Mixed feelings about legacy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC resisted applying to schools where she had legacy. Thought it was unfair. Applied EA to a peer institution and was one and done. Not sure that was rational, but her choice.

Much respect to your DC! Spouse and I were unhooked as well, and there is definitely a part of us that feels DC should do things the "hard" way!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

No need to apologize. I think it depends on your kid. If your school isn’t one of their top choices then it doesn’t make sense to apply there just because you have a legacy connection. Our second kid didn’t apply early to our alma mater because they really wanted to go somewhere else so that’s where they applied. It’s probably more helpful for your kid to decide what they want and then you figure it out from there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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. [/quot

But only if the students’ grades and grades are at the top. And parents have given Lots of money.

[Anonymous]

The problem I have with OP's post is that she's all "aw shucks" about legacy when she's the first to say that the Ivies in question might not even be a good fit for her kid. And that means that she's willing to send her kid to a school that isn't even a fit only because of the name and because she thinks legacy status will get the kid in. And, to me at least, that's pathetic.

If, as she claims, he's qualified for a top school anyway, why not look for the right fit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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. [/quot

But only if the students’ grades and grades are at the top. And parents have given Lots of money.

Money has nothing to do with it. 33% of legacies are not donating “big money”

The point of the study is that if two students have equal grades, the non legacy has 10% admit rate and legacy has 50%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem I have with OP's post is that she's all "aw shucks" about legacy when she's the first to say that the Ivies in question might not even be a good fit for her kid. And that means that she's willing to send her kid to a school that isn't even a fit only because of the name and because she thinks legacy status will get the kid in. And, to me at least, that's pathetic.

If, as she claims, he's qualified for a top school anyway, why not look for the right fit?

I am sorry I gave you this negative impression. To be clear, I do believe DC would be a good fit at either spouse’s or my alma maters. My concern is that somewhere else may be a *better* fit, yet ironically might be more difficult for DC to gain admittance there.

[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?

If you and your spouse have been consistent financial supporters, then sure, just being a graduate isn't really enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem I have with OP's post is that she's all "aw shucks" about legacy when she's the first to say that the Ivies in question might not even be a good fit for her kid. And that means that she's willing to send her kid to a school that isn't even a fit only because of the name and because she thinks legacy status will get the kid in. And, to me at least, that's pathetic.

If, as she claims, he's qualified for a top school anyway, why not look for the right fit?

I am sorry I gave you this negative impression. To be clear, I do believe DC would be a good fit at either spouse’s or my alma maters. My concern is that somewhere else may be a *better* fit, yet ironically might be more difficult for DC to gain admittance there.

Then what the heck is your point or question, OP? Whether it's ok for your kid to apply to a college and click the legacy box? Just click the damn box on the Ivy application and also apply to the potentially better fit, and the kid can decide where to go once the acceptances/rejections come in. It's not an either/or proposition. Your kid is allowed to apply to more than one school you know.

[Anonymous]

Use whatever advantage your legacy status gives you because the system stinks, and stinks even worse this year because of COVID, test-optional, kids applying to 25+ schools, etc. It's going to stink even worse next year, too, because many HS were in person this year and many weren't.

Finding a good fit is admirable, and should be the goal. However, we are now in a desperate situation where the more certain option (EA/ED + legacy) is quite valuable, even if the school is not the perfect fit.

[Anonymous]

Sure, just write that $20M check, OP, and your alma maters will be pleased to recognize the talented genes of your progeny!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem I have with OP's post is that she's all "aw shucks" about legacy when she's the first to say that the Ivies in question might not even be a good fit for her kid. And that means that she's willing to send her kid to a school that isn't even a fit only because of the name and because she thinks legacy status will get the kid in. And, to me at least, that's pathetic.

If, as she claims, he's qualified for a top school anyway, why not look for the right fit?

I am sorry I gave you this negative impression. To be clear, I do believe DC would be a good fit at either spouse’s or my alma maters. My concern is that somewhere else may be a *better* fit, yet ironically might be more difficult for DC to gain admittance there.

Then what the heck is your point or question, OP? Whether it's ok for your kid to apply to a college and click the legacy box? Just click the damn box on the Ivy application and also apply to the potentially better fit, and the kid can decide where to go once the acceptances/rejections come in. It's not an either/or proposition. Your kid is allowed to apply to more than one school you know.

By applying to one of our alma maters SCEA, DC would *not* be able to apply early to another school that may be a better fit. DC’s chances of being admitted to that other school would be lower without the early round advantage. On the other hand, if DC applies early to that other school, the chances of being admitted to one of our alma maters would be lowered significantly since the legacy bump counts most in the early round. The dilemma is whether DC should be more practical or less. Either way, all of us recognize how extremely difficult it is to get into any very selective university in this day and age.

[Anonymous]

Surprised that anyone is buying this. This seems like C- concern trolling by one of the anti-legacy posters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Surprised that anyone is buying this. This seems like C- concern trolling by one of the anti-legacy posters.

Genuinely curious - what have I written that suggests trolling? I have thanked posters who answered my question regardless of their individual views on legacy, and remained polite to those who would rather say unkind things about me and/or DC. Wouldn’t a troll seek to stir up drama rather than try to diffuse it?

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

No need to apologize. I think it depends on your kid. If your school isn’t one of their top choices then it doesn’t make sense to apply there just because you have a legacy connection. Our second kid didn’t apply early to our alma mater because they really wanted to go somewhere else so that’s where they applied. It’s probably more helpful for your kid to decide what they want and then you figure it out from there.

My daughter had a similar feeling, not guilt so much as she and everyone else would think she got in because of the hook and for no other reason. She just didn’t feel like dealing with that.