Legacies

<p>Hi - does anyone know how much of an advantage having 2 legacies at HC has on chance of admission? I've seen that it ups the chance of admission anywhere from 50-70%. Holy Cross doesn't like to advertise this fact, but I was wondering if anyone who regularly posts here from HC would know the truth. Thanks.</p>

<p>It definitely helps. They want to promote strong family ties to the college. Exactly how much is unclear but it definitely makes you stand out from the masses.</p>

<p>Thanks, r-d. I guess they determine legacy status through reading the CA and in interviews since HC doesn’t have a supplement where it could be entered.</p>

<p>Legacy status helps a lot in the admissions process, assuming the parents have been supportive of the school. Holy Cross has a lot of legacy kids and the school has started to play it up. For instance, they have a Legacy Lunch at Winter Homecoming for all the legacy students and their parents. </p>

<p>I have heard that legacy status is less of a positive if the student doesn’t apply early decision. The theory might be that the student should know Holy Cross through his/her parents and should have it as a first choice. I do know of legacy kids applying early, being deferred to the regular pool, and then being accepted regular. The fact that it was their first choice probably helped. Frankly, that seems more reasonable than pushing legacy status after the student tries and fails at another school.</p>

<p>I’d agree so.</p>

<p>My roommate’s a legacy since her Mom went to HC as well. My floormate a couple doors down from me is a legacy too.</p>

<p>Thanks, everyone!</p>

<p>Legacy status is something we notice during the admissions process. We love to keep a Holy Cross family clad in purple! A student will fill out where his/her parent went to school on the Common App. It is not less of a positive if a legacy student chooses not to apply Early Decision – after all, it is a very big commitment to apply Early Decision anywhere. It is also important to note that the quality of the legacy students we admit compared to the quality of the non-legacy students admitted are nearly identical.</p>

<p>Not all legacy just get in easily. You need the grades to support it. I know a kid in my sons HS who had to play 3 sports and go to prep school to get in and had a legacy.</p>

<p>Do family friend recommendations who graduated from Holy Cross (2)get recorded and do they help? Even if they are simple emails?</p>

<p>Jdog, if an alumnus or alumna submits a recommendation on your behalf, whether in an e-mail or letter, it will be added to your file and considered as we make decisions. </p>

<p>Traditionally, there’s no such thing as a supplement or extra recommendation that hurts you.</p>