Anonymous
12/27/2025 21:28
Subject: How to respond when kid gets into school and is Legacy
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:To the OP: please note that so many of these responses are clearly from people who do not have legacy status to offer to their kids.
The vast majority of legacies would be there anyway, or worst case it is a tie-breaker. There are a few well-publicized cases of kids who get a big boost from it. These tend to be filthy rich kids so it is very obvious.
If these kids are too dumb to understand it, let them live in their sad little world. Tell your child to hold their head high and know that they fully deserve to be there and not to care what these small people think.
+1 - people without legacy at top schools build it up in their minds into something it’s not. Most of my classmates’ kids are not getting into my college with it’s 4 % admissions rate either
+1
It helps but it’s still tough.
Not as tough as it is for non-legacies, right? It helps.
Slightly less tough.
It helps but it’s still tough.
Depends on school but for most top tier schools legacies have a 20-30% chance whereas unhooked have a 5% chance. . . It's a significant difference
Which school goes from 5% to 30%?
DP. Not sure what school is being referred to, but here is some interesting data.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/27/upshot/ivy-league-legacy-admissions.html
Wow. 4 to 5 times more likely?
Which is 5% vs 20-25% . . . .
So the acceptance rate for legacies is 20% or 25%(!) and for non-legacies it’s 5%? That is, as the article says, “a fairly large statistical advantage.”
But if they are 33% more likely to be admitted without their legacy status then you need to compare 15% vs. 20%.
Anonymous
12/27/2025 21:27
Subject: How to respond when kid gets into school and is Legacy
Hey OP, count your lucky stars. My kid applied to Yale And Harvard as a legacy (no big donations) and professors kid and was waitlisted.
Anonymous
12/27/2025 21:26
Subject: How to respond when kid gets into school and is Legacy
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:To the OP: please note that so many of these responses are clearly from people who do not have legacy status to offer to their kids.
The vast majority of legacies would be there anyway, or worst case it is a tie-breaker. There are a few well-publicized cases of kids who get a big boost from it. These tend to be filthy rich kids so it is very obvious.
If these kids are too dumb to understand it, let them live in their sad little world. Tell your child to hold their head high and know that they fully deserve to be there and not to care what these small people think.
+1 - people without legacy at top schools build it up in their minds into something it’s not. Most of my classmates’ kids are not getting into my college with it’s 4 % admissions rate either
+1
It helps but it’s still tough.
Not as tough as it is for non-legacies, right? It helps.
Slightly less tough.
It helps but it’s still tough.
Depends on school but for most top tier schools legacies have a 20-30% chance whereas unhooked have a 5% chance. . . It's a significant difference
Which school goes from 5% to 30%?
DP. Not sure what school is being referred to, but here is some interesting data.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/27/upshot/ivy-league-legacy-admissions.html
Wow. 4 to 5 times more likely?
“ New data shows that at elite private colleges, the children of alumni, known as legacies, are in fact slightly more qualified than typical applicants, as judged by admissions offices. Even if their legacy status weren’t considered, they would still be about 33 percent more likely to be admitted than applicants with the same test scores, based on all their other qualifications, demographic characteristics and parents’ income and education”
Anonymous
12/27/2025 21:25
Subject: How to respond when kid gets into school and is Legacy
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:To the OP: please note that so many of these responses are clearly from people who do not have legacy status to offer to their kids.
The vast majority of legacies would be there anyway, or worst case it is a tie-breaker. There are a few well-publicized cases of kids who get a big boost from it. These tend to be filthy rich kids so it is very obvious.
If these kids are too dumb to understand it, let them live in their sad little world. Tell your child to hold their head high and know that they fully deserve to be there and not to care what these small people think.
+1 - people without legacy at top schools build it up in their minds into something it’s not. Most of my classmates’ kids are not getting into my college with it’s 4 % admissions rate either
+1
It helps but it’s still tough.
Not as tough as it is for non-legacies, right? It helps.
Slightly less tough.
It helps but it’s still tough.
Depends on school but for most top tier schools legacies have a 20-30% chance whereas unhooked have a 5% chance. . . It's a significant difference
Which school goes from 5% to 30%?
DP. Not sure what school is being referred to, but here is some interesting data.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/27/upshot/ivy-league-legacy-admissions.html
Wow. 4 to 5 times more likely?
While being slightly more qualified. Did they calculate the 4x against similar (slightly more qualified) kids or against the average kid?
Anonymous
12/27/2025 21:25
Subject: How to respond when kid gets into school and is Legacy
Anonymous wrote:Unapologetically.
You are not donors.
This!
Anonymous
12/27/2025 21:24
Subject: How to respond when kid gets into school and is Legacy
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:To the OP: please note that so many of these responses are clearly from people who do not have legacy status to offer to their kids.
The vast majority of legacies would be there anyway, or worst case it is a tie-breaker. There are a few well-publicized cases of kids who get a big boost from it. These tend to be filthy rich kids so it is very obvious.
If these kids are too dumb to understand it, let them live in their sad little world. Tell your child to hold their head high and know that they fully deserve to be there and not to care what these small people think.
+1 - people without legacy at top schools build it up in their minds into something it’s not. Most of my classmates’ kids are not getting into my college with it’s 4 % admissions rate either
+1
It helps but it’s still tough.
Not as tough as it is for non-legacies, right? It helps.
Slightly less tough.
It helps but it’s still tough.
Depends on school but for most top tier schools legacies have a 20-30% chance whereas unhooked have a 5% chance. . . It's a significant difference
Which school goes from 5% to 30%?
DP. Not sure what school is being referred to, but here is some interesting data.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/27/upshot/ivy-league-legacy-admissions.html
Wow. 4 to 5 times more likely?
Which is 5% vs 20-25% . . . .
So the acceptance rate for legacies is 20% or 25%(!) and for non-legacies it’s 5%? That is, as the article says, “a fairly large statistical advantage.”
Anonymous
12/27/2025 21:24
Subject: How to respond when kid gets into school and is Legacy
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:To the OP: please note that so many of these responses are clearly from people who do not have legacy status to offer to their kids.
The vast majority of legacies would be there anyway, or worst case it is a tie-breaker. There are a few well-publicized cases of kids who get a big boost from it. These tend to be filthy rich kids so it is very obvious.
If these kids are too dumb to understand it, let them live in their sad little world. Tell your child to hold their head high and know that they fully deserve to be there and not to care what these small people think.
+1 - people without legacy at top schools build it up in their minds into something it’s not. Most of my classmates’ kids are not getting into my college with it’s 4 % admissions rate either
+1
It helps but it’s still tough.
Not as tough as it is for non-legacies, right? It helps.
Slightly less tough.
It helps but it’s still tough.
Depends on school but for most top tier schools legacies have a 20-30% chance whereas unhooked have a 5% chance. . . It's a significant difference
Which school goes from 5% to 30%?
DP. Not sure what school is being referred to, but here is some interesting data.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/27/upshot/ivy-league-legacy-admissions.html
Wow. 4 to 5 times more likely?
4 times a very small number is still a very small number.
Anonymous
12/27/2025 21:23
Subject: How to respond when kid gets into school and is Legacy
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Yes, he's very lucky because that's what it is. Luck.
No, the point is he had a hook. That isn’t luck.
It’s luck to have legacy status.
It means the kid is lucky to have legacy but it wasn’t by luck he was admitted. He could say I’m lucky to have had legacy status but this doesn’t work:
Friend: you got in because you’re a legacy
Kid: I got in bc I am lucky.
He didn’t get admitted due to luck…he got admitted bc of legacy, which is a hook.
Kid got in because he’s super qualified AND lucky. Lucky to be a legacy that may have given him a slight edge over another kid.
Anonymous
12/27/2025 21:21
Subject: How to respond when kid gets into school and is Legacy
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:mAnonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My kid had legacy status at my elite alma mater but that’s only because my parents worked hard and had the means to pay for it.
What does that have to do with your kid's credentials?
Point is that having legacy status is pure luck. Something over which kids have no control.
+1
Don't get this, no they don't control who their parents are but they do control whether they use or don't use the status from that. If you really want to test it apply and don't check the legacy box . . .
The point was that the kids are lucky to have the legacy (mini) boost. Whether or not they take advantage of it is irrelevant.
Anonymous
12/27/2025 21:21
Subject: How to respond when kid gets into school and is Legacy
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Nothing to say. Maybe it helped, maybe it didn’t. I doubt anyone is saying this to your face anyhow
Op here, it did happen to my kid and to his face. Not a troll.
Kid can say, maybe it helped. Maybe it didn’t.
Anonymous
12/27/2025 21:19
Subject: How to respond when kid gets into school and is Legacy
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:To the OP: please note that so many of these responses are clearly from people who do not have legacy status to offer to their kids.
The vast majority of legacies would be there anyway, or worst case it is a tie-breaker. There are a few well-publicized cases of kids who get a big boost from it. These tend to be filthy rich kids so it is very obvious.
If these kids are too dumb to understand it, let them live in their sad little world. Tell your child to hold their head high and know that they fully deserve to be there and not to care what these small people think.
+1 - people without legacy at top schools build it up in their minds into something it’s not. Most of my classmates’ kids are not getting into my college with it’s 4 % admissions rate either
+1
It helps but it’s still tough.
Not as tough as it is for non-legacies, right? It helps.
Slightly less tough.
It helps but it’s still tough.
Depends on school but for most top tier schools legacies have a 20-30% chance whereas unhooked have a 5% chance. . . It's a significant difference
Which school goes from 5% to 30%?
DP. Not sure what school is being referred to, but here is some interesting data.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/27/upshot/ivy-league-legacy-admissions.html
Wow. 4 to 5 times more likely?
Which is 5% vs 20-25% . . . .
Anonymous
12/27/2025 21:17
Subject: How to respond when kid gets into school and is Legacy
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:To the OP: please note that so many of these responses are clearly from people who do not have legacy status to offer to their kids.
The vast majority of legacies would be there anyway, or worst case it is a tie-breaker. There are a few well-publicized cases of kids who get a big boost from it. These tend to be filthy rich kids so it is very obvious.
If these kids are too dumb to understand it, let them live in their sad little world. Tell your child to hold their head high and know that they fully deserve to be there and not to care what these small people think.
+1 - people without legacy at top schools build it up in their minds into something it’s not. Most of my classmates’ kids are not getting into my college with it’s 4 % admissions rate either
+1
It helps but it’s still tough.
Not as tough as it is for non-legacies, right? It helps.
Slightly less tough.
It helps but it’s still tough.
Depends on school but for most top tier schools legacies have a 20-30% chance whereas unhooked have a 5% chance. . . It's a significant difference
Which school goes from 5% to 30%?
DP. Not sure what school is being referred to, but here is some interesting data.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/27/upshot/ivy-league-legacy-admissions.html
Wow. 4 to 5 times more likely?
Anonymous
12/27/2025 21:17
Subject: How to respond when kid gets into school and is Legacy
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Yes, he's very lucky because that's what it is. Luck.
No, the point is he had a hook. That isn’t luck.
It’s luck to have legacy status.
It means the kid is lucky to have legacy but it wasn’t by luck he was admitted. He could say I’m lucky to have had legacy status but this doesn’t work:
Friend: you got in because you’re a legacy
Kid: I got in bc I am lucky.
He didn’t get admitted due to luck…he got admitted bc of legacy, which is a hook.
Anonymous
12/27/2025 21:17
Subject: How to respond when kid gets into school and is Legacy
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:To the OP: please note that so many of these responses are clearly from people who do not have legacy status to offer to their kids.
The vast majority of legacies would be there anyway, or worst case it is a tie-breaker. There are a few well-publicized cases of kids who get a big boost from it. These tend to be filthy rich kids so it is very obvious.
If these kids are too dumb to understand it, let them live in their sad little world. Tell your child to hold their head high and know that they fully deserve to be there and not to care what these small people think.
+1 - people without legacy at top schools build it up in their minds into something it’s not. Most of my classmates’ kids are not getting into my college with it’s 4 % admissions rate either
+1
It helps but it’s still tough.
Not as tough as it is for non-legacies, right? It helps.
Slightly less tough.
It helps but it’s still tough.
Depends on school but for most top tier schools legacies have a 20-30% chance whereas unhooked have a 5% chance. . . It's a significant difference
Which school goes from 5% to 30%?
DP. Not sure what school is being referred to, but here is some interesting data.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/27/upshot/ivy-league-legacy-admissions.html
That doesn’t back up the PP’s claim.
Anonymous
12/27/2025 21:17
Subject: How to respond when kid gets into school and is Legacy
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:mAnonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My kid had legacy status at my elite alma mater but that’s only because my parents worked hard and had the means to pay for it.
What does that have to do with your kid's credentials?
Point is that having legacy status is pure luck. Something over which kids have no control.
+1
Don't get this, no they don't control who their parents are but they do control whether they use or don't use the status from that. If you really want to test it apply and don't check the legacy box . . .