<p>This is probably a stupid question, but does anyone know if legacies are only for parents or can they be for aunts and uncles as well? Do masters degrees/MBAs count? Do legacies make that much of a difference to state schools?</p>
<p>parents only.yes. no.</p>
<p>It all depends on the school. State schools in CA don't even ask about possible legacy information.</p>
<p>Every school has a different policy on what they consider a legacy. You are going to have to search the website for each school that you are considering.</p>
<p>That's depressing. I have 2 uncles who went to Swarthmore undergrad, another 2 to Georgetown for masters, a William and Mary undergrad, and another to Carnegie Melon. I plan on applying to at least 2 of them. My parents, meanwhile, are College of New Jersey (decent state school, and a possible safety)-mother, and 2 Southern colleges w/ a fair state school for masters-father</p>
<p>Here's how it can and will help you. When you apply to those schools that your uncles attended, you'll be able to clearly communicate why those schools are being chosen by you because you'll have had 1st hand info from your relatives. If the info that uncle A tells you about why he chose Swarthmore really corresponds to the type of school you want to attend, emphasize that in your essays and interviews. Same with the other schools. You have insider info. Not many people do. Good luck to you.</p>
<p>Yes, I believe it only applies to parents.</p>
<p>My father and grandfather went to UVa. I want to apply there as my first choice. I have heard the term double-legacy but does it really applies to grandfathers though? My whole family loves UVa and my main support was from my grandfather not really my dad.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure grandparents apply, too</p>
<p>"Double legacy" generally means that both parents attended. As others have noted, what a college considers a legacy for points may vary--but even if you have relatives who don't technically "count," that doesn't mean that this won't help you when you apply. At Yale, for example, you are asked to list parents, stepparents, or grandparents who attended--but you are also given the opportunity to list other relatives as well. Adcoms will see this, and it may influence their impressions of you.</p>
<p>What about siblings? Do siblings count? It seems like if parents count, they should too...</p>
<p>As stated above, each school is different. You need to look at each school's website to determine if you have a "technical" legacy. I have seen siblings, parents who attended grad school, and grandparents at various sites. I don't think I have seen uncles or aunts.</p>
<p>I really like what T26E4 said - work it into your essay if possible. Almost every college has at least a short question "Why do you want to go here?" Use that to bring up your legacy connection.</p>
<p>I have a legacy to a school that I am applying too. I wonder though if they also look up in a computer or something of that alum contributed anything to the university afterwards. That could impact the decision too if they do that.</p>
<p>menloparkmom: Were you saying that graduate degrees count as legacies as well?</p>
<p>My understanding is that grad schools don't count as legacy - at least at some of the Ivies where I've bothered to research it. Most schools are not overt about this, but buried in a website you may find a statement that strongly hints the parent must have attend "Harvard College," e.g., which has very specific meaning. It may differ at other schools.</p>
<p>A big factor behind legacy preference is that the alumni parent(s) may donate more money. Uncles, aunts and cousins are less likely to be influenced than parents, grandparents and siblings. The school specificity (ex. Yale College vs. Yale Med) also influences where the alumnus is likely to send their donation.</p>
<p>I think the main ones are parents, grandparents and siblings. But other relatives can count but I doubt they count as much.</p>
<p>As I understand it, schools believe that YOU are more likely to contribute later in life if you are a legacy. It doesn't matter so much how much your parents have contributed, unless they have contributed millions of dollars.</p>
<p>well i guess it's too bad that no one in my family has contributed a dime:/</p>