How important is legacy?

It is important to Michigan and could have prevented a deferral. I would absolutely email the AO. I do wonder though since you used the Common App if they already knew since parents education is listed.

@collegemom9 Thanks. Her friend whose father was an alum got an email about his daughter’s application whereas my husband did not, so I’m thinking somehow the info didn’t get through. Sigh.

From what I understand, legacy is considered as long as you have the stats/test scores etc. There is a section on the Common App where you fill out your parent’s college info listing the schools parents went to so Michigan would see legacy that way. There are also questions on Michigan’s application about whether you have sibling attending school and whether you had grandparents who went there. I did get the email that was sent to the alumni about possible deferrals in early action round.

We are OOS and my twins both were accepted.
Twin 1: 36ACT, 3.97 UW GPA, very good leadership ECs, excellent recos and Why Mich essay. Showed lots of interest
Twin 2: 35ACT, 3.97 UWGPA, year round athlete (plays sport every season), coaching job, excellent recos and Why Mich essay, Showed lots of interest.

From what I understand, Michigan defers lots of students in December – email the AO and let them know interest - have heard that is imperative to do after deferral.

When my D17 applied, the students from her OOS high school that were accepted EA in December were legacies. Some were strong applicants, others were less so, and most if not all non-legacies were deferred. In January, those high stats OOS applicants were accepted.

Legacy will not get your kid accepted if they don’t have the other items for Michigan to check off. Many legacy kids do not get accpetd every year. Of course mention it. Statistics show at various schools that legacy kids tend to commit to that school which helps with yield but again the kid needs to have everything else to be accepted. Remember. They are building a class and who knows they need for that year. They don’t want everyone to be the same.

Legacy preference also raises the SES level of the incoming class without having to be need-aware for individual applicants, reducing financial aid costs.

If the applicant has strong credentials, it can help. Michigan definitely values applicants who demonstrate interest, and having a parent or sibling that attended the university can give a small boost.

I’m a legacy (mom is an alumni) w/ good stats and still deferred EA