<p>How much does having a relative that has attended help? I’ve been told that it’s a big deal at ivys. I probably won’t even apply but I’m curious.</p>
<p>Mainly a “little deal”, but it does help some. Primarily if it is a parent or sib at the same school, and the connection has a positive connection to the school. (ie gives money, comes to reunions etc, or just “did well”, or you have multiple connections. “double legacy”. ) (Or grandparent who is strongly connected and might give a lot of money, lol.) Will not overcome not having the “right stuff”, prob less an advantage than UM. Helps with early decision (as they know you are more likely to attend) (Brown is early action, but helps some there too.)</p>
<p>Brown is still binding ED so it won’t help in the “more likely to come” except maybe during RD. Everything else you said was spot on.</p>
<p>sorry, I mixed up the terms, Helps at other schools that are early action, less of a factor at Brown since it is binding ED. (But I have noticed over the years that legacy kids who have same “credentials” seem to be a little bit more likely to get in ED than similar students in regular pool. Maybe for the same reason that they are applying ED, their essays are more specific to “love and die for Brown”??)</p>
<p>The admissions officer I heard from most recently (a week ago) said that it is considered but isn’t huge, and it matters more, as BrownAlumParent said, if the person who makes you a legacy has donated a lot rather than disappearing after graduation.</p>
<p>Hey, so, jumping in on this conversation, I think I’m going to apply to Brown (maybe Early Decision, maybe regular). My brother is going to be a Sophomore there next year, but my Great-Grandfathers on both sides also attended Brown (as well as my Grandfather, but he wound up leaving before graduation…). Anyway, both of my Great-Grandfathers donated lots of money (the first donated one of the present-day dorm buildings, the second donated a rare library collection), but since they’re both dead, clearly they won’t be doing any more donating. </p>
<p>My brother’s getting something like 45,000 Financial Aid from Brown per year, so, it’s not like my family’s going to be making any huge donations in the near future…</p>
<p>How much of an impact do you think all of that legacy stuff would have on admissions? It’s not like I’m riding on it or anything, but I’ve heard some say it practically guarantees admission, others say it will hardly make a difference. Just curious, if anyone has any thoughts!</p>
<p>It will definitely help, but not that much.</p>
<p>If you have the “right stuff” to be considered for admission (and you can use your brothers credentials as a starting point for figuring that roughly, presuming you both went to the same HS), then if you were to be side by side with someone with similar stats with no legacy factor, as a Brown family member you would likely have a better chance. (IE it counts for some.) Brown does turn down plenty of family members, even ones who are just “a little weaker” applicants.</p>
<p>Yeah, that’s what I had thought, too. Thanks guys.</p>