I recently found out that one of my ancestors was the President of Yale back in the late 1800s. Would this hold any weight at all if I were to put it in my application? I’m leaning towards no, but any edge I can get helps. Along the same lines, I also have a couple great-uncles and cousins-once-removed who went to Yale. Should these be mentioned or no?
I’m pretty sure none of these relatives make you a legacy and you will look desperate for mentioning them.
Legacy generally applies to a parent or sibling.
Unless you are living in the 1800’s, I don’t think it’s going to work in your favor.
Use it in your essay if you want to add some FUN historical facts.
1800s is a bit much. William Preston Few was the president of Duke in the early 1900s. I know that his grandkids were students at Duke. How far back in the 1800’s was this?
I agree with Aunt Bea. perhaps you can turn this into some sort of essay? Do you have any family heirlooms of your ancestor that was passed down?
He was president in the 1870’s and 1880’s, so it’s pretty far back. No heirlooms that I know of, but there is a gate on campus named after him which I thought was pretty cool when I visited.
Realistically, why would the fact that someone who died 150 years ago shared your bloodlines give Yale a reason to admit you?
Totally cool that there’s a gate-- take a selfie and have fun with it.
But to repeat what I said the last time someone posted a remarkably simiiar question: Trying to piggyback on someone else’s success – particularly someone from a century and a half ago–implies that you’re not a strong enough candidate to be accepted on your own.
@profrolfer being inspired by your ancestor’s writings might be a topic for an essay. Being inspired by a memorial gate? Not so much.
It won’t move the needle at all.
I would discourage you from writing about your ancestor unless there has been something that has genuinely interested you deeply. You should be true to yourself in your essays, and trying to link in your ancestor without a compelling narrative risks being weak, or even a little desperate.
It would be an awesome conversation starter if you do attend Yale though!
It’s definitely a fun fact. If this ancestor is your great great Grandfather, maybe you could somehow weave this tidbit into an essay, but more removed than that, it’s probably not going to be of much help.
I agree with those who said it’s a fun fact that you could certainly mention in an appropriate context. Don’t make too much of it, though. The other relatives I wouldn’t mention.
What ae your stats? If they are in the Yale range it may be worthy of a mention. If your stats are below the Yale range then they may wonder where genetics went wrong.