<p>i noticed that they dont ask about legacy in the common app and suppliment...am i missing something??!</p>
<p>YES, Harvard puts significant weight into legacy and legacy can often push you over the edge. But the way they find out is through that "Where did your parents/siblings attend school?" question.</p>
<p>...last year there was a 7th generation legacy that didn't get into harvard</p>
<p>Legacies still need to be at the level of all other successful Harvard applicants. The difference is that while many perfectly qualified non-legacy candidates at that level get thrown away, the legacy ones get in. Legacy kids still need to achieve at a high level in order to be accepted.</p>
<p>And that pretty much covers it. :)</p>
<p>does it count if a cousin and uncle went? or is that toofar off from direct family? should i email them to let them know of this?</p>
<p>I'm almost certain only parents and siblings count.</p>
<p>Parents and siblings. If you are a prominent family, though, they'll know. They do keep records.</p>
<p>Don't email them about that. I think you'd look dumb.</p>
<p>"...last year there was a 7th generation legacy that didn't get into harvard"</p>
<p>Heh... I bet his family was ashamed of him to some extent for breaking the pattern. >.></p>
<p>Oh, God, I bet they were. That's sad. </p>
<p>Who is this kid, anyway?</p>
<p>Gosh, I hope my hypothetical future children never have to feel as if they've failed if they don't get into Harvard. :(</p>
<p>Yeah. I can't even believe that.</p>
<p>First, you're a legacy at Harvard only if your father or mother went to the College (aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, grad schools etc. don't count).</p>
<p>Second, I believe the 7th generation legacy being referred to here was someone who posted this year who was deferred. Here's a link to the thread (there was also a 4th generation legacy, including both parents, who was deferred and posted in this thread): </p>
<p>I think there is some added pressure (to go with the benefit of the "tip" factor) to applying as a legacy. When my son applied as a legacy last year, I tried to make sure that he knew I was proud of him no matter what. But his friends at school (even a couple of teachers) took the attitude that, as a legacy, of course he'd be admitted. Notwithstanding that Harvard rejects over 60% of its legacy applicants, most of whom are very well qualified.</p>
<p>The poster in the thread linked above had excellent stats, and was quite mature about being deferred. I certainly hope his/her family was not "ashamed of him." There is absolutely no cause to be.</p>
<p>There is also the possibility, of course, that he was not telling the truth.</p>
<p>Although siblings are not counted as legacies, I do believe they would be taken into consideration (i.e. 2 parents, 2 siblings better than 2 parents).</p>
<p>I sincerely hope that no parent would be ashamed if their kid didn't get into a certain college.</p>
<p>ugh... yea that's what i meant xP</p>
<p>oops</p>
<p>I'm not so sure siblings count much at the ivies. At Brown, I've heard several stories where very accomplished siblings of current students did not get in.</p>
<p>^i concur. i think it is only parental legacy that counts at the top schools.</p>
<p>That's interesting.</p>
<p>I know a couple of my apps (I'm not sure if any were Ivies, apparently not) asked whether any parents or siblings had attended the school.</p>
<p>Oh, well. I'm not applying to any of my siblings schools', anyway.</p>
<p>Harvard counts only parents who went to the College. They are quite clear about this. They even have a Q&A covering it on their website:
[quote]
Are a student's chances of admission enhanced if a relative has attended Harvard?</p>
<p>The application process is the same for all candidates. Among a group of similarly distinguished applicants, the daughters and sons of College alumni/ae may receive an additional look.
[/quote]
Well, maybe the locution could be a little less circuitous, but the substance is clear. And no, I do not believe siblings are taken into consideration, whether you're a legacy or not. And yes, I do believe that the legacies posting in the thread I linked above are telling the truth. I've seen legacy applicants with comparable or better stats and accomplishments get deferred or rejected at Harvard.</p>
<p>Yale, in contrast, does take siblings, grandparents and even other relatives into consideration (though not with the same weight as candidates whose mother or father attended Yale College). I can't speak for any of the other Ivies.</p>