Mixed feelings about legacy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Spouse and I graduated from different HYPS. Our DC is starting to think about college, and we recently learned that my alma mater provides a 2x admissions bump for legacy applicants, while spouse's provides a whopping 3x. With these numbers, DC literally has a better chance of attending HYPS than a less prestigious university that may be a better fit!

DC's academics and extracurriculars are not in question, but with college admissions these days resembling a lottery for many, many highly qualified yet unhooked applicants, I am under no illusion that DC is "special" enough to be accepted to a highly selective school without the legacy bump.

DCUMers who have BTDT, how did/do you and your DC feel about her/his/their legacy status? Grateful? Guilty? Pressured?

Ha....one must be a Stanford alum...only they refer to H-Y-P and....wait for it........................................................................"S."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spouse and I graduated from different HYPS. Our DC is starting to think about college, and we recently learned that my alma mater provides a 2x admissions bump for legacy applicants, while spouse's provides a whopping 3x. With these numbers, DC literally has a better chance of attending HYPS than a less prestigious university that may be a better fit!

DC's academics and extracurriculars are not in question, but with college admissions these days resembling a lottery for many, many highly qualified yet unhooked applicants, I am under no illusion that DC is "special" enough to be accepted to a highly selective school without the legacy bump.

DCUMers who have BTDT, how did/do you and your DC feel about her/his/their legacy status? Grateful? Guilty? Pressured?

Congrats. Your kid has a 10 percent chance of getting in. Don't count on it.

It's actually quite higher than 10%, but you are right that we are not counting on it!

Look, OP, let's call it like it is: you're on here to brag that your kid is a legacy and to try to start a pissing match. But what's so great about all of this is that in the end your kid isn't going to get in. I'm sure of it.

I apologize if that's how I am coming across. I truly do not believe being a legacy is bragworthy, especially on an anonymous online forum. I do not want to cause conflict, and wish you and your family all the best now and in the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get you, OP. Our kid is an ivy legacy (multiple relatives) and I feel so guilty for wanting her to get in. She’s qualified for sure, but we know the legacy status might be the thing that gives her a boost.

I truly wish the top colleges would literally do a lottery for all the applicants who meet a certain profile. But that would interfere with their methods of making their tuition goal, so that will probably never happen.

I appreciate and share your perspective!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spouse and I graduated from different HYPS. Our DC is starting to think about college, and we recently learned that my alma mater provides a 2x admissions bump for legacy applicants, while spouse's provides a whopping 3x. With these numbers, DC literally has a better chance of attending HYPS than a less prestigious university that may be a better fit!

DC's academics and extracurriculars are not in question, but with college admissions these days resembling a lottery for many, many highly qualified yet unhooked applicants, I am under no illusion that DC is "special" enough to be accepted to a highly selective school without the legacy bump.

DCUMers who have BTDT, how did/do you and your DC feel about her/his/their legacy status? Grateful? Guilty? Pressured?

Ha....one must be a Stanford alum...only they refer to H-Y-P and....wait for it........................................................................"S."

I actually wanted to type HYPSM to be more general, but everyone already knows legacy means nothing at MIT, so I stuck with HYPS. I recognize it's likely silly to be so paranoid of including even this small amount of identifying information online, but I am. If you notice, I didn't include my DC's gender either!

[Anonymous]

Yeah right, you "just discovered" the effect of legacy on Ivy League admissions. You probably started your research the day DC exited the womb!

You're fooling no one, OP.

[Anonymous]

This process is a crapshoot.

Legacy, $, athletics, URM, First Generation, rural, etc, are all various factors that are used by an arbitrary system. You, OP, may feel conflicted by your legacy status and may elect not to use this privilege. I commend you for your concern, and for voicing it.

But regardless of whether you invoke legacy status or not, this crappy system is not going to change.

As for me? My DC got into his first choice because of a slight legacy preference (as a indicator of confirmed interest). I am thankful for this, because all of the other factors don't come into play for my DC and some in fact go against us (we are Asian).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah right, you "just discovered" the effect of legacy on Ivy League admissions. You probably started your research the day DC exited the womb!

You're fooling no one, OP.

I am sorry to have given you this cynical impression. What would be the point of trying to fool anyone on an anonymous forum, except for trolling purposes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This process is a crapshoot.

Legacy, $, athletics, URM, First Generation, rural, etc, are all various factors that are used by an arbitrary system. You, OP, may feel conflicted by your legacy status and may elect not to use this privilege. I commend you for your concern, and for voicing it.

But regardless of whether you invoke legacy status or not, this crappy system is not going to change.

As for me? My DC got into his first choice because of a slight legacy preference (as a indicator of confirmed interest). I am thankful for this, because all of the other factors don't come into play for my DC and some in fact go against us (we are Asian).

Thank you for your candor! It's super helpful to hear the various perspectives of others who have BTDT.

[Anonymous]

I find it hard to believe that anyone in those admissions offices would give a quantitative answer to this question (which they must receive all the time). A 2x or 3x bump?? No way would they just admit that freely.

[Anonymous]

Our kid applied early to our alma mater. I didn’t realize we were supposed to feel conflicted about this. It seemed like the sensible thing to do since the school was one of their top choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it hard to believe that anyone in those admissions offices would give a quantitative answer to this question (which they must receive all the time). A 2x or 3x bump?? No way would they just admit that freely.

Harvard single legacy gets a 5x bump according to an analysis of the lawsuit data - an applicant who normally would have a 10% chance of being admitted has a 50% chance if they are a legacy. Double legacy is even higher bump.

Legacy admit rate was around 33% so between 5 and 6 times higher than the regular admit rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it hard to believe that anyone in those admissions offices would give a quantitative answer to this question (which they must receive all the time). A 2x or 3x bump?? No way would they just admit that freely.

I was surprised as well, but it did in fact happen.

[Anonymous]

OP I once posted something similar and also got slammed. I am in the same boat. Feel the pressure for DC to apply to alma mater, and it seems foolish not to. Seems like you are way more likely not to go to a school on that level if you don't EA to the legacy. That is probably what they will end up doing. Kinda stinks that maybe another school feels like a better fit. The very definition of a first world problem, though! Good luck deciding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kid applied early to our alma mater. I didn’t realize we were supposed to feel conflicted about this. It seemed like the sensible thing to do since the school was one of their top choices.

Apologies, my post was not meant to suggest you *should* feel conflicted. I am not judging anyone, simply sharing my thoughts and asking for others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I once posted something similar and also got slammed. I am in the same boat. Feel the pressure for DC to apply to alma mater, and it seems foolish not to. Seems like you are way more likely not to go to a school on that level if you don't EA to the legacy. That is probably what they will end up doing. Kinda stinks that maybe another school feels like a better fit. The very definition of a first world problem, though! Good luck deciding.

No worries, such is the nature of an anonymous forum. A number of posters, including you, have taken my question seriously, and I am appreciative. "First world problem" is exactly right!