How much does Cornell value legacy?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>Just wondering, because my dad is a continuously-donating Cornell graduate.</p>

2

<p>From what I've heard, it counts for quite a bit ED but less RD.</p>

<p>Worked for me!</p>

3

<p>How were your grades/SATs?</p>

4

<p>Grades were decent: 3.67 GPA, top 15% of class but not top 10.</p>

<p>SAT's = 1520, with 680 Math 1C, 700 German and 800 Writing for SAT II's.</p>

<p>EC's were meh. Essay was very risky. </p>

<p>So my chances would still probably have been good, but the legacy thing sure didn't hurt.</p>

5

<p>yeah legacy is a pretty strong helper ED, less so RD. 15% of cornellians are legs. or something.
740/740
770 IIC
780 Writing
650 Lit.
3.34 UW w/ hard classes
Very good ECs and essay
fair recs</p>

6

<p>Legacy is good; the class of 2008 is 14% legacy. (<a href="http://dpb.cornell.edu/irp/pdf/FactBook/Admissions/Undergraduate/profile.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://dpb.cornell.edu/irp/pdf/FactBook/Admissions/Undergraduate/profile.pdf&lt;/a&gt;)
Here are my legacy stats:
800/750/800/790/790
4.6/3.9 (upwards of 20 AP/IB)
Decent ECs, essays, recs
Double legacy</p>

7

<p>Tranorix, you bring me hope, because you kind of sound like me. Good SATs, ~top 15% of class (which was what worried me).</p>

8

<p>Key words here being:

[quote]
continuously-donating

[/quote]
Plus top 15% of class and high SATs, I'd say you're in.</p>

9

<p>How's this:</p>

<p>Arts/Sci Applicant
7 Legacies (Brother, Dad, 2 Uncles, GMa, GPa, Great Uncle...All Hotelies)
1390 (700m/690v)
750, 690, 680
5/400
4.0, 5.2w
yearbook editor, president of 2 others</p>

<p>???</p>

10

<p>Actually, it really depends on how much this parent donates. If its like $100 here and there, the fact that hes donating won't really affect this application, whereas, if hes donating millions (if something at Cornell is named after him), then, yes, his son is definitely in.</p>

11

<p>o, and a 33 ACT</p>

12

<p>I'd say you have a pretty good shot at Arts. Your legacies would have definitely helped you more if you applied Early Decision and/or to the Hotel School.</p>

13

<p>Well, I'm only a sophomore, but here's my stats as of now:</p>

<p>PSAT: 196
SAT: (I did an online practice test on the collegeboard website, full-length, computer graded essay) - 2190
Classes: Not doing IB, which is offered at my school, but will have taken a total of 12 AP classes by the end of senior year.
Class Rank: Right now, top 14% at an extremely competitive public school
ECs: By the end of senior year - 12 years of piano, with regional/local awards, 9 years of cello, 7 years of orchestra (top orchestra at my high school with a large program), 4 years of debate (including 3 summer institutes for a total of 10-11 weeks of summer institutes), and some volunteering</p>

14

<p>I'd say your chances are as good as (probably better than) mine were, then, presuming you keep it up. Write a good essay.</p>

15

<p>Wow, spiffy</p>

16

<p>Anyone else have any input?</p>

17

<p>If you have a legacy who is active with alumni stuff and/or is rich, then you will have the university by the reins pretty much. The thing about cornell is that, as much as they try to hide it, this school still runs off of old money and personal connections. I know a kid who was rejected by the hotel school. His successful alumnus father called up the dean of the hotel school and yelled at him. Within two days the kid got a decision reversal and an apology letter. The more people you talk to at cornell, the more you hear stories like this. In short, as much as nepotism goes against the university's stated policies and purpose, legacy, in my opinion and experience, is the end-all admissions criterium.</p>

18

<p>I'd say it definitely helps a lot for ED, but applicants who are definitely not qualified won't get in anyway (though I have heard otherwise).</p>

<p>I heard an interesting story last week. A kid whose parents were both alumni to UPenn (1 at Wharton) applied to Wharton. His family donated TENS OF THOUSANDS yearly to the school. He was top 5 of a few hundred in his class, and had 1500+ SAT's. REJECTED. They wouldn't even listen to complaints.</p>

<p>Not all schools care about legacies/alumni affliation. However, Cornell definitely does consider it, and it will definitely increase ones chances for acceptance. By how much, however, is still up for debate.</p>

19

<p>that story is crazy, espically because UPenn is the Ivy that values legacies the most.</p>

20

<p>That story is bull shti....totally wrong and would never happen...Upenn is huge when it comes to legacies...</p>