<p>So, let's say hypothetically and comical enough as it is, I currently attend Harvard University. If I were to apply for admission to one of the various Harvard grad schools would I be more likely to be admitted over someone from a different educational background simply because I am an alumni? Does it apply to other tier 1 universities or tier 2?</p>
<p>It depends what field. Harvard explicitly states on its website that it does not want its own undergraduates as part of the graduate program. I’m not sure how lax they are on this policy, though.</p>
<p>At Chicago, it seems that every year, about 1 person goes from the undergraduate program into the graduate program in physics, economics, or math. This person tends to be very qualified and one of the best in the undergraduate departments.</p>
<p>There is a very limited space for graduate students. Hence, any given school just can’t afford to relax standards for its own undergraduates. If you’re among the very top in a certain department, you might have a good shot at getting into the grad school, but if you lurk in the median range or even 75th percentile range, don’t count on getting a break.</p>
<p>Don’t go to the same place for undergraduate and graduate school.</p>
<p>It varies quite a bit by department.</p>
<p>Harvard is the second-biggest feeder school into my Harvard PhD program (biological and biomedical sciences at the med school).</p>