How much does legacy help?

[Anonymous]

I think legacy matters at Harvard

just to be clear: legacy is undergrad only. no bump if you went to YLS or HBS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Legacy is not your competition. As others have pointed out, other hooks at your school are your competition. Does your school have many URM, FG, LI ? Athletes?

The question you asked is very general. Your kid is only evaluated in the context of your school. Does your school send kids without impressive ECs to colleges? The majority of private schools do with great results, but the question is does your school do?

So DC does have another “hook” according to this criteria, and I believe that my kid will stand out in the context of the school. They just won’t win the EC arms race.

Thanks for responses. This is helpful. Obviously my kid will apply broadly and try to work on their squash skills over the next year. (I wish I were kidding).

Typically private schools limit students applications at 12 or less. Identity one or two safeties your DC loves to attend. Then it’s all about reach schools.

I like how you call it an "EC arms race" -- a not so subtle dig at kids who are more involved and who accomplish more -- while at the same time treating the accident of legacy as something that should make up some of the difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Legacy is not your competition. As others have pointed out, other hooks at your school are your competition. Does your school have many URM, FG, LI ? Athletes?

The question you asked is very general. Your kid is only evaluated in the context of your school. Does your school send kids without impressive ECs to colleges? The majority of private schools do with great results, but the question is does your school do?

So DC does have another “hook” according to this criteria, and I believe that my kid will stand out in the context of the school. They just won’t win the EC arms race.

Thanks for responses. This is helpful. Obviously my kid will apply broadly and try to work on their squash skills over the next year. (I wish I were kidding).

Your kid is the same as mine (even down to the squash). If it is a boy, squash is useless unless they are a true superstar - look at the rosters - half the boy squash players are international. My kid started playing squash and everyone said "oh, that will get him into a great school" - the secret is out - it is useless unless you are truly, truly elite (again, particularly for boys - many more domestic girl spots).

That being said, based on what you have said, I would not give up hope. The vast majority of kids at HYPS have a hook, be it an XC, minority, poor, etc. But they do hold some spots for really smart, well-rounded but not pointy kids, and being a legacy could help them to stand out in this group.

This is another case of you having hurt your kid by doing too well. If you had gone to a really good but not TT school like Emory or even possibly Cornell, your kid would be guaranteed to get in as a legacy with that profile. But by going to the top of the top, it might not be possible. Again, my kid is the same - spouse and I are too credentialed for our own good and though we have been consistently donating and helping out, it is not nearly enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Still matters at some schools but definitely getting to be less and less.

We had a strong legacy candidate (stronger on paper than you describe) denied at Hopkins

Well, considering that Hopkins doesn't consider legacy, that's not a surprise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What major is DC applying for? Non STEM is better. HYPS is tough for STEM without national level awards.

Just stop.

There is nothing to stop. Top colleges look to private schools for non-STEM majors because such subjects are taught much better in private schools. They will pick their STEM students from magnet schools, and kids with STEM awards. I have seen this repeatedly at private schools that the students who apply for non-STEM majors do the best.

You are a really insufferable human being with that chip on your shoulder. Public schools and private schools are in different pools. Even more, each school is considered in their own context. Go back to your miserable public school corner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Legacy is not your competition. As others have pointed out, other hooks at your school are your competition. Does your school have many URM, FG, LI ? Athletes?

The question you asked is very general. Your kid is only evaluated in the context of your school. Does your school send kids without impressive ECs to colleges? The majority of private schools do with great results, but the question is does your school do?

So DC does have another “hook” according to this criteria, and I believe that my kid will stand out in the context of the school. They just won’t win the EC arms race.

Thanks for responses. This is helpful. Obviously my kid will apply broadly and try to work on their squash skills over the next year. (I wish I were kidding).

Typically private schools limit students applications at 12 or less. Identity one or two safeties your DC loves to attend. Then it’s all about reach schools.

I like how you call it an "EC arms race" -- a not so subtle dig at kids who are more involved and who accomplish more -- while at the same time treating the accident of legacy as something that should make up some of the difference.

Take a remedial English class, no one understands what the heck you are talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Legacy is not your competition. As others have pointed out, other hooks at your school are your competition. Does your school have many URM, FG, LI ? Athletes?

The question you asked is very general. Your kid is only evaluated in the context of your school. Does your school send kids without impressive ECs to colleges? The majority of private schools do with great results, but the question is does your school do?

So DC does have another “hook” according to this criteria, and I believe that my kid will stand out in the context of the school. They just won’t win the EC arms race.

Thanks for responses. This is helpful. Obviously my kid will apply broadly and try to work on their squash skills over the next year. (I wish I were kidding).

Typically private schools limit students applications at 12 or less. Identity one or two safeties your DC loves to attend. Then it’s all about reach schools.

I like how you call it an "EC arms race" -- a not so subtle dig at kids who are more involved and who accomplish more -- while at the same time treating the accident of legacy as something that should make up some of the difference.

It’s not a dig, it’s what my kid would have to do in order to develop a different spoke other than school. My kid loves school, loves learning, and volunteers because that’s who they are. My kid is loved by teachers because school is their “thing.”

I have the utmost respect and appreciation for kids who have different talents. It makes sense that people who are national level violinist get admitted over my garden variety smart kid. I’m just working with what I have.

[Anonymous]

Different *spike*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Legacy is not your competition. As others have pointed out, other hooks at your school are your competition. Does your school have many URM, FG, LI ? Athletes?

The question you asked is very general. Your kid is only evaluated in the context of your school. Does your school send kids without impressive ECs to colleges? The majority of private schools do with great results, but the question is does your school do?

This may vary by university. Yale has implied (but not directly stated) that legacies are competing against one another. I think they only say there's a legacy advantage in order to keep alumni active and donating, but that they haven't actually had a legacy advantage since covid.

[Anonymous]

anecdotally, it seems to me legacy is an advantage at many top schools, especially if the one of the parents has an impressive job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Legacy is not your competition. As others have pointed out, other hooks at your school are your competition. Does your school have many URM, FG, LI ? Athletes?

The question you asked is very general. Your kid is only evaluated in the context of your school. Does your school send kids without impressive ECs to colleges? The majority of private schools do with great results, but the question is does your school do?

So DC does have another “hook” according to this criteria, and I believe that my kid will stand out in the context of the school. They just won’t win the EC arms race.

Thanks for responses. This is helpful. Obviously my kid will apply broadly and try to work on their squash skills over the next year. (I wish I were kidding).

Your kid is the same as mine (even down to the squash). If it is a boy, squash is useless unless they are a true superstar - look at the rosters - half the boy squash players are international. My kid started playing squash and everyone said "oh, that will get him into a great school" - the secret is out - it is useless unless you are truly, truly elite (again, particularly for boys - many more domestic girl spots).

That being said, based on what you have said, I would not give up hope. The vast majority of kids at HYPS have a hook, be it an XC, minority, poor, etc. But they do hold some spots for really smart, well-rounded but not pointy kids, and being a legacy could help them to stand out in this group.

This is another case of you having hurt your kid by doing too well. If you had gone to a really good but not TT school like Emory or even possibly Cornell, your kid would be guaranteed to get in as a legacy with that profile. But by going to the top of the top, it might not be possible. Again, my kid is the same - spouse and I are too credentialed for our own good and though we have been consistently donating and helping out, it is not nearly enough.

I read an article about squash- families in wealthy areas like Greenwich build squash courts in their homes and hire International pro squash coaches to train their kids. So even domestically- you are up against a lot. But, yes, at top schools many of the recruits are Internationals

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:anecdotally, it seems to me legacy is an advantage at many top schools, especially if the one of the parents has an impressive job.

It’s a disadvantage at Hopkins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Still matters at some schools but definitely getting to be less and less.

We had a strong legacy candidate (stronger on paper than you describe) denied at Hopkins

Well, considering that Hopkins doesn't consider legacy, that's not a surprise.

+1 my kid got in RD to Ivies, T10s (unhooked) was WL Hopkins (legacy). He’s at an Ivy and happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Legacy is not your competition. As others have pointed out, other hooks at your school are your competition. Does your school have many URM, FG, LI ? Athletes?

The question you asked is very general. Your kid is only evaluated in the context of your school. Does your school send kids without impressive ECs to colleges? The majority of private schools do with great results, but the question is does your school do?

So DC does have another “hook” according to this criteria, and I believe that my kid will stand out in the context of the school. They just won’t win the EC arms race.

Thanks for responses. This is helpful. Obviously my kid will apply broadly and try to work on their squash skills over the next year. (I wish I were kidding).

Typically private schools limit students applications at 12 or less. Identity one or two safeties your DC loves to attend. Then it’s all about reach schools.

I like how you call it an "EC arms race" -- a not so subtle dig at kids who are more involved and who accomplish more -- while at the same time treating the accident of legacy as something that should make up some of the difference.

Take a remedial English class, no one understands what the heck you are talking about.

I understood the post, and I suspect you did, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Legacy is not your competition. As others have pointed out, other hooks at your school are your competition. Does your school have many URM, FG, LI ? Athletes?

The question you asked is very general. Your kid is only evaluated in the context of your school. Does your school send kids without impressive ECs to colleges? The majority of private schools do with great results, but the question is does your school do?

So DC does have another “hook” according to this criteria, and I believe that my kid will stand out in the context of the school. They just won’t win the EC arms race.

Thanks for responses. This is helpful. Obviously my kid will apply broadly and try to work on their squash skills over the next year. (I wish I were kidding).

Your kid is the same as mine (even down to the squash). If it is a boy, squash is useless unless they are a true superstar - look at the rosters - half the boy squash players are international. My kid started playing squash and everyone said "oh, that will get him into a great school" - the secret is out - it is useless unless you are truly, truly elite (again, particularly for boys - many more domestic girl spots).

That being said, based on what you have said, I would not give up hope. The vast majority of kids at HYPS have a hook, be it an XC, minority, poor, etc. But they do hold some spots for really smart, well-rounded but not pointy kids, and being a legacy could help them to stand out in this group.

This is another case of you having hurt your kid by doing too well. If you had gone to a really good but not TT school like Emory or even possibly Cornell, your kid would be guaranteed to get in as a legacy with that profile. But by going to the top of the top, it might not be possible. Again, my kid is the same - spouse and I are too credentialed for our own good and though we have been consistently donating and helping out, it is not nearly enough.

Anyone have any insights about Cornell legacy ED applicants for class of 25? I only know one side of the story - the legacy kids who were admitted and are attending. I don’t have a feel for the legacy kids who applied and were deferred, waitlisted, or rejected.

My kid has great, but not perfect stats, and mediocre ECs. Debating if they should waste an ED. Scoir data is mixed and doesn’t indicate legacy status.