Well, I am a descendant of the sister of Nikola Tesla's mother! My kids put nothing on their college application about that! Nor did I. I can probably even prove it.
Man, how dumb was I not to milk that connection! Or maybe they would have just sent me a pigeon instead of a rejection letter?

Anonymous wrote:If the student has the same last name as the school and it’s a relatively uncommon last name (let’s say Stanford or Swarthmore), I actually think you needn’t mention it at all. The admissions people will notice. Whether they speculate about ancestry or just think it’s an amusing coincidence, I think it only helps you. I don’t think the descent matters as much as the name, TBH.

Side note, but nobody is a genetic descendant of the founders of Stanford. Claiming that particular connection would get you a big raised eyebrow and probably immediate rejection! (Not the OPs situation apparently, but I find the example funny.)

A founder is not a legacy because the founder founded the university and didn't attend it.

I'm in the don't mention it at all camp. I can't see any way that it doesn't rub admissions counselors the wrong way. It's not a genuine connection. You don't want your kid's application to be the one that's pinned to the office bulletin board with an eyeroll sticky note on it. I think mentioning it can only work to your kid's disadvantage, because it will make him/her sound pretentious. Tons of kids with great scores and GPAs get weeded out for reasons as simple as they come across as arrogant or pretentious. Don't give them a reason to think this applies to your kid.

You know how people roll their eyes when someone says "do you know who I am?"

Why do you think admissions reps are any different?

Would a descendant of Christopher Columbus have an edge at Columbia?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:White privilege on steroids?

Maybe he’s a descendant of General Oliver Otis Howard.

Burn.

Anonymous wrote:White privilege on steroids?

Maybe he’s a descendant of General Oliver Otis Howard.

Oh jeebus on a pogo stick.

It’s an interesting fact that may or may not get you in the plus column. Of course you mention it, the way you would mention any interesting fact that might help you stand out from the next applicant.

Those of you implying it is some kind of privilege or “the same as eugenics” need help.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:White privilege on steroids?

+1. Basically, you're hoping for "blood right" admission into the university, which is pretty disgusting. The university itself is not important to your family, since you aren't alum. You don't live nearby. And it seems like you really have very little connection to the institution aside from genetic ties. Your child seems like a strong candidate. I would allow her to mention it during an interview, but not in the application. The principle you are playing with here is the same as eugenics--we share the same genes, so we are superior candidates.

The bolded is a ridiculous leap. This is what's wrong with our society today--everyone overreacts to everything. And I'm also getting tired of people calling everything white privilege. I'm black and have black friends who are Ivy grads. Guess what, they're going to use that on their kids' college applications. OP is trying to do what many people of all races do with college applications--establish a connection that might give their kid an advantage. She's not doing anything "the same as eugenics."

Anonymous wrote:Unless you are related to Brigham Young, in which case, there is a whole other slate of issues the Mormans would want of you.

With Brigham Young's 55 wives and countless children, I'd guess that three-quarters of the students are related to him!

If the student has the same last name as the school and it’s a relatively uncommon last name (let’s say Stanford or Swarthmore), I actually think you needn’t mention it at all. The admissions people will notice. Whether they speculate about ancestry or just think it’s an amusing coincidence, I think it only helps you. I don’t think the descent matters as much as the name, TBH.

Anonymous wrote:I would NOT say something like "According to family lore." This is the same as suggesting it's not true. I would claim it directly and briefly and offer any support for the claim without a lot of paper. And then maybe say something like: "Given my very strong interest in attending xyz, I am hopeful that this long-standing connection might be another factor you would take into consideration as you review my application."

No, you don't *say* you want it to be a factor in consideration. Just say that your grand-whatever's legacy adds to your own personal interest in the school in being a part of the school. That it would add meaning to your time studying there, and that's why you're choosing to commit to ED there.

I would talk to the university development office and ask their advice. (If course, you will then be in their radar screen for donations!)

I knew a guy once whose first and middle names were "Johns Hopkins." I think he wanted to strike out on his own, though.

A friend at Princeton was a descendant of Jonathan Edwards, one of the early presidents of the university. She had other family connections in between, though. One of the Forbes kids got in, but I don't think she was assigned to live in the residential college named after her family. That would have been awkward.

I would NOT say something like "According to family lore." This is the same as suggesting it's not true. I would claim it directly and briefly and offer any support for the claim without a lot of paper. And then maybe say something like: "Given my very strong interest in attending xyz, I am hopeful that this long-standing connection might be another factor you would take into consideration as you review my application."