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dukes
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Family Information? 30 Dec 2006, 10:25
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I think its really, really obnoxious when schools ask for the names, schools, degrees, addresses, employer names and phone numbers, etc. for my parents. Has anyone just omitted this part of the application? What do they need this for? Only some schools ask for this info.
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EconGirl
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Family Information? Updated on: 02 Jan 2007, 10:29
Originally posted by EconGirl on 30 Dec 2006, 10:37.
Last edited by EconGirl on 02 Jan 2007, 10:29, edited 1 time in total.
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I completely agree with you. I submitted my info (thought it was required) but it gets on my nerves just the same. Why should it matter - and if it does not then they would not be asking. I think that if your parents have impressive titles at impressive companies it will deffinitelly help your application though schools will deny this. but think about it - networking helps and they know that you and even your friends (classmates) may have better chances landing a job at a company where your mom is the director of human resources, whatever
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pelihu
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I have actually heard it helps if your parents have unimpressive profiles. Schools are interested in people that have overcome economic challenges. Supposedly, if you are the first in your family to go to college or grad school, it will probably help your application.
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EconGirl
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pelihu, why should they then care about your parents' titles and employers?
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aaudetat
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yeah, i took pelihu's approach and played the "trailor court waltz" for them. I'm a first-generation college grad and will be the first ever to go to grad school. Am I amazing or what?

One that blew my mind - I think it was Stanford, but don't remember - asked for my partner's info. Goofy, really. I have no idea what that was about. And they were sure to ask for spouse, fiance, and domestic partner, just so they would have their bases covered.
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I agree with pelihu- this question is probably intended for social mobility purposes. It is not as odd as a question as it might seem, at least for the ultra elites. If you have a number of candidates who are essentially identical on paper at this stage in their lives (and who are often hovering near the ceiling for many of the admissions factors), it might be useful to know the relative socioeconomic "distance" each student has ventured to get where s/he is today.
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pelihu
I have actually heard it helps if your parents have unimpressive profiles. Schools are interested in people that have overcome economic challenges. Supposedly, if you are the first in your family to go to college or grad school, it will probably help your application.
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You could also argue that if the opposite extreme is true. That is, people with parents who are significant leaders in their field (say C-level execs at major fourtune 500 firms) would bring added value to the school through those connections. That is, I'd argue both ends of the spectrum are valuable - it's the middle area ("Manager") thats more gray.