Admissions

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

How much does having a two-parent legacy help with Admissions at Appalachian? How would admissions even know unless the applicant wrote an essay (encouraged but not required) and brought it up in the essay. Would that be helpful.

[ASU-FTW]

Can't answer your question on how much it would help. But if I remember correctly from when I applied, the application asks if you have a relative(s) that attended Appalachian State, and if so, who.

[ASUMountaineer]

How much does having a two-parent legacy help with Admissions at Appalachian? How would admissions even know unless the applicant wrote an essay (encouraged but not required) and brought it up in the essay. Would that be helpful.

I'm not sure, but I think it does help. My brother was initially deferred while I was a Senior at App. I contacted admissions and then they offered him full acceptance.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

Can't answer your question on how much it would help. But if I remember correctly from when I applied, the application asks if you have a relative(s) that attended Appalachian State, and if so, who.

I was not sure if those sorts of questions were still on the application. I know at one time many colleges would do things to help the children of alumni be admitted, or at least the perception was there that legacies had a bit/lot of advantage. I know some things just are not asked anymore, or at least I did not think they were still asked. Maybe they are. I guess there is one way to find out.

[appbio91]

Can't answer your question on how much it would help. But if I remember correctly from when I applied, the application asks if you have a relative(s) that attended Appalachian State, and if so, who.

I was not sure if those sorts of questions were still on the application. I know at one time many colleges would do things to help the children of alumni be admitted, or at least the perception was there that legacies had a bit/lot of advantage. I know some things just are not asked anymore, or at least I did not think they were still asked. Maybe they are. I guess there is one way to find out.

The question is still there and there is an alumni scholarship. Call alumni affairs and find out the criteria, GPA/SAT. Follow up and be sure alumni receives your childs name as a legacy. As was pointed out above it does make a difference.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

Can't answer your question on how much it would help. But if I remember correctly from when I applied, the application asks if you have a relative(s) that attended Appalachian State, and if so, who.

I was not sure if those sorts of questions were still on the application. I know at one time many colleges would do things to help the children of alumni be admitted, or at least the perception was there that legacies had a bit/lot of advantage. I know some things just are not asked anymore, or at least I did not think they were still asked. Maybe they are. I guess there is one way to find out.

The question is still there and there is an alumni scholarship. Call alumni affairs and find out the criteria, GPA/SAT. Follow up and be sure alumni receives your childs name as a legacy. As was pointed out above it does make a difference.

I am glad you suggested that. I was not really sure what all they would or at least would want to say. Alumni Affairs told me to contact Admissions. It was very honest talk, and they were willing to say a few things that I was not sure they would be willing to say in response to my questions. Nothing like a two-parent legacy is a shoe-in (that would be nice but also not fair to many deserving students), but just some general questions I had were answered.

I do know this. I doubt I would be getting accepted now from what I had to present on my behalf when I applied.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

Can't answer your question on how much it would help. But if I remember correctly from when I applied, the application asks if you have a relative(s) that attended Appalachian State, and if so, who.

I was not sure if those sorts of questions were still on the application. I know at one time many colleges would do things to help the children of alumni be admitted, or at least the perception was there that legacies had a bit/lot of advantage. I know some things just are not asked anymore, or at least I did not think they were still asked. Maybe they are. I guess there is one way to find out.

The question is still there and there is an alumni scholarship. Call alumni affairs and find out the criteria, GPA/SAT. Follow up and be sure alumni receives your childs name as a legacy. As was pointed out above it does make a difference.

Does an aunt and uncle count as a legacy relative? Could you have too many legacies and then become less attractive to avoid "academic inbreeding"?

[asu81ba]

I’m a long time lurker on this list but finally someone has asked a question about something I have some experience with.


It has been my experience that being a legacy is nearly worthless when seeking admission to Appalachian.

Two cases in point:

The son of two of my closest friends (who happened to be married to each other) applied to ASU a few years back. My friends both graduated back in the late 70's, and have contributed plenty of money to the Yosef Club. (They rank in the top 5% in giving of all Yosef Club members.) Their son’s grades were okay but his SAT score was a bit below average. Denied. Not deferred, not wait listed. Denied. We all fussed and cussed, pleaded and begged to no avail.

Another example. The daughter of another friend applied more recently. Her father is an ASU grad. Two uncles, an aunt, cousin, I mean everybody in that family who has gone to college went to Appalachian. We all wrote letters, made phone calls, etc in support of her application. Same outcome.

I had the opportunity to have lunch with the admissions director a few years back. With the first example in mind, I asked for the scoop on admissions. I was told it is purely a numbers game. If your numbers meet our criteria, you’re in. If not, you’re not. After all spaces are filled, if you apply and qualify, you can elect to be admitted in January. I’m not so sure that essays, public service, etc matter in the processing of applications.

Those decisions left both families with hurt feelings. And, I know that Yosef suffered at least marginally from losing several years of contributions that would have been forthcoming had these kids been given the chace to see if they could have made it at ASU.

My $0.02 worth.

[appbud]

Fortunately my son was a recipient of an alumni memorial scholarship. Every bit of money you can get sure does help. Now he is starting Grad School at App.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

Fortunately my son was a recipient of an alumni memorial scholarship. Every bit of money you can get sure does help. Now he is starting Grad School at App.

I just want her to be accepted at this point. Thought a scholarship would be nice of course. I do hope we don't have to choose between App State or a cheaper school that is offering her more money. Out of the blue Ferrum sent her a letter giving her $15,000 a year. That is nice and all but where is the other $25,000 a year. Ferrum is not really going to be an option. The high school likes these sorts of things so it gets the scholarship dollars up, even when a small fraction is ever used. So for that reason the offer from Ferrum is nice.

[appbio91]

Fortunately my son was a recipient of an alumni memorial scholarship. Every bit of money you can get sure does help. Now he is starting Grad School at App.

I just want her to be accepted at this point. Thought a scholarship would be nice of course. I do hope we don't have to choose between App State or a cheaper school that is offering her more money. Out of the blue Ferrum sent her a letter giving her $15,000 a year. That is nice and all but where is the other $25,000 a year. Ferrum is not really going to be an option. The high school likes these sorts of things so it gets the scholarship dollars up, even when a small fraction is ever used. So for that reason the offer from Ferrum is nice.

It has been a while so I have forgotten the process but my advise to you would be to make sure she starts on the scholarship and admissions essays ASAP. Find someone to help you with this. There are people around who do this for a small fee. This might sound strange but write them from the standpoint of a free thinker not someone who wants to go to App for this or that reason. You want a well rounded education and you want to broaden your experience base and let your mind grow, that sort of blither. I have seen essays that got Chancellor's scholarship interviews and that is the kind of stuff that was there. Remember who your audience is - a bunch of professors. Hopefully none are on here

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

As I was talking to the admissions counselor, I made a statement that college admissions is a bit of a game. Part of all of this was trying to get my daughter's classes next year to be something that prepared her for college, but protected her GPA and such. GPA/class rank/taking rigorous course work that a school offers/SAT or ACT and is connected and yet it is a bit of strategy involved in a way. When I said it was a game, the admissions staff was very much in agreement.

When you mentioned the blither it made me think of my comment on the phone.

I'll had her in my Hon Chem class and she is in my AP Physics class when school starts. I doubt a reference letter from me is going to help her. We have had so much turn over in the Science Dept there is only one other person in the Science Dept that is there that had her as a student. The the person that taught her in a class that is what she wants to study just retired at the end of the school year. Though I am sure I can get a good reference out of some teachers who speak very highly of her.

[1ASU78]

"I was told it is purely a numbers game. If your numbers meet our criteria, you’re in. If not, you’re not."

In 09 we got the exact same answer. Both mom and dad ASU grads and is of little consequence. I think I hurt more than our daughter did. She is looking to get her masters so she's giving ASU one more chance not to make the same mistake twice.

[BurlingtonApp]

This may be too personal, but what does your daughters resume look like?

[AppAttack]

I know it hurts to be denied but try not to take it personally and punish the school by witholding future contributions to your alma mater. There are a lot of applicants for few positions. It's the student's responsibility to do more than enough to get in as soon as that first day of 9th grade begins.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

This may be too personal, but what does your daughters resume look like?

High class rank in a school that is not, how shall I put this as both a teacher at the school and the parent of what will be three daughters when my twins enter as freshman in a few days, the most academically competitive school. She has taken the right course work. Passed one AP exam and had a few other AP courses. I think she is an attractive candidate, but I am a bit biased.

WCU sent me an email back in the summer that basically stated that she is all but in at WCU based on her course work, and screw the SAT scores. That is not a direct quote, but what they sent was an email to the effect that they will be happy to take students like her that appear to be hard workers but don't test well.

My daughter is not very athletic but she does do swimming for the school and is involved in student council and helped with Prom, etc.

Negatives - ACT and SAT is lower than what I would like to see knowing what App is looking at now. Depending on how much they look at this, it could be a big negative. If class rank and GPA matter more then we are in better shape.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

I’m a long time lurker on this list but finally someone has asked a question about something I have some experience with.


It has been my experience that being a legacy is nearly worthless when seeking admission to Appalachian.

Two cases in point:

The son of two of my closest friends (who happened to be married to each other) applied to ASU a few years back. My friends both graduated back in the late 70's, and have contributed plenty of money to the Yosef Club. (They rank in the top 5% in giving of all Yosef Club members.) Their son’s grades were okay but his SAT score was a bit below average. Denied. Not deferred, not wait listed. Denied. We all fussed and cussed, pleaded and begged to no avail.

Another example. The daughter of another friend applied more recently. Her father is an ASU grad. Two uncles, an aunt, cousin, I mean everybody in that family who has gone to college went to Appalachian. We all wrote letters, made phone calls, etc in support of her application. Same outcome.

I had the opportunity to have lunch with the admissions director a few years back. With the first example in mind, I asked for the scoop on admissions. I was told it is purely a numbers game. If your numbers meet our criteria, you’re in. If not, you’re not. After all spaces are filled, if you apply and qualify, you can elect to be admitted in January. I’m not so sure that essays, public service, etc matter in the processing of applications.

Those decisions left both families with hurt feelings. And, I know that Yosef suffered at least marginally from losing several years of contributions that would have been forthcoming had these kids been given the chace to see if they could have made it at ASU.

My $0.02 worth.

I do give each year to Appalachian, though that has been 100% to the academic side, up until this April when I gave a small mostly symbolic donation to the Yosef Club. In a way I am glad one can't but their way in-that is not fair to more qualified applicants that come from families of less or no means. As a parent and a double legacy..darn it, I want that extra nod of course.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

I know it hurts to be denied but try not to take it personally and punish the school by witholding future contributions to your alma mater. There are a lot of applicants for few positions. It's the student's responsibility to do more than enough to get in as soon as that first day of 9th grade begins.

I would not do that. I have given to Appalachian every year since graduation in both of our names so it counts twice for alumni giving percents. However with what will be 3 in college starting in one year for about 7 years rolling App and every non-profit I give to is going to see some cuts I am sure. That will happen even if App accepts all three of my daughters.

[asutrnr81]

How much does having a two-parent legacy help with Admissions at Appalachian? How would admissions even know unless the applicant wrote an essay (encouraged but not required) and brought it up in the essay. Would that be helpful.

First relationships matter ONLY after the numbers game is played.

This may help others more but:

Colleges UNweight GPA's prior to acceptance, or in essence look at the unweighted side of the transcript. They do look at AP and honors courses taken if the GPA looks to have taken a hit due to course difficulty.

Resume's are another area, where they look for the well rounded student "IF" the numbers game is not quite adding up.

SAT's matter and it is increasing at ASU yearly.

Class rank is huge but it is an unweighted CR.

This advice may not help now but it may help others. If your child is a marginal AP student then DON'T take the class the GPA hit is awful. Take the honors class, not risking the AP hit on the unweighted side. Plus the NCAA (if you have an athlete is ONLY looking at the unweighted sided to qualify). Build a "big" resume with ALL high school honors, activities, and offices held. The build the well rounded community service side with "EVERYTHING" you did listed and "big" tickets highlighted...Mission activities, community services, church, If you are Eagle Scout or GOLD (girls) put up high on the resume. Prewrite the (a) letter for admissions and edit, edit, edit. Write is like you were tweeting. Say the important things once, well, and not again.

Whether or not it was just the kids had the "numbers" or not. We got a resume from a friend whose kids were way "smarter" (better scores) than either of our kids. (Both my guys ASU '13, and ASU '16 were in top 7-8% but the kids I am talking about are in the top 1-2%.) The resume is about 15 for 15 now with kids getting in where they wanted. These schools range from Brown (Ivy, Boston College, Duke, Chapel Hill, ECU, ASU, Virginia, South Carolina and etc. So no slouch colleges.

If it gives you any indication, From the summer of 11 on my youngest got and kept getting "UNSOLICITED" emails and letters from WCU that he was on the "Chancellors" acceptance list etc. all the stuff and it was eye opening. I'd say this MAY be a good thing for your daughter. The result was he got into ASU and has done well.

While the SAT/ACT issue is big, being within 50 to 75 points of the average WITH a great resume and unweighted GPA puts you in pretty good spot.

Start Early and work every angle!

[DoubleA]

A good SAT review course can help boost the SAT score by as much as 200 points and really bolster the students application. My daughter took the SAT twice, and scored low to mid 1100's both times,then took a SAT review course, and boosted her score 150 points. Good grades and higher score in hand, she was able to land a nice scholarship. The course is not cheap (about $800 as I recall), but can be very effective. Several of her friends took the course, with similar results. It's kind of silly, when you think about it. She was no smarter, or probably no more prepared for college after taking the course, but her numbers looked better on paper.