Is alumni even significant? Is it even taken into consideration?
“Alumni”? Significant for what? Are you talking in terms of legacy?
When being accepted, is alumni even looked at? Would it change anything? @bodangles
Yes, in terms of legacy.
Depends on the school. Their Common Data Set (found by Googling) will say whether they place any importance on legacy. For example, Penn State says they “consider” it (http://budget.psu.edu/CDSRedesign/cds.aspx?reportindicator=FreshAdmn&Location=UP&AY=20142015).
Not all legacy advantages are remotely equal:
- Some universities specifically indicate there will be no legacy advantage.
- Most may provide a very limited advantage to legacies.
- However, if the school recognizes legacy advantage (#2) and if the parent has been exceptionally and perpetually involved in achieving university goals – incredible time, talent, and treasury invested to help attain institutional objectives – then a more substantial legacy advantage is possible.
Critically, however, essentially no legacy advantages can overcome deficient admissions “fundamentals” such as GPA, curricular rigor, standardized test results, and so forth. Basically, the applicant MUST be fully competitive. Having surpassed that threshold, legacy advantage may have a favorable impact.