<p>I have a friend who went to an Ivy 2 years ago and everyone thinks that she got in just because she had lots of alumni relatives... (One of them was CEO of some huge global company...)</p>
<p>Does it really make a difference??</p>
<p>Sigh...</p>
<p>It does make a difference, but what may have made the big difference was if that CEO gave a large gift to the university.</p>
<p>Alumni are an ok boost for getting in, but if you drop a few mill you've basically bought yourself an admissions ticket.</p>
<p>unless you're my dad's cousin's daughter (haha, wonder what kind of cousin she'd be to me--second? removed? idk). her family dropped almost a mill out of pocket, because she's a double legacy, and she got rejected EASC. not even deferred.</p>
<p>but, she got to brown. her "safety school". blargh i don't understand people like that.</p>
<p>Alumni can give a huge boost, especially if they're powerful and/or donated a lot.</p>
<p>absolutely.</p>
<p>here is a thread from the parents forcum concerning legacy rejects:</p>
<p>Op asks:</p>
<p>I'm interested in hearing from other parents who have had their child rejected (not even waitlisted) at their alma mater~~~particularly if these were not "reach" schools for the child. We find ourselves in this position this week, and to rub salt into the wound, the school called me last night on a fundraiser call! (University of Richmond). Like I'm going to even CONSIDER that!!!!</p>
<p>it's rude and snobbish of me to say, but... how dumb do you have to be to get rejected as a legacy from the University of Richmond?</p>
<p>Avg GPA 3.47, Avg SAT 1315, Top 10%: 58%, accept rate: 47%</p>
<p>I mean, you gotta assume the kid deserves it...</p>