I’m a pretty good student with a high GPA and good test scores, and I take a lot of APs. However, when it comes to ECs, I’m pretty average or maybe a little above average. Under normal circumstances, I almost definitely wouldn’t get into any Ivies or other top 20 schools. However, both my dad and grandpa attended Harvard. I personally am not super obsessed with Harvard or anything, but it is of course an amazing school with a great program in my area of interest, so I’ve been considering applying.
The problem is, I can’t shake this feeling that it’s morally wrong to use my legacy points to possibly steal a spot from someone who deserves it more. Is this reasonable? Should I not apply to give people who have done more work than me a slightly better chance?
You dad having gone to H may get your application a “second look.” Your grandpa having gone there means nothing. If you get into H it will not be only because of your legacy status. And even if it was, why do you have to sacrifice yourself? I haven’t heard of any hooked applicants who renounce their hook out of some sense of morality. The universities decide what is in their best interests. Best wishes to you!
The reality is that you won’t get in if you’re not “deserving.”
Harvard turns away deserving students by the thousands. If that legacy does anything at all for you, it will only be because you were as deserving as any other student they accepted.
Use any possible advantage you have. This is your education and your life!
But legacy does not guarantee admission. If Harvard thinks your total application package makes you a potentially great student, better than some others who applied, they may accept you. If they don’t think you are as competitive as other applicants, they won’t accept you. You won’t “steal” a spot. You either will EARN a spot or you won’t.
There are a ton of legacy applicants, so they don’t need you to be one of the ones they accept; they can accept the candidates they believe are most qualified and most will enhance the class. In fact, many highly qualified candidates, legacy and otherwise, will be rejected because so many great students apply to Harvard.
But, if you think you might enjoy going to Harvard, I think you might regret it if you do not at least give it a try. Go for it!
Furthermore, if you have the grades and test scores and AP courses you describe, you may be underrating yourself. Why not be proud of what you have accomplished, instead of denigrating yourself? Take pride in your accomplishments!
But don’t expect automatic admission to one of the nation’s hardest schools to get into. You will be one of many strong candidates. They might accept you, but they might not. Good luck!
@bjkmom is absolutely correct. Harvard routinely rejects legacies. They will not accept any applicant that cannot succeed at Harvard.
Additionally, you are not “using you legacy.” You lists your parents’ education and the college uses that info as it sees fit. It’s not like you are writing, “I’m legacy, so I should be admitted.” At least I hope you are not saying that.
It probably helps a bit if the stats are at least above the 25th percentile on the CDS. It won’t help if the balance of the application is sub-par, IMO, unless the legacy is also tied with a major donation or some other hook.
The CNBC link is based on the Crimson data, which includes not only parents, but also siblings/aunts/uncles/grandparents/other. For admissions purposes at Harvard, however, only parents count.