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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Spouse and and I attended the same TOP 10 SLAC to which we have committed much time, talent and treasure over the 30+ years since graduation.  I am gong to be completely honest, the legacy status of our children would be recognized by the university even if there wasn't a box to check on the Common App.  There is no denying when you are on a first name basis with the Dean of Admissions, Alumni Director and other top administrators.  I say this as someone who received 100% financial aid from this institution and have been more than happy to give back to them.  [/quote]

And as long as you kid has scores/stats/EC/overall resume to be part of the incoming freshman class, then yes I see no reason not to give admission.  Even if "legacy" is ruled out by SC, it will be difficult to enforce, especially since most colleges offer holistic admissions.  Very few legacies are admitted that aren't within the norm for that school.

The fact is a kid only gets this legacy status at 2 schools (unless grandparents are wealthy and involved with a university). Harvard still turns away qualified legacies each year.  It's not a guarantee that your kid will get admitted.

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I agree that it is not a guarantee at all, but our child was completely qualified and admitted ED.  I would never want my child to be admitted to such selective college if they were not qualified, but being as involved as we are, we are well aware of what it takes to be considered for admission.  [/quote]

My oldest is a good but not stellar student (26 Act/3.5UW/only 1 AP course and didn't do well).  For one of their top 2 choices, we have a friend/colleague who is personal friends with the University president and Head of admissions (the president's wife)--as in vacations with them, actual really good friends, not just acquaintances.  Yes, we are privileged, but hell yes, we had the friend write a letter of recommendation and help make sure we got to meet head of admissions when we visited.  Yes, my kid got in and there's a 95% chance they would have gotten in anyhow (was at 50% for stats and their in depth ECs made them extemely attractive to that a university that values service, commitment to community), but of course we utilized every means we could to help ensure they got admitted (This was for a T100 school with 50% acceptance rate) They did, but choose their other top choice.

So my kid was qualified, and we used our connections.  This happens in life with everything.  We recognize our privilege and work to give back to the community to help others less privileged.  I grew up poor and didn't have these privileges then.  I worked my ass off to do better in life and provide more for my family.  Don't normally use connections for our kids--we believe in them working hard and earning things as it means much more.  However, I will also use connections to help our kids get jobs should they need it (they likely wont---that same kid graduated, found an amazing job all on their own at a T100 university).  
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I mean, I get it.  It's your kid, and I understand wanting to give them every advantage you can.  I completely understand.

But I don't think anyone should be able to pull that particular string.  I definitely don't think the answer is to shame parents into refraining from using existing connections, but instead to change the system so that no one can leverage those connections.[/quote]

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