Freshman Dan McLennan is just another Stanford student — that is until someone reminds him that his father also happens to be the dean of religious life.

“My dad is teaching a sophomore college seminar next year and I’m applying for it,” McLennan said. “It’s kind of strange because some people will come and say, ‘Oh, I’m applying for your dad’s seminar.’ ”

McLennan is just one of a handful of students who are also the children of faculty or staff at Stanford. Yet being the son or daughter of faculty or staff doesn’t guarantee a spot at Stanford.

McLennan came across the country — almost 3,000 miles — to attend Stanford leaving behind a place he called home for 13 years of his education. He spent his senior year on the East coast as a boarding school student at Milton Academy in Massachusetts.

“Growing up in Massachusetts and then coming to California — I feel like I’m in a new place,” McLennan said.

But first McLennan had to get in and according Robin Mamlet, dean of admission and financial aid, school admission is based on the same criterion for all students admitted to Stanford: demonstrated academic excellence and the potential to succeed at Stanford.

While the admissions office does not comment on the specifics of any sub-group within the applicant pool, McLennan said that only a slightly higher percentage of students of faculty and staff are admitted to Stanford and estimated the number to be about five percent higher.

For McLennan, there are a few perks that come along with being the son of the dean of religious life.

“Every once in a while we get invited to different events on campus like football seats in the box or [I] get to meet administrators,” he said. “There’s [also] about half a dozen professors who I know pretty well through my parents.”

Sophomore Allison Rose, daughter of Assistant Dean and Director of Student Activities Nanci Howe, also likes the advantages of having her mom nearby.

“We’re really close, so it’s nice to have her here and get to see her a lot,” Rose said. “But we also set some ground rules at the beginning, like she’s not allowed to come over whenever she wants.”

The financial perks for children of Stanford staff and faculty are no different than attending any other college.

“Our tuition remains the same for all students and need-based financial aid is available to those who qualify,” Mamlet said. “There’s a tuition benefit that applies to all employees, faculty and staff, and that can be used at any college the student attends.”

The tuition grant program for children of faculty and staff offers employees an amount that is approximately half of Stanford’s tuition. The maximum benefit for full-time students for the 2004-2005 school year will be $14,923.50 per eligible child for undergraduate education, according to the guidelines of the tuition grant program.

This benefit is comparable to other institutions like Brown University where a tuition aid program offers employees up to $10,000 per year per eligible child for undergraduate tuition. Some other schools like Boston College give the students of faculty a free ride, but only if they attend their institution. At the other end of the spectrum, Harvard University offers no tuition benefits.

“[At Stanford] they give you the same amount of money no matter what school you go to,” McLennan said. “Stanford would give my parents the same discount if I went to Harvard, Georgetown or a community college.”

Dan and his brother, senior Will McLennan both chose Stanford of their own accord.

“I encouraged [my sons] to pick the college that they thought was best for them, whatever it was,” said Scotty McLennan, dean of religious life.

McLennan also wanted his sons to also consider what it would be like to attend a school where their father was dean and who lives on campus. Apparently, both sons decided Stanford was the best choice and Will transferred as a sophomore from Northwestern, while Dan was admitted straight out of high school.

“In Will’s first quarter, we never ran into each other by chance on campus,” McLennan said. “It’s a big place with plenty of room to live one’s own life. I can count on one hand the times we’ve seen each other without planning it over the last three years.”

Rose said the close proximity of Stanford to her home, as opposed to her mom’s position on campus, made her hesitant about coming here. But ultimately, she “couldn’t say no to Stanford.”

Scotty McLennan said that his sons’ attendance has helped him better understand a student’s perspective.

“It’s very helpful as the dean of religious life to see the university through their eyes,” McLennan said. “It’s helped enormously in relating to other parents on occasions like Admit Weekend, New Student Orientation, Parents Weekend, etc. Overall, I feel it’s substantially enhanced both my and their experiences at Stanford.”

“I don’t go home very often,” said Dan McLennan. “Sometimes I go home to do my laundry.”

Perhaps the biggest feature setting these students apart is having a parent just around the corner.

“I think the main difference is access to my parents if I need them,” Dan McLennan said. “It’s kind of like being on my own, but living near them so I can visit them if I need to.”

Rose noted that there are some challenges that she must deal with because her mom is a University administrator.

“Sometimes, people make comments if I get a job or get accepted into something that it’s because of her,” Rose said. “It’s kind of annoying, but I think, or I hope, that it’s not true.”

Other children of Stanford administrators include sophomore Jon Hennessy, son of President John Hennessy, sophomore Max Etchemendy, son of Provost John Etchemendy, junior Chris Bravman, son of Vice Provost John Bravman and sophomore Ashlea Graves, niece of Associate Dean of Students Morris Graves. They did not respond to interview requests from The Daily.