<p>There are a billion kids in my school with grandparents who went to penn/donated mucho. All of them are applying. Am I screwed? Will they drown me out in admissions?</p>
<p>Yep, pretty much every student here is a legacy.</p>
<p>No, especially since you're a URM (aren't you?) you'll have a good shot.
And if you're white, you still have a good shot if you have the grades.
Legacies usually simply get a tipping factor if their grades and SATs are decent, with a lot of passion invested into the college, and they ED.
If they don't ED, they're screwed. If they don't show passion, they're screwed.</p>
<p>Penn wants kids who care about the school. Legacy is simply something to appease past alumni, and their donations. However, if a legacy doesn't show passion for Penn, or simply think they can get in because they're a legacy and they want to use Penn like the doormat to the Ivy League, they're screwed.</p>
<p>that makes me feel a lot better, zester. hahah
ummm I'm asian. lol but neither of my parents went to college! does that help?</p>
<p>From the Penn web site:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Officially, legacies are defined as children and grandchildren of degree recipients of Penn. However, in our view, the strongest "benefit" of being a legacy does not come in the form of any bonus points in the admissions process. Rather, it is the opportunity that applicants have had over their lifetime to hear firsthand what makes Penn a special place.</p>
<p>With many applicants who are academically well-qualified for admission to Penn, the Admissions Committee considers qualitative factors, like how the student presents himself and his fit with Penn in the essays. In some cases, children of alumni know Penn so well that they make a very strong case for why they are a good match for the school. That is where the true "benefit" of the alumni connection really can help, however, this isn't just limited to legacies.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Penn</a> Alumni: Alumni Council on Admissons</p>
<p>Also from the Penn web site:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Sons and Daughters of Alumni </p>
<p>Applicants 1,343</p>
<p>Admitted 450 (33.5%)</p>
<p>Number Enrolled 361</p>
<p>Percent of Class 14.8%
[/quote]
</p>
<p>oh whoa, thank you!</p>