Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous[b wrote:]I know several legacies who are comfortably UMC but not rich but consistently gave a decent amount, attended reunions, interviewed, etc. who were deferred/rejected ED.[/b] It has gotten tougher and tougher.

I think part of the issue is that Duke alums tend to be more passionate and loyal than many other schools. So they get more legacy applicants. I'm not sure if the percentage of legacy applicants accepted is actually that much higher than peer schools.

And again, most (but not all) of the legacies who I've seen admitted were on par with the class - the legacy didn't really give them a boost. There are definitely exceptions and they get tons of attention but even they are likely better qualified than some of the FGLI, minority, etc. kids who get in.

The 2 legacy families I know (kids who got in this week and last year) make high 7 figures a year and donate tens of thousands per year to Duke. Plus the kids were qualified.

Most legacies are well qualified. But a lot of the “experts” here waste a lot of time getting their panties in a bunch over the horror that there are a few who aren’t. As if those few kids are the sole reason their master of “meritocracy” didn’t get in.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duke needs more middle class kids who have drive instead of these so called elite privates with people gaming the system.

These days, all of the top schools are basically filled with FGLI, ultra-rich/connected prep school kids, and recruited athletes.

There are few spots for the regular-excellent middle class or upper middle class public school kid, unless you are from Idaho or something.

This is a very valid point. The top 10 or so seem to be exclusively filled with well-connected wealthy students, FGLI, and mediocre athletes. Some exceptions - CalTech, MIT, Johns Hopkins. But generally, excellent but unhooked middle class and upper middle class students are not getting into Duke, Princeton, and Harvard anymore. They go elsewhere.

Yep, I have a kid at Dartmouth and it's almost entirely FGLI kids and extremely wealthy kids. Many of the wealthy are some combination of private/boarding school, athletes and legacies. It makes for almost 2 schools in one. The two sides of the economic coin do not really mix at all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duke needs more middle class kids who have drive instead of these so called elite privates with people gaming the system.

These days, all of the top schools are basically filled with FGLI, ultra-rich/connected prep school kids, and recruited athletes.

There are few spots for the regular-excellent middle class or upper middle class public school kid, unless you are from Idaho or something.

This is a very valid point. The top 10 or so seem to be exclusively filled with well-connected wealthy students, FGLI, and mediocre athletes. Some exceptions - CalTech, MIT, Johns Hopkins. But generally, excellent but unhooked middle class and upper middle class students are not getting into Duke, Princeton, and Harvard anymore. They go elsewhere.

Anonymous wrote:Obviously a UNC troll

Anonymous wrote:Duke sucks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duke needs more middle class kids who have drive instead of these so called elite privates with people gaming the system.

These days, all of the top schools are basically filled with FGLI, ultra-rich/connected prep school kids, and recruited athletes.

There are few spots for the regular-excellent middle class or upper middle class public school kid, unless you are from Idaho or something.

Anonymous wrote:Duke sucks.

Anonymous wrote:Duke is the hottest top 10 school now. Families are fed up with the protests and unrest at Ivies. Add in outdated facilities and lousy weather, Duke is in the proverbial sweet spot.