<p>I am a legacy at the three schools that I am applying to, but I am a little skeptical as to legacies being given much of an advantage over standard applicants during the admissions process. A lot of people say that it is a big benefit, but just how true is this?</p>
<p>If there is anyone on here with more knowledge than I have on this topic, I would love to hear, please!</p>
<p>I wouldn't say it's a huge benefit, but if there are two entirely equal candidates vying for one spot, the legacy thing could push one over the edge.</p>
<p>I've been told by Exeter and Andover alumni who are also past or current parents of students at those schools that a parental legacy is a major hook. That said, the grades, scores, recommendations, etc. still need to be in the admissible range -- which is to say, very good to excellent.</p>
<p>I hope this is in fact the case, for the sake of my D, who (like you) has a parent who attended Andover. (Also like you, she's applying for admission as an Upper and has 99th percentile SSAT and PSAT scores.)</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Wow, you've done some research on me :-) Gosh, well I hope that that's the case as well! To be honest, if I weren't a legacy, I would be pretty angry that others who were just as qualified (or perhaps even lesser qualified) had an advantage down to something that they had nothing to do with. That's why I found it hard to believe that legacy status gave anything more than negligible benefits to applicants.</p>
<p>Thanks, and good luck to your D as well!</p>
<p>is there a reason you would like to change schools from your current boarding school?</p>
<p>is there a reason you would like to change schools from your current boarding school?</p>
<p>Well, technically I don't board at my current school. I get a free ride here because my parents both teach here. I guess that that's one of the many parts of why I want to switch, but I just don't like the type of student body. I've got a lot of friends who I like a lot and that would make it difficult for me to switch... but I hate the fact that people are there not because they are smart but because they have money. The student body at TASIS is primarily composed of government and expatriate kids and caters to the international (but mostly American) community. There are a lot of stupid rich kids who are popular, well, because they're the ones who can afford the MTV sweet 16s, the expensive cars, and the mansions. My parents are teachers - birthday parties for me are gatherings at my small house. I do really well at TASIS - I just don't feel like a TASIS kid (thank goodness).</p>
<p>I guess you could say that I'm sick of the social dynamic. Kids aren't here to learn; in fact, a lot of the kids don't even want to be here. The teaching is excellent, but I cannot stand the ever-changing student body. Even if you have not been in my situation, you can probably understand why I'd prefer to be somewhere else, despite the fact that TASIS is not doing badly (educationally) with me either.</p>
<p>Legacy is a huge plus. I just finished a book called "The Price of Admission" about college admissions and it has a whole chapter on legacy preference. I think a parental legacy is the one that really counts most though. I think you mentioned an uncle and cousin? Not sure about those ones but they definitely can't hurt! </p>
<p>Yeah, it is tough if you are not a legacy and have no hook (star athlete, money, exceptional music ability, geography, ethnicity ect) . It's nice of you to even think about that since you do have the legacy connection. I just keep trying to expect the worst on March 10th since my son has absolutely no hooks at all! :(</p>
<p>Another book, Color and Money, by Peter Schmidt,
[quote]
Because legacies have been found to be more likely than other applicants to enroll once accepted, admitting them helps colleges boost their "yield" rates. Most colleges also assume that a policy of favoring legacies helps inspire the generosity of alumni and their offspring. When the University of Virginia looked at the results of a major fund-raising campaign that ended in 2001, it found that 65.4 percent of legacy alumni had donated, giving an average of nearly $34,800 each. By comparison, just 41.1 percent of other alumni contributed, and their donations averaged about $4,100. Being (by definition) the children of graduates of the colleges to which they are applying, legacies tend to come from homes that value education and academic achievement. (p. 29)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yes, the book covers college admissions, but as I've argued before, admissions to prep school are very similar to the college process. </p>
<p>I've heard that legacy status is a plus, and if the characteristics of prep school legacy alumni follow the pattern of college legacy alumni, I can understand why. On the other hand, it would not surprise me at all to discover that the legacy pool at certain schools, such as Andover, is more competitive than the pool at large.</p>
<p>That's probably not true at all - I bet your son has a ton of hooks that you just don't look at as such. Also, it is common to be more critical of oneself and one's family than of other people. Your son probably looks a lot better than either of you can see through your own eyes. And hey, even if he has NONE as you say, that might not hurt! Look at it this way: he won't be able to talk up and sugarcoat his stats as a few people like to on the Chances forum. Admissions officers probably quickly get tired of reading files of kids who make themselves sound as if they think they're perfect. I continue to hope that admissions officers interpret moderate honesty as a virtue!</p>
<p>Haha, thanks. Whenever I hear the word "legacy" I always picture snobby, rich kids who have never done anything for themselves in their whole lives and yet still get admitted into schools and universities in place of kids who actually worked for spots. I know that this is not always the case and that I, myself, am I legacy, but still! As hypocritical as it may sound, I think it's pretty unfair, but I still hope it helps me, just a little! I love Andover too much =)</p>
<p>i know a girl who was a legacy and she was waitlisted at andover, goes to show that being a legacy doesn't mean you "automatically" get in</p>
<p>Gosh, I hope the legacy pool is not too much more competitive considering how competitive the normal pool itself is. Also, I would have thought that the majority of legacies would have applied in 9th grade. I'm applying for 11th, so hopefully there aren't too many "residual" legacies in the pool...</p>
<p>You know, I have been more or less living off of CC for the past week. It's become more addictive than facebook and when I haven't been posting, I've been reading entire (and some very long) threads. All of this thinking of boarding school and working on apps has got me yearning for those fat fedexed acceptance packets. For me, those are the things of dreams...</p>
<p>TomTheCat</p>
<p>You are not alone! I am so addicted to cc! </p>
<p>I think you sound like a great fit for Andover- especially because your passion for it really shines through! You can just hear it in your voice that you really fit there! Are you attending Andover day in January or do you live too far away?</p>
<p>Thanks, I hope the admissions board thinks the same way you do! As for going to Andover day, I live in England and it was enough of a stretch for my parents to fly me over to visit and interview in October. I would love to, but I just don't think my parents' wallets can take the strain at this moment :-(</p>
<p>What is Andover day about? I haven't actually heard of it. Is it sort of like a reception at Andover for prospective students?</p>
<p>yo, andover lover! high-five! out of all the schools i'm applying, if i compare the countless hours i've spent on that website to those 9 schools or so combined times two, andover would still count more. when i visited, i did my own mini-tour guide in the night (i stayed at the andover inn), it was just... magical i have to say. yes, dramatic, but seeing the place for real after imagining it for 5+ months...</p>
<p>as for andover day, i really think it's not necessary, once you already interviewed and toured. i went to some receptions here, it wasn't worth the 2 hours. you do get to talk w/ the admissions officers, bt only for a several minutes due to the huge amount of ppl there. the hour left was spent on watching the school dvd and goin through booklet info, really basic stuff.</p>
<p>oh, and also high five on the cc addiction. these days i see myself going to cc rather than fb, its reall addicting. i dont even work on those apps (ASDFSASA), its that addicting. when i first found the site, i was a junkie, because i didn't know this good of a thing existed. then i went a hiatus, and as the deadline approaches i got on the addiction again. ahh im not even half done w/ those apps, better start</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ccaddictionrecovery.com%5B/url%5D">www.ccaddictionrecovery.com</a></p>
<p>i wish there were 12 steps to rehab to cc addiction</p>
<p>step 1: admit that u r powerless over your cc addiction...</p>