Taking off the ALO hat.
I think we can all agree that a Falcon Foundation scholarship offer is a wonderful and generous opportunity for an applicant to continue to chase their dreams.
The express purpose of the FF is to provide additional academic preparation to applicants who didn't have the best educational opportunities (see below). It
is confusing that these scholarships are being handed out to applicants who have seemingly "outstanding" academic qualifications.
I believe that, in the past, someone like OP's son would have simply not received an appointment, prep school offer, or FF scholarship offer. That, in the past, there used to be a "pool" of applicants who weren't high enough on their nom slates to get an appointment but at the same time overqualified for the prep school and FF scholarship. Is it right to offer this group the prep school and FF scholarship slots over other applicants with poor academic opportunity but otherwise excellent potential? It certainly seems to go against the
purpose of the programs themselves. At the same time, is it fair that this "pool" of applicants should walk away with nothing when other seemingly "less qualified" applicants get something?
Personally, I did not interpret the original post as entitled and frankly I'm surprised by the speed at which many people thought to jump down their throat. Though it is a sensitive time to make such a post, when others are still waiting for anything at all. That being said, I do think the ALO could have approached the situation differently.
In times like these I remember a quote from Jean Luc Picard, "It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness; that is life." It will be up to the applicant to ultimately decide what is right for them and to live with the consequences of that decision.
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https://www.falconfoundation.org/About
- 2023 Admissions Handbook (unpublished)