Just a guess here but I'm thinking one reason they give a leg up on legacies being admitted because they think those kids if accepted would have a higher chance of accepting admission. Giving an acceptance letter to someone who decides to go to college elsewhere lowers their stats in the US News and World college ranking. It's better to limit those types of acceptances even if those applicants are qualified. If the kid is a legacy, then you know the parents are more likely to like the college and support their child going there. Perhaps not a factor with H, Y, P but I imagine it does impact all the other schools to some degree.

Legacy ties to the undergrad college are usually the most important but a graduate degree in an academic field counts a bit. I've heard that some colleges actually will penalize listing the university's law school to try to claim legacy status.

Why do people donate money to their colleges? Serious question. I just got an email from my school saying it has a billion dollar campaign (if memory serves). My kids probably would never get in anyway. And the $500 a year I could swing I'd prefer to give to a charity I hold in higher value. Does giving at this level have any impact at all? They really don't need the money.

Giving is a personal thing. Without financial aid, there's no way I could have attended college. Princeton has a large endowment, but it is annual giving that funds most of current financial aid commitments. I want other kids today to have the same chance I did, and am happy to give back.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or do colleges consider a kid a legacy only if the parents were undergraduates? My DH and I both have graduate degrees from the same Ivy.

Depends on the school I think. I went to grad school at UVA and apparently my daughter would count as a legacy. I've heard from other places that grad school doesn't count. I'd contact the institution directly and/or start donating money now

Why do people donate money to their colleges? Serious question. I just got an email from my school saying it has a billion dollar campaign (if memory serves). My kids probably would never get in anyway. And the $500 a year I could swing I'd prefer to give to a charity I hold in higher value. Does giving at this level have any impact at all? They really don't need the money. The ridiculous student centers etc i think are an embaressment. I am open to criticism.

Whenever Harvard contacts my husband he tells them to get lost given their endowment. I went to a women's college and kids go to smaller colleges and we do donate to these schools because they aren't in the same financial position as H,Y,P. We care about the schools and we figure it will help to strengthen them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or do colleges consider a kid a legacy only if the parents were undergraduates? My DH and I both have graduate degrees from the same Ivy.

Depends on the school I think. I went to grad school at UVA and apparently my daughter would count as a legacy. I've heard from other places that grad school doesn't count. I'd contact the institution directly and/or start donating money now

Why do people donate money to their colleges? Serious question. I just got an email from my school saying it has a billion dollar campaign (if memory serves). My kids probably would never get in anyway. And the $500 a year I could swing I'd prefer to give to a charity I hold in higher value. Does giving at this level have any impact at all? They really don't need the money. The ridiculous student centers etc i think are an embaressment. I am open to criticism.

I am of the all or nothing type when it comes to donation. I've donated a total of 100 dollars between my UG and Grad school alma maters.

However if I ended up having atleast 9 figures in liquid assets, then I would donate to my grad school....and lots of endowed scholarships, a center of research/excellence, a couple of buildings designed as a better student union/meeting place/cafe/bar.

But if i'm not that successful then i won't donate anything.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or do colleges consider a kid a legacy only if the parents were undergraduates? My DH and I both have graduate degrees from the same Ivy.

Depends on the school I think. I went to grad school at UVA and apparently my daughter would count as a legacy. I've heard from other places that grad school doesn't count. I'd contact the institution directly and/or start donating money now

Why do people donate money to their colleges? Serious question. I just got an email from my school saying it has a billion dollar campaign (if memory serves). My kids probably would never get in anyway. And the $500 a year I could swing I'd prefer to give to a charity I hold in higher value. Does giving at this level have any impact at all? They really don't need the money. The ridiculous student centers etc i think are an embaressment. I am open to criticism.

I give money to my grad program because I got a TA and an RA to go there; basically a free education and enough cash to enjoy myself for a few years. I got an excellent education and I've done quite well professionally because of this. I'm still appreciative of this, and throw some cash their way occasionally.

Anonymous wrote:At Ivies nowadays, unless there are buildings (plural) with your name on them, it hardly matters. They reject qualified legacies all the time. There is a spot on most forms to mention any relationship to the school, but don't kid yourself as to the weight it carries.

Actually, legacy status gives an applicant a big boost (see link below). That said, given the huge numbers of applicants, even highly qualified legacies are rejected sometimes.


http://www.usnewsuniversitydirectory.com/articles/the-role-of-legacy-status-in-the-college-admission_12862.aspx

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or do colleges consider a kid a legacy only if the parents were undergraduates? My DH and I both have graduate degrees from the same Ivy.

Depends on the school I think. I went to grad school at UVA and apparently my daughter would count as a legacy. I've heard from other places that grad school doesn't count. I'd contact the institution directly and/or start donating money now

Why do people donate money to their colleges? Serious question. I just got an email from my school saying it has a billion dollar campaign (if memory serves). My kids probably would never get in anyway. And the $500 a year I could swing I'd prefer to give to a charity I hold in higher value. Does giving at this level have any impact at all? They really don't need the money. The ridiculous student centers etc i think are an embaressment. I am open to criticism.

At Ivies nowadays, unless there are buildings (plural) with your name on them, it hardly matters. They reject qualified legacies all the time. There is a spot on most forms to mention any relationship to the school, but don't kid yourself as to the weight it carries.

If you can't buy a building, look into doing alum interviews for your grad school, to show your continuing ties and love for the place.

Anonymous wrote:Or do colleges consider a kid a legacy only if the parents were undergraduates? My DH and I both have graduate degrees from the same Ivy.

Depends on the school I think. I went to grad school at UVA and apparently my daughter would count as a legacy. I've heard from other places that grad school doesn't count. I'd contact the institution directly and/or start donating money now

Or do colleges consider a kid a legacy only if the parents were undergraduates? My DH and I both have graduate degrees from the same Ivy.