn’t be good, even if it can’t directly hurt you. so, tell your parents you are satisfied with your choice, and that you know you made it for a reason, and they should trust you. you know more then they do what to do with your life. good luck.</p>
<p>Tell your parents you are proud of the school you have been accepted to and are excited that you were chosen on your own merit. Tell them you have no second thoughts or regrets. Ask them for their support.
If this doesn’t work, let your parents know that adcoms are very open that they want recommendations from people who know you. Many of them are very turned off by letters and calls from people who do know know the student well and can make no recommendation as to the students potential, work ethic, etc. For some reason people think that getting their senator, or influential alumni to write a letter is a good thing. This screams to the adcom that you are trying to circumvent the system. If this person does not know you well this backfires more often than not. It can sometimes sour an otherwise competitive application.
Are there students that get into universities this way… sure, it works sometimes. However, if a student is not a good fit for a school then they may find the academic demands more difficult than they can handle. This is counterproductive to education.</p>