<p>My first choice school is the same as my best friend's. My stats. are much better than his but he is a mega-legacy. His gfather donated the arts wing. It's named after his family. Like half his family on his father's side went to this school.</p>
<p>I know it shouldn't affect my chances but I'm still curious. Anyone know how low a top school will go not to **** off a rich alum? He says his SSATs were in the 45% but he's taking them again. His grades are average.</p>
<p>Even Harvard dives for its major legacies. It is called the Z - list. The fact of the matter is money talks. If you donate an entire art wing you can be sure that you are going to get into that school. Like it or not that is the way the world works. If you are qualified however I am sure you have a good shot at these schools and may get in regardless of your connections.</p>
<p>It may even work to your advantage. They couldn’t very well deny you and accept your friend if he is indeed “sub-par” academically. There is a term for this in admissions…can’t remember what it is. But it’s how they save face. Coattails or something?? Someone smarter than me please help out!</p>
<p>Acknowledging kafkareborn’s point, I personally know someone that was on Yale’s Z-list. His dad donated >$1 million, he had really really bad grades, but was delayed a year of admission, and went this year.</p>
<p>Neato is right. This may work in your favor if there is no other applicant to the School more qualified to attend than you. While a college will often admit a more qualified drag-a-along to offset the less qualified Z-list donor child, boarding school doesn’t have to observe these niceties as closely. </p>
<p>Aside from your grades and scores, maybe your teachers’ comments and/or the School’s will make clear that they believe you are the most qualified 8th grader.</p>
<p>what school ar eu applying to?</p>
<p>If he gets denied(Assuming all the facts posted above are true), the world will end in 2012.</p>
<p>Simply put… His application will only have to show that he speaks/writes English(Assuming Native English Speaker) and is who he says he is.</p>
<p>He will probably get in, but you could get in too</p>
<p>I’ve wanted to know the same thing.
Some of my friends are legacies at certain schools that I want to go to.
It sucks cause even though I’m probably more qualified, they might get in over me.</p>
<p>I have seen LOTS of former classmates of mine have their children rejected. Boarding schools used to be an aristocracy now they tend to be meritocracies.</p>
<p>I agree with Winterset. Mathematically, if the boarding schools wanted to, they could fill many more seats with legacies. In addition, many parents will not allow their children to apply to a school for which they’re obviously not suited, even if they’re legacies.</p>
<p>A larger issue arises, though. You aren’t competing against the legacies in your class. You’re competing against a much larger field of students. If someone else in your class gets into your dream school, and you don’t, it doesn’t mean that “he took your spot.” It could just mean that the orchestra director needed a violinist, and he fit the bill. Or, that his interviewer hit upon a good topic to talk about, one which drew him out really well. </p>
<p>If you’re still concerned about competition within your 8th grade class, please address them to your placement counselor, not an internet message board. For one, your counselor will know much better whether either of you have a chance of admission. He will also be able to give you much better advice than any of us could. If he suggests that you should expand your list of schools, or if he tells you not to worry, listen to him. </p>
<p>No one who reads this board needs to hear sour grapes.</p>
<p>They could fill many spots with legacies, but didn’t you read how much of a influence his family has been for the school? (Hint: A wing of the school has been given the family name.) Even if school admissions are more merit based(They are), I feel like if you let a school that deep into your pocket… Your kid or grand kid is getting in.</p>
<p>the bunkel index as you have a 3.4 % chances of gettin into HADE or Saint Pauls School</p>
<p>No I got a 82.4 on the Bunkel. Did anybody get higher?</p>
<p>No one wants to set up a child to fail; legacies are great, but only if the school thinks they can be academically successful.</p>
<p>the top schools often go to extraordinary lengths to assure success for all admits.</p>
<p>What’s the bunkel index?</p>
<p>Hmm, Andover accepted George W. Bush a complete **** head and numbskull, but he had a dad for president and ultra rich grandfather,</p>
<p>@shushugah,
I’m going to start this off saying that I do not have Republican views, nor do I agree with George bush politically. But George Bush was actually very book smart. He got good grades at Andover and Yale, (better than John Kerry got at SPS and Yale) and as a result went off to a better law school. My father knew some people who worked with Bush when he was in Texas and they all said he was a really smart guy, and a great leader among a group of twelve guys. It’s just that, he probably shouldn’t have been president. </p>
<p>@OP,
You’re friend will probably get in. Just because he might get in, doesn’t mean you won’t. My best friend and I are applying to some of the same schools and we’re trying to help each other with the application process.</p>
<p>how do you claim that George W Bush, (not talking about Goerge Bush Senior) was book smart? He was arguably one of the dumbest presidents out there, politically speaking and in terms of economics and even basic Geography. Do you have any data to show how intelligent he was other than your friend’s vouch?</p>