SeeakingAdvice wrote:
I was wondering what impact knowing professors, alumni, or AdCom has on gaining admissions? Is there instances where it backfires? I don't want to be seen as seeking out favoritism and having a negative effect.
A certain school I want to apply to I have the following connections:
1. Parent is alumni & relative is alumni
2. Parent's friend is professor at school (unrelated department)
3. Parent's other friend is friends / acquaintance with a member of admissions
The school in question would be a reach but is at the top of my list as a *dream* school. I have a competitive GMAT and GPA for the school but my work experience and accomplishments are really weak compared to admits.
Well it can never hurt!
Soooo, 1. If your parent is an alumnus, you should write that in the application and the essay. "relative" if it is not immediate nuclear family, is less relevant,
2. This doesn't help thaaaaaat much if they aren't in the Bschool.
3. This is nice, but it's better I feel NOT to call attention to this. They know who you are, and hopefully they will know that you are applying, but you shouldn't write anything about it.
In fact you can even write about the people in 1 and 2 in an essay using it as a reason to apply "So many fantastic people I know are involved in the school, so I already have a personal connection with it".
Makes sense???