<p>I have a sister who graduated from SEAS in 2012 and another sister who will be attending the school of social work (post-grad) during the year that I apply. Does this count me as a legacy, or at least give me a bit of a boost in the application process? </p>
<p>@robby04321:
Legacy usually is in the context of your parents or grandparents having attended the school.</p>
<p>Then you ask if it helps to give you a boost? The answer is “It depends.”</p>
<p>Every school treats legacy differently. Some ignore it. For some, it depends on how much money your parents have given to the school over the years (and don’t even think that the $500 annual checks to school your parents might have given mean anything.). For others, especially if they’re hungry to accept you so they can get your tuition money, then legacy will mean something, but that’s not Columbia. For other schools, legacy only helps if you family name is on one of the buildings (because granddad once wrote a big check). </p>
<p>In general, if a school suspects there will be more dollars headed its way by accepting legacy applicants, then it’s likely more apt to.</p>