How much does legacy help?

[Anonymous]

My child is “high stats” from a strong private school (stats fall within the 25-75th percentile for top colleges). DC is also a legacy at one of said ridiculously selective colleges (think, HYPS).

But…DC has very average ECs. Their not going to be an athletic recruit, nor will they have national recognition in anything (excluding possibly NMSF). It’s obviously too late to have put a violin in their hand at age 3, and DC will never write a novel.

If you were in the same boat, can you give your honest take on how much legacy status helped? We are not a “development case,” but have donated modest amounts since college graduation.

[Anonymous]

Well, I guess it could still help, in a sense that they know the kid probably would attend because parents went there. For example, rather than a straight-up reject, they may defer you from ED to RD knowing that you are legacy and likely will attend if admitted. They will reevaluate the applicant in the RD round.

[Anonymous]

Legacy matters less than it used it at most elite schools. Without awards etc., will be a tough admit.

[Anonymous]

It likely won’t help at Stanford, with the new law on legacy and development applicants.

[Anonymous]

I am 100% sure legacy is extremely helpful for Princeton

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am 100% sure legacy is extremely helpful for Princeton

\\

Do you know legacy applicants admitted with lesser stats and/or lesser ECs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child is “high stats” from a strong private school (stats fall within the 25-75th percentile for top colleges). DC is also a legacy at one of said ridiculously selective colleges (think, HYPS).

But…DC has very average ECs. Their not going to be an athletic recruit, nor will they have national recognition in anything (excluding possibly NMSF). It’s obviously too late to have put a violin in their hand at age 3, and DC will never write a novel.

If you were in the same boat, can you give your honest take on how much legacy status helped? We are not a “development case,” but have donated modest amounts since college graduation.

It could help for others to respond to you if you can include your kid's high stats/#s here to understand what exactly high stats are since "many" kids are "high stats"

[Anonymous]

Is your kid at the very top of the class at your private? Legacy is more a tie breaker than a boost these days.

[Anonymous]

If your DC is "high stats" from a top private and legacy, there is a shot, but DC needs to apply ED.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your DC is "high stats" from a top private and legacy, there is a shot, but DC needs to apply ED.

None of the schools OP listed (HYPS) have ED

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 100% sure legacy is extremely helpful for Princeton

\\

Do you know legacy applicants admitted with lesser stats and/or lesser ECs?

I 100% know it didn't help my kid. (And, honestly, we are kind of relieved because they landed at. School that is going to be a much better fit)

Legacy status won't move your kid into the "consider" category. IF they are already extraordinary then legacy would potentially break a tie between your extraordinary kid and the 10,000 other extraordinary kids applying to Princeton.

[Anonymous]

Not helpful at Yale. Anecdotal, but only 5% of 2 dozen legacies and double legacies I know have gotten in. Including active volunteering/donor parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is your kid at the very top of the class at your private? Legacy is more a tie breaker than a boost these days.

Second this. I truly don't think legacy matters in the T20. It may have some influence in lower ranked schools, but that influence is waning. There are just too many well qualified kids and the optics are bad.

Athletics, URM, celebrity kid or FG are the hooks these days. Or a true development case ($1mill+) or Dean's pick (family friend, business associate's grandkid, etc.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is “high stats” from a strong private school (stats fall within the 25-75th percentile for top colleges). DC is also a legacy at one of said ridiculously selective colleges (think, HYPS).

But…DC has very average ECs. Their not going to be an athletic recruit, nor will they have national recognition in anything (excluding possibly NMSF). It’s obviously too late to have put a violin in their hand at age 3, and DC will never write a novel.

If you were in the same boat, can you give your honest take on how much legacy status helped? We are not a “development case,” but have donated modest amounts since college graduation.

It could help for others to respond to you if you can include your kid's high stats/#s here to understand what exactly high stats are since "many" kids are "high stats"

OP here: school does not rank, but told by outside counselor that their GPA puts my child in the top 5% of class (over 3.9 GPA UW). Highest rigor and advanced in one subject. Don’t want to write more because it might be clear who my kid is. SAT is 1550+.

Basically, my kid is doing everything they can to stand out at school. They just do not have objectively impressive ECs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is “high stats” from a strong private school (stats fall within the 25-75th percentile for top colleges). DC is also a legacy at one of said ridiculously selective colleges (think, HYPS).

But…DC has very average ECs. Their not going to be an athletic recruit, nor will they have national recognition in anything (excluding possibly NMSF). It’s obviously too late to have put a violin in their hand at age 3, and DC will never write a novel.

If you were in the same boat, can you give your honest take on how much legacy status helped? We are not a “development case,” but have donated modest amounts since college graduation.

It could help for others to respond to you if you can include your kid's high stats/#s here to understand what exactly high stats are since "many" kids are "high stats"

OP here: school does not rank, but told by outside counselor that their GPA puts my child in the top 5% of class (over 3.9 GPA UW). Highest rigor and advanced in one subject. Don’t want to write more because it might be clear who my kid is. SAT is 1550+.

Basically, my kid is doing everything they can to stand out at school. They just do not have objectively impressive ECs.

I think without ECs being significant and with impact, it is very unlikely UNLESS your school historically has great admission results with kids like your kid. Without that, I highly doubt it.