<p>I know this is a dumb question but how does legacy affect admissions? Do they prefer parental over sibling or vice versa. Also does applying early at a school where you have legacy almost guarantee admission?</p>
<p>It does moreso in some Ivys and definitely varies from school to school. Unless youre looking at CalTech or MIT, the answer is YES legacy totally makes a difference.</p>
<p>For some schools siblings and grandparents don’t count. For parents for some schools it has to be undergraduate, graduate school does not count.</p>
<p>would it matter at colleges like northwestern or carnegie? Undergrad. </p>
<p>Northwestern and Carnegie are nicer to legacies than basically any public school. Count on legacy-lovers in private schools only and if your family member taught there or do significant research for them–you’re in.</p>
<p>It’s always good to see what the colleges themselves say. Eg, for NU: [While we] “will note a legacy tie in the review of a student’s application, students are given consideration for admission based on their credentials and not on their relationship to AAC members or other alumni.”</p>
<p>They will try to be nice, but there are no guarantees.</p>