I have a legacy question

[Anonymous]

Neither my DH nor I went to a college that recognizes legacy, so I didn't even know about the concept until about a year ago, when my first DC started high school.

I recall that a few years ago, I was at lunch with two friends and an acquaintance, and the acquaintance was discussing how her father went to Yale, but she didn't get to go to Yale because they only give one child a spot and her older sister got the Yale spot. At the time I didn't know what she was talking about. But obviously now I know to what she was referring to.

1) Is that how legacy works? That only one child is given legacy consideration?

2) and on a related point, I'm under the impression that for college admissions, legacy is only for children of undergrad alumni, so say, if you went to grad/law/medical school at X University but not undergrad, it doesn't count. Is that right or do schools differ on this?

[Anonymous]

1. No
2. Depends on the school but most ivies don’t consider the children of grad students legacies. Actually I’m just irritated because mine and my DW’s didn’t. DC got into another ivy anyway so whatever. It’s all such a stupid game.

[Anonymous]

It varies by school.

[Anonymous]

So overrated.

Your friend didn’t get into Yale. Period.

[Anonymous]

Not to hijack but related question: if my mother went to a school is DS a legacy there (Chicago fwiw)?

[Anonymous]

A pretty good student who is a friend of DDs, got rejected from ED at Cornell. Both of this parents graduated from there.
I don't know his stats, but he is applying to the other Ivy schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. No
2. Depends on the school but most ivies don’t consider the children of grad students legacies. Actually I’m just irritated because mine and my DW’s didn’t. DC got into another ivy anyway so whatever. It’s all such a stupid game.

Cool story bro

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not to hijack but related question: if my mother went to a school is DS a legacy there (Chicago fwiw)?

Some applications ask about family, including some that ask specifically about grandparents or relatives. You can create a common app account and look about the school of interest and flip through the "family" questions to see who they ask about. Not sure how this info gets weighed. The common app also asks where parents went to school.

[Anonymous]

Every school treats legacies differently. Some consider grandparents, others don't. Some consider undergrad only, while others count grad school graduates as legacies. The only way to know for sure is to research each school individually, and if you can't find the information on the school's website, email the admissions office and ask point blank. Schools are used to being asked and will answer.

[Anonymous]

I know for a fact that Penn considers grad legacy, but only if you apply during ED round

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know for a fact that Penn considers grad legacy, but only if you apply during ED round

Same is true for Cornell. So at the two largest Ivies legacy Regular Decision applicants get no advantage at all.

[Anonymous]

Forgive me if this is a silly question, but why would a school care about legacy if the parent/ grandparent doesn't have a history of financial support?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Forgive me if this is a silly question, but why would a school care about legacy if the parent/ grandparent doesn't have a history of financial support?

1. Schools know that just because you don't have a history of financial support to your alma mater does not mean you won't support the school when you do have money later in life. And if your kid gets in you likely would be more inclined to support the school.

2. Legacy applicants on average are more likely to be full pay than non-legacy applicants (at least at Top 50 type schools).

3. Legacy applicants are typically more familiar with the school than the average admit and thus less likely to suffer from a poor fit and transfer out.

4. Legacy policies keep alumni tied to the school (visiting, attending tailgates, volunteering time, etc.) in the knowledge that their kids will get a boost if they want to apply some day.

[Anonymous]

The whole legacy thing is total BS and should be eliminated.

[Anonymous]

My uncle went to Yale and then so did both of my cousins and so far at least one of their kids. My best friends father went to Yale and so did 3 of his 4 kids (although so far none of their kids but there are still a few in high school). So there does not seem to be a limit on the number of legacy acceptances, but in all of these cases the legacies were more than qualified.