Anti-legacy

<p>This is true, legacies do not get in unless they are qualified. I know plenty of legacy applicants who were rejected!</p>

<p>I'm not whining, and not screaming lol. People just walk around whining that it's not fair, well tough. Yet again, if you don't like it, stop whining about it and go somewhere else.</p>

<p>the bottom line is that college admissions are a COMPLETE crapshoot. There will ALWAYS, regardless of whether you are referring to schools as prestigious as Yale to commonplace like Texas Christian University, find some ridiculously qualified individuals receive letters of denial and other less qualified individuals receive letters of acceptance, whether they fit into the legacy, minority, athletic, or donor qoutas or not. The main idea is this, and I think this is what Citrus is TRYING to argue: that if you are among the qualified who do get rejected, it sucks. However, it really does no good to act in denial yourself, saying things like, "i was misled in high school," or "i got backstabbed/shafted," etc. There is an amazing Latino student in my class who was denied admission to ND based on academic issues, yet he still got an amazing scholarship to respectable schools like Loyola Marymount. And he still says things like, "I got totally screwed...etc." Be grateful for the opportunities you do have, and the factors that will work towards your benefit. Imagine all the middle class families that won't receive any financial assistance to send their kids to ND. It's worth the sacrifice by all means, but they are the ones who have minor reasons to complain ;)</p>

<p>A nice closing summation!!! Sums up a lot of what has been said in this form again and again.</p>

<p>We were told by a Notre Dame admissions counselor, face to face, that Notre Dame will evaluate applications by comparing students in their respective high school class. She said that students will be evaluated between each other in their own high school and decisions will be made accordingly.</p>

<p>So, 6 months later my daughter (who applied to all schools as an engineering major) is rejected. A small blow to her ego, but not to her overall plans because she got into her reach school of Cornell and will probably go there. </p>

<p>But the reality is that while my daughter was rejected, a legacy from her high school with a lower GPA, lower class rank, fewer APclasses, fewer extra curriculars, and less leadership got into Notre Dame. I know that my daughter's recommendations were spectacular. Maybe his essays were that much better, or was his legacy status the real reason. Hmmmm....</p>

<p>I know that by prioritizing legacy status Notre Dame is not always accepting the most qualified applicants into their freshman class (there are other examples from our high school). Yes, they are a private institution and can do what they want. But to make decisions based on who an applicant is related to over what an applicant has accomplished, is not something I respect and reeks of nepotism.</p>

<p>Ugh, such a sticky subject. I know it seems like the few, the proud, the legacies, but then again it isn't. When I leave Notre Dame I will be given the same rights and privilages as all the other alums so while it seems like this untouchable group it isn't, you child just has to bring it into your family. </p>

<p>Again though, I don't yet know how I feel about it...like it and dislike it. I had a similar experience to yours, but now I know that I get that advantage and it is hard to hate that. </p>

<p>The only thing I can tell you is again I think it all goes back to the Notr Dame family idea and taking care of your own. I know it can certainly be viewed negatively, I myself am not sure about it, but then again it is just one of the examples of Notre Dame taking care of their own which is something they do more than pretty much every other school. It is a very good thing, but yet it also can be viewed poorly if you are not in the family, so I hear you.</p>

<p>I am sorry to hear about the rejection; if anyone can relate it probably is going to be me because I was in a similar situation. However, if your daughter still wants Notre Dame after this (which many people don't and I can understand that) you know where to find me.</p>

<p>irish68178</p>

<p>To be accepted into the Notre Dame family must feel awesome, yet you are able to be objective about the process. I admire your ability to see both sides of this issue.</p>

<p>thank you but honestly it is not hard when you have experienced both sides of the issue. It is a hard topic; what I keep debating is would I change it if I could now that I will be an alum in a year...I really don't know? It is an interesting question. Anyways, thank you for your compliment, I appreciate it, but I think it just comes from being on both sides :)</p>

<p>i neither have a super duper gpa or legacy. however, i managed to get in (based on sat i think, and the insane amount of clubs i am in, and the fact that im president of my schools largest catholic club). legacy certainly seems important, as does gpa, but they do look at everything. also, a friend of mine with a very high gpa and legacy got waitlisted, so having both of those are not a surefire way of getting in.</p>