Anonymous
Post 03/17/2026 21:34     Subject: Harvard legacy
Anonymous wrote:And by Harvard legacy, do we mean only Harvard College? I assume it's even more difficult when the parents only attended HLS, HBS, HMS, HKS, etc. Are their children considered legacies as well?


Only Harvard undergraduate are considered legacy, none of the others count.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2026 21:29     Subject: Harvard legacy
DH is Harvard legacy. DS applied REA this year and was deferred.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2026 21:27     Subject: Harvard legacy
NYC private, double legacy, rejected.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2026 15:49     Subject: Harvard legacy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Double legacy DD was deferred EA and WL/reject RD. 4.0/4.7/1530, published research, leadership, national awards. Oh well.


Thank you for sharing. Where did your DD end up?

Cornell and having a wonderful time. We considered whethe it would be hard to stand out and get good letters at large competitive public. DD2 is at small feeder private so we’ll see if it makes a difference although we’d be delighted if she lands at Cornell.


Good to hear. My kids are both loving their time at Cornell where they applied ED -- despite being legacy at HYP.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2026 15:32     Subject: Harvard legacy
Anonymous wrote:My kid is a legacy and was accepted in a recent cycle. Top private, second in class, very high SAT, best kid in 20 years recc letter in area of proposed major, strong leadership (captain of multiple varsity teams and two major school clubs), niche interest pursed through volunteering and summer experiences, no national awards.


What was their major?
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2026 11:09     Subject: Harvard legacy
My kid is a legacy and was accepted in a recent cycle. Top private, second in class, very high SAT, best kid in 20 years recc letter in area of proposed major, strong leadership (captain of multiple varsity teams and two major school clubs), niche interest pursed through volunteering and summer experiences, no national awards.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2026 11:00     Subject: Harvard legacy
Anonymous wrote:As I read once in the Crimson, eliminating legacy preference at Harvard would be like eliminating day drinking at Dartmouth


Dartmouth alum here. I can honestly say that I never drank before 6 pm while I was on campus.

That said, I don't think Harvard or Dartmouth will ever get rid of legacy.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2026 08:53     Subject: Re:Harvard legacy
Anonymous wrote:Nope. I am Harvard grad. Many of my college friends’ kids didn’t get in. Even more didn’t waste a valuable ED chance at somewhere w better odds.


+1 Legacies aren't admitted like they used to be.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2026 08:04     Subject: Harvard legacy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Double legacy DD was deferred EA and WL/reject RD. 4.0/4.7/1530, published research, leadership, national awards. Oh well.


Thank you for sharing. Where did your DD end up?

Cornell and having a wonderful time. We considered whethe it would be hard to stand out and get good letters at large competitive public. DD2 is at small feeder private so we’ll see if it makes a difference although we’d be delighted if she lands at Cornell.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2026 07:54     Subject: Harvard legacy
As I read once in the Crimson, eliminating legacy preference at Harvard would be like eliminating day drinking at Dartmouth
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2026 07:08     Subject: Harvard legacy
Most don’t get in. Even using the optimistic data from 7 years ago. Likely the percent admitted is lower now
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2026 00:46     Subject: Harvard legacy
Anonymous wrote:And by Harvard legacy, do we mean only Harvard College? I assume it's even more difficult when the parents only attended HLS, HBS, HMS, HKS, etc. Are their children considered legacies as well?


They are not considered legacies at Harvard.