<p>I just wondering if someone can give me an idea if having a legacy (sister) will boost your chances for admission at Columbia. Thanks!</p>
<p>probably, but not by enough to matter. you've already got to be a spectacular applicant for it to make a difference. If you were the type they would extended-waitlist, it might help you make the cut, but don't bank on anything. Just be as good an applicant as you can.</p>
<p>One of friend's sisters was is class of '08 and his parents are both graduates and his father has been a visiting professor.</p>
<p>He was marginally qualified. And waitlisted really only as a nod to his parents involvement.</p>
<p>Legacy helps, but it's not guarantee. And having a strong sibling can really only lead to comparison, in my opinion.</p>
<p>In the case of the Ivy Leagues (as well as many other top tier schools), legacy status is typically referred to having a parent or grandparent who attended the school. At least at Columbia, a sister won't mean much.</p>
<p>ses, what exactly do you mean by marginally qualified?</p>
<p>He had scores in the middle fifty percent (more towards the 25th percentile than the 75th) and mediocre grades from a great school. His ECs basically consisted of being in a band. </p>
<p>On paper he was OK, so admissions certainly could've justified admitting him, but other kids who were rejected (including minorities) had better test scores, grades, and much more impressive achievements to their names.</p>
<p>Well, if they waitlist him without the intention of taking him off, it's bascially like a nice rejection but without giving the spot away, so I don't think this is a bad policy.</p>
<p>I remember seeing a statistic, however, I don't know if it is true and cannot verify it, that for the admission cycle of 2005-06, there were 91 legacy applicants and 70 of them were admitted. </p>
<p>Take that with a grain of salt, but I do think Columbia is trying to make the push to make its alumni network stronger.</p>
<p>i think that was quoted by somebody on here, who had no knowledge of actual numbers.</p>
<p>An actual person in the admissions office who I'm in touch with said that that statistic was total and complete bunk - but didn't offer the correct figure. I would imagine it's much lower than 76%.</p>
<p>I also doubt that out of 20,000 applicants only 70 were legacies.</p>
<p>Would having a legacy AND if you were to go to the Columbia High School program help dramatically during the application process? I'm hoping to apply this year to study Introduction to the Physical Science and Approaches to Reading and Writing for Summer 2008.</p>
<p>Mmm...somebody please correct me if I'm wrong, because I don't want to lead sax astray, but I don't think Columbia views going to their summer programs THAT highly, they just see it as you challenging yourself and doing something productive during the summer, but I don't think it's much higher (or any higher at all) than many summer ECs</p>
<p>Well thats a waste of a $3000 tuition fee..it says </p>
<p>Will participating in this program help me get into Columbia College?</p>
<p>Like any extracurricular activity, participation in this program can help you to present yourself as an interesting candidate. Additionally, the instructor-written evaluations that you receive upon completion of the program can potentially be used as college recommendations. </p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://www.ce.columbia.edu/hs/faq.cfm?PID=4#25%5B/url%5D">http://www.ce.columbia.edu/hs/faq.cfm?PID=4#25</a></p>
<p>I just wanted to know how much of an impact this even though some might consider it an EC.</p>
<p>Columbia College has a FAQ section in Admissions. Here is how they define "legacy"</p>
<p>"15. Does Columbia give preference in the admission process to applicants whose parents attended Columbia?
We are always pleased to receive applications from students whose family members have graduated from Columbia. When an applicant is extremely competitive and compares favorably with other similarly talented candidates, being the daughter or son of a Columbia University graduate (from any Columbia school or college) may be a slight advantage in the admission process. This advantage may especially apply for “legacy” candidates. Please note: applicants are considered to be “legacies” of Columbia only if they are the children of an undergraduate alumnus/a of Columbia College or of The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science.</p>
<p>Parents only?! No siblings?!?!?! Well I guess this program is the only thing I can use to my advantage to gain admission to Columbia..I just need to know by how much whether it is a .1% chance or even 50% chance (hey, you can dream) if it is even worth the money.</p>
<p>^If you're only applying to CU because of your legacy, then don't. The admissions officers will know and they will reject you.</p>
<p>I'm not applying to CU because of my "so called legacy," but I do want to apply because the only reason I can think off the top of my head right now is because obviously it is a very good school and I thought because my sister goes there, I might have a slight advantage with her and if I went to the high school program.</p>