<p>Can someone please tell me if it's true that if you want to be considered for legacy at MIT you need to apply EA? I heard that Marilee Jones said this but I can't find any other source to confirm, and I looked on the website but it doesn't say? Also, is there a list or something of other schools that do this?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>MIT doesn't consider legacy as a factor, whether for EA or RD.</p>
<p>In the past, kids of MIT alums who were not admitted were given one final read of their applications by the dean of admissions, but I am told that no decisions were ever reversed as a result of this final read.</p>
<p>Are you sure about this? Why would Marilee Jones have said that about legacy then, and why have I heard otherwise?</p>
<p>yes, she would be sure, since she is like future mom of double legacy kid. lol</p>
<p>they'll reread it , but won't give you really any boost.</p>
<p>Can someone tell me why Marilee Jones said that then??</p>
<p>No, probably no one can tell you why she said that. Stu Schmill is now the Interim Director of Admissions, so what he says is the important thing now. You could always anonymously call or send an email to Admissions and see what they say, but I think you'll find that molliebatmit's response is perfect. Legacy is not a factor in admissions decisions at MIT.</p>
<p>I met and listened to Marilee numerous times and I can assure you she never said that. She actually took pride in stating the exact opposite: MIT has no legacy preference. As Mollie said, the Dean of Admission personally reviews the file of each legacy applicant just to make sure it is the correct decision, but under Marilee's tenure no decision was actually reversed. This is because irate alumni parents would often call her when their child was rejected and she wanted to be able to offer an informed response. </p>
<p>EA at MIT offers no advantage whatsoever except that you are notified early if admitted. The admission rate is actually lower than RD because of a strict 30% cap on admission during EA.</p>
<p>On the second part of your question, it is common practice at many colleges that offer legacy advantage (as listed on their CDS) to ask that the legacies apply early decision. That is the quid pro quo. My nephew was a legacy at Brown and it was made clear to him and his parents that he should apply ED to get advantage of his status.</p>
<p>From Matt McGann's blog, here:</a>
[quote]
Dan wrote, "Quick question: will legacies have a better chance at admissions than others? Will they be "favored" or does it totally not matter?"</p>
<p>Legacies are not favored, and do not have a better chance in admissions. If you are a legacy and are admitted, you are admitted for being awesome and not for being a legacy.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'll note that I have informed the admissions office that this policy should change by 2030 (2007 + 5 years for me to finish grad school + 18 years for Adam's and my double-legacy kid to grow up). ;)</p>
<p>Maybe that double legacy kid will try to be even more awesome than his/her parents by coming to Caltech instead! :P</p>
<p>By the way Mollie, where are you for grad school? I remember you applied to Caltech last year, or something like that.</p>
<p>I'm technically at Harvard, although the lab I'm working in is about a third MIT graduates. :) I did apply to Caltech, but I was constrained by the other half of my double legacy parenting team -- he's a lifelong Massachusetts resident and was very apprehensive about moving to California.</p>
<p>great -_-</p>
<p>thanks for the info though everyone!</p>
<p>That being said, in my entirely n00bish opinion, if you don't have a better alternative (a school you have a burning passion to attend besides MIT), and you feel your app will be ready by the EA deadline, go ahead and apply EA. It'd give your app more reads.</p>
<p>A couple notes...</p>
<p>I attended the Parent session at CPW this year. The MIT alums in the audience were asked to stand up. It was shocking how few alums were there... maybe 5 or 6 (?) in the very large auditorium. That says something about legacy chances at MIT.</p>
<p>MIT is not harsh about EA admission IMO, like some schools are (Notre Dame). MIT defers most EA applicants and gives them another full chance at RD. Deferred candidates can also send additional information during January and February to strengthen their application with later awards, etc. It seems if someone is rejected EA at MIT, they would not have been viable for RD anyway, and they can move on with their planning. But only send in an EA application if you have put in a very solid effort on it. MIT's essays are unique, as are their teacher recommendation forms.</p>
<p>If you look at the statistics (and MIT makes them available on the web), applicants have higher effective admission rates if they apply EA and also do an interview - although the chances are still not very high and get tougher every year.</p>
<p>I have heard that Ivy schools with Early Decision consider legacy status during Early Decision.</p>
<p>So the difference between Early Action and Early Decision is, if you get accepted Early Action you don't have to go to that school & can apply to many schools with Early Action, and Early Admission is only one school and if you get accepted you must go there?</p>
<p>Early Decision (ED) is binding and applying ED to some schools comes with restrictions on where else you may apply, Early Action (EA) is not binding and (with a few exceptions) usually does not restrict you from applying elsewhere concurrently.</p>
<p>The terms do vary some from school to school. Always check if you are applying early what commitments come with the early application (in MIT's case, none).</p>