You have been very generous to Rutgers!! You have thanks from this alumni.
OT: New Jersey residents express broad-based positive opinions of Rutgers University
- Thread starter Fat Koko
- Start date
Being a legacy (both my wife and I are RU grads, me being an Engineering grad, my sister is an RU grad and my brother-in-law is an RU grad...so even sort of an extended legacy) didn't help my daughter, now it was for Engineering and RU can be tough to get into for Engineering....about 10 years ago, she got into Penn State, USC and others...including academic scholarships offered, wait-listed at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo but she got rejected altogether by Rutgers Engineering. I did reach out to the Dean at the time. Kind of described as too many applications to go through and suggested she get into some other area of Rutgers then transfer over. By that time, my daughter decided if she wasn't wanted by RU then she'd go elsewhere. At least she still roots for RU Football and Basketball and comes home for games / tailgates occasionally.
Tho whole thread pisses me off big time and aimed all at Rutgers…small time thinking!!!
Look at money walking out the door going to other schools from alumni whose kids got rejected. They need to change this ASAP and maybe Fat Koko needs to take his Nerdism and write Tate about this asap
Maybe even write him or share this thread on Twitter to have him respond. Sad!
I would love to see my daughters get in (my wife is a Nova grad and doesn’t think highly of RU yet she roots for football!). That said if they went elsewhere due to rejection I may take all my donations with me also
Look at money walking out the door going to other schools from alumni whose kids got rejected. They need to change this ASAP and maybe Fat Koko needs to take his Nerdism and write Tate about this asap
Maybe even write him or share this thread on Twitter to have him respond. Sad!
I would love to see my daughters get in (my wife is a Nova grad and doesn’t think highly of RU yet she roots for football!). That said if they went elsewhere due to rejection I may take all my donations with me also
RU engineering is a different level. My son was waitlisted there this year. Much harder than RC. It is a great value for that field and in state kids.
If you want something for your donation, then it’s not really a donation. It is not that easy to get into RU anymore. I’m not sure they take me now
. But isn’t that what we all want? How else do we move up in the school rankings?She is a currently a junior at McCombs, the undergraduate business school. Youngest is a senior in HS and going to McCombs this fall.
I will say President Tate, by all accounts, totally gets this and sees the importance of creating a more welcoming legacy environment. Too late for me and my family, but it sounds like he really “gets it” on a variety of topics these boards have been debating for the 20+ years I have been lurking. The first well matched combo of President and AD we’ve had, IMO
She got into UT Austin but not Rutgers? That’s shocking to me. Good for her.
I feel your pain. Had a similar experience as a donor. However, both of our kids were admitted to Rutgers, but they had exceptional SATs and both went to Monmouth Votech magnet schools. Oldest kid went through HC, graduated early, and punted on the HC capstone to get out early. Youngest was admitted to School of Pharmacy HC, which was funny, because was denied to RC. Youngest went to a small, not so prestigious but solid private school with a very solid program for the major, and we were all extremely pleased with that school.
Not all wealthy people spend their money the same way though.
The average income in Edison is 154k which higher than the Monmouth average of 122k (google numbers) but on a per capita basis where are more kids going to RU or even state schools generally?
The way I understand it is that people call in and look at the application because they are placed to do so. I knew someone who did this and got into RU. But their numbers were only a lil lower than average, not way off.
There is a big difference IMO between engaging, let's say, a special event for kids of alums, or special mailings for them, which we should have, versus just buying kids in, which is a problem when it starts happening to a large degree.
If we're going to be a merit based society, and we should be, when who you know is dictating admission and taking spaces from kids who earned it but are unconnected, there is a problem.
It would be illegal for the school to do that.
Based on the numbers for decades now, the % of Black and Hispanic students is lower than the % population of NJ. The % of Asian students is much higher, which is the same case in CA and many other states.
The issue I have is if we have one student who say, has a 1400 SAT (assuming RU 1370 average) but we're giving his or her spot to a kid with a 1200 because their parent donates, but the kid with a 1400 has a single parent working at McDonalds, we have a problem. That is not equitable, has nothing to do with race or anything else. We don't need to stiff arm anyone and should welcome alumni children, but don't need to shutting out deserving people because of a connection.
When I was in HS there was a kid whose uncle worked at a prestigious private college. He had about 200 SAT points less than me and was way back in class rank. I didn't get in to the school, he did, and a bunch of kids from my HS didn't because we're giving places like that. And we're both white. And I think the problem is probably getting worse.
That’s fkn horrible. I could swear preference was mentioned out loud at a RU business school open house this year (in addition to word of mouth). Either way there needs to be no doubt about this. UT is highly selective. No way an alumni’s child should have that outcome.
It shouldn’t work that way either. It should simply be a tie breaker.
U Texas Austin has a mandate to take 90% of the class from in-state students. I think if you are top 6% in your high school in Texas, you are automatically accepted at UT Austin. This is the reason they can be highly selective for out of state students. My kids were told don’t waste your time applying and both got into RU.
I have sanitized parts of my story for public consumption. The finer details would have everyone shaking their heads. More and more public schools are reserving 80-90% of their slots for in state students, which makes total sense to me. At UT while being in the top 6% guarantees you entry into the University itself, it does not guarantee you your choice of major, so they complain about UT like we complain about Rutgers
Side question for those of you who have been through the process: did you use an educational consultant or coach while your child was in high school to help with the college process? It seems to be a thing here in California. I’m trying to decide if it’s necessary or a grift.I have sanitized parts of my story for public consumption. The finer details would have everyone shaking their heads. More and more public schools are reserving 80-90% of their slots for in state students, which makes total sense to me. At UT while being in the top 6% guarantees you entry into the University itself, it does not guarantee you your choice of major, so they complain about UT like we complain about Rutgers
I didn’t use one but know lots of parents that did. It’s a personal preference. All the info is out there. You can have an expert spoon feed you or put in the time for DIY. The number 1 mistake everyone makes is too many reach schools or mistaking reach schools with target reach or target schools.
ETA some consultants have “special” relationships with certain schools.
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We did not. I currently have 2 kids at RU so we went through the process recently. not sure what the coach will provide that you can’t find online. I would recommend visiting as many schools as possible so the student gets a feel for each campus, and take notes. A year ago my younger daughter and I were leaving UConn and she said “absolutely not”. I didn’t ask any questions and we haven’t spoken about it since. But UConn was a hard no.
The students GPA and SAT are what they are so try to match the scores with the size of the school they would feel comfortable, geographic location, potential major etc. we have heard over and over that the essay carry’s a lot of weight, so I would recommend researching potential essay topics.
I would also recommend letting the student drive the process and not a coach. Hopefully your student is engaged in the process, researching schools, excited about visits etc.
Once you hear back from schools, the total cost of each school comes into play as this can be a wide range. Obviously depending on your financial circumstances.
Good luck.
Still trying to understand why son denied entry in 1990, very qualified and now CFO of major corporation. But in 2024 his niece m, my granddaughter accepted from Wash. DC with terrible grades and fat, dumb and lazy. Just wanted to go to party school. Passed year one by skin of teeth in garbage courses. Held Rutgers in high esteem after my engineering and MBA degrees 60 years ago, but no more.
true, I was merely responding to the food store analogy but really think it boils down to what I said with respects to NJ income overall. but agree
I think it should have 3 legs; merit, socioeconomic need, alumni. The school really does need a greater emphasis on familial ties
illegal or not, it happens but maybe not as outright as some imagine. It's no different than hiring in corporate America. There are ways around it legally. Of course there are outliers and agree, no kid deserving should be pushed aside for someone less deserving but I'm ok with making occasional exceptions for alumni. Although this is a better discussion during a tailgate! ha
I never understood the consultant side of things unless that consultant has an in
schools like to diversify regions in admissions as well. Not to mention, oos earns a lot more money.
I am RU Pharmacy graduate, and very happy that my daughter is legacy and in her 4th year at RU Pharmacy. She was accepted out of state. I was kinda shocked she was accepted given her SATs and scores, but she is kicking *** and doing far better than I did at RU.
I live in Monmouth, no one here is into Sarah or Fredo and don't think a single kid even mentioned that. Lots of NJ schools like Kean, Monmouth, Rutgers but hear a lot of PSU, Florida schools including Tampa (can't figure that one out), and mostly BIG schools. I honestly don't think I've heard a single kid mention Sarah so that is shocking to me.
I'm around quite a few families outside of my immediate circle through baseball and football (although I've left that side of things) and hear all the talk of schools for their kids. Some of the things I hear are shocking to be honest.
No. The guidance office in their school was very good and my kids had a good idea of what they were looking for.
Thought is was a status thing tbh, people thinking they’re doing the best for their kids and missing out on something if they don’t. So far I’ve been able so use ai to get all of the info we need. Guessing it will continue that way
Preferences for faculty and administration children is very real, but not the same as for legacy donors.
And with legacies you have to consider the degree of benefit. A 1250 SAT without another hook (i.e. athletics) does not get you into an Ivy no matter who your parents are
Tampa is an interesting one. Over the last 5 or so years it’s been targeted more by NJ students. A few years back we visited Tampa when we were on a family vacation. Nice campus, large pool with lounge chairs etc. kind of resort like. I can why 18 year olds would want to spend 4 years in that environment.
IIRC, you are in California. Hit up Lori Laughlin on Instagram. She knows all the angles.
I get what you are saying and yes you want it to be more competitive but what kind of jibbers are we talking about here in terms of legacies … I bet it’s a small percentage and has a much larger impact on the school IMOIf you want something for your donation, then it’s not really a donation. It is not that easy to get into RU anymore. I’m not sure they take me now
as for the donation…I doubt anyone on here is giving their hard earned money away for nothing in return. All big donors and philanthropists are getting tax write offs so let’s call a spade a spade
also I am NOT advocating a donation should matter in terms of a legacy. More about just being an alumni general. Donations should never count as that is pay to play and should be illegal especially based on that full house girl and USC
totally get that side of it and as an old man, you forget the hormone side of things lol
Va Tech seems popular in South Monmouth. A guy on my street sent both kids to University of South Carolina. Maryland too. See/hear more Maryland plus Va Tech than Rutgers.
I wouldn't cave into peer pressure and the FOMO. We did our own research, and things worked out for both kids.
My oldest kid is in 12th grade. I'd be happy for him to go to Rutgers. Mom and Dad are graduates. Several summers in a row, we stayed at the Heldrich in downtown New Brunswick on way to Point Pleasant Beach and walked to College Ave and Easton Ave. That walk is a lot nicer than when I was a student in late 90s. He didn't like it. Says it is too urban.
Kid wants to go to a Catholic school. I said apply to Boston College, where many of my family and friends went, Notre Dame, and Georgetown. He didn't like BC for some reason, thought Georgetown was too urban, and didn't visit ND but went to New York info session and said no way because ND recruiter used they/them pronouns. We live in New York and he has no interest in SUNY schools. It came down to Villanova and Fairfield. I chose Rutgers over those schools. He is leaning toward Fairfield. Got big merit scholarship (1430 SAT, top 5% class rank he tells me but schools don't report that any more) and will cost less than in state at a SUNY school and 1/2 Rutgers out of state.
Kid wants to go to a Catholic school. I said apply to Boston College, where many of my family and friends went, Notre Dame, and Georgetown. He didn't like BC for some reason, thought Georgetown was too urban, and didn't visit ND but went to New York info session and said no way because ND recruiter used they/them pronouns. We live in New York and he has no interest in SUNY schools. It came down to Villanova and Fairfield. I chose Rutgers over those schools. He is leaning toward Fairfield. Got big merit scholarship (1430 SAT, top 5% class rank he tells me but schools don't report that any more) and will cost less than in state at a SUNY school and 1/2 Rutgers out of state.
I don't get the appeal of BC, except for the pretty campus. Expensive AF and an expensive place to live if the kid moves off campus. Their football fans were kind of weird, at least the ones near us, when we took the trip to see the game several years ago.
I liked BC campus and location but RU has a much better tailgating scene.
Daughter got into Northeastern, not far from BC. Cost came in over $90K with no scholarship money which doesn’t make sense to me. RU instate was a better option for her.
Daughter got into Northeastern, not far from BC. Cost came in over $90K with no scholarship money which doesn’t make sense to me. RU instate was a better option for her.