Will a Donation Guarantee Admission?

Does making a donation to a prestige school guarantee your child's enrollment there? That's what Dr. Michael Bardwil thought when he gae $40,000 to a Jesuit school, his alma mater, in Houston Texas. Bardwill claims that a school administrator told him it would guarantee his son admission. A year after making the donation, Bardwill's son was rejected from the school during the admissions process.

According to a report by ABC News, the school administrator asked Bardwill to donate $100,000 and in return the prestigious college prep academy would guarantee admission for Bardwill's son. Bardwill actually pledged $50,000 over a five year period and, reportedly, assumed that would suffice. Bardwill asked for the money back when his son was rejected.

Bardwill has said: "I told them [the school] if they didn't want my son that's fine, but I'm going to rescind my donation … And then that's when they told me that they can't give me my money back."

Bardwil is now considering suing the school. He is asking the academy to pay $40,000 plus attorney's fees and other money for what he calls "such unconscionable overreaching."

Myra A. McGovern, a spokeswoman for the National Association of Independent Schools, commented on the case:

"There occasionally are people who feel that making donations will better their chances for their children's admission, but admission to independent schools is not done that way."

Should Bardwill have donated the $100,000 as requested by the school administrator instead of $50,000? Does he have the right to ask for his money back?

Photo Credit: Andrew Magill