<p>Does it really help to be a legacy when applying to Harvard?</p>
<p>it really does.</p>
<p>It can be a tip factor. It can tip in the living, but it can’t raise the dead. I also know lots of outstanding legacies who have been rejected.</p>
<p>Legacies have a substantially higher admission rate (I’ve seen figures claiming 40% admittance), but there are other factors to consider. For example, legacies are often more academically qualified than the average applicant, and some legacies also have parents who donate large sums of money (which is a substantial plus). In summary, legacy status is a substantial boon, but not huge. My apologies for my vague answer, but such is the nature of the topic.</p>
<p>Some legacies also are very similar to their parents: extremely bright and are very passionate about their pursuits, which they also are successful and creative with. Passion isn’t something that one can manufacture. Some people have it, most people don’t. </p>
<p>Parents who graduated from Harvard also have a more realistic idea of what Harvard is looking for, so aren’t likely to encourage offspring to apply who have little chance of admittance. For instance, I have URM sons whose scores were 98th-99th percentile and whose ECs were very strong, but they didn’t apply to Ivies. I knew that with their 3.0 and lower unweighted gpas, they had no chance of admittance.</p>
<p>I would not be the first person to point out (or get blasted for it) that legacies are affirmative action for rich white kids.</p>
<p>^^#6 - As Northstarmom stated, legacy is only a “tip”. URM is a “hook”. Its a question of degree. And “rich kids” white or otherwise may be “development hooks”, but you have to be talking serious money to be one of those.</p>
<p>ah, and thus another legacy debate begins.</p>
<p>Does cousin count as the “tip factor?” I have two cousins at Harvard, and its mentioned on my app.</p>
<p>^^No. Harvard doesn’t give much weight to anything other than parent legacies.</p>
<p>What about grandparents?</p>