Peer schools deny using admissions tracking lists
By Rakesh Gopalan | October 27, 1999Officials from several peer institutions of higher education said they do not use any tracking mechanism for prospective students on the basis of possible financial contributions. "We certainly do not do that, we have no plans to, and we have no reason to do so," said Marlyn McGrath-Lewis, director of admissions at Harvard University. But University of Virginia spokeswoman Louise Dudley said a centralized system designed to handle external recommendations is not unusual at certain institutions. "This is a common kind of practice at a selective college or university," Dudley said. Many selective institutions of higher education, however, denied the use of this practice. Development officials at Harvard only solicit donations from students or students' parents after the students have graduated, McGrath-Lewis said. The College of William & Mary does not make lists of prospective students either, but does consider whether the student can bring financial contributions to the College, said David Trott, William & Mary associate dean of admission. "We are looking obviously for what a student can bring to campus," Trott said.
