<p>My dad did the phd engineering program at Michigan. Does this give me a legacy advantage for undergrad? And if so, will legacy help me become a pre-admit for Ross?</p>
<p>Your dad going to grad school most likely won’t give you any legacy benefits for undergrad, and absolutely would not help for Ross.</p>
<p>Even if your dad got his undergrad degree from UMich, admissions does not weigh legacies very heavily at all.</p>
<p>I disagree with entneduintransit. From what I can tell, although legacy cannot make up for lacking grades, it can give you a boost as long as you are qualified. </p>
<p>I’m not sure if you are a junior or senior, but if you are applying RD, on this year’s common app it simply asks if you have a family member that has attended UofM. You can click yes (and put under your father’s education that he got a phd from Michigan). Now whether that counts as legacy or not, I think is not important. What’s important is that it helps show your interest. And Michigan very much cares about level of interest. </p>
<p>I recently just got accepted EA and I got in over kids from my school that are way smarter than me. I am qualified, but the competition at my school is very tough. Admissions saw that I deserve to be accepted, and although there were better applicants at my school, I showed my interest and have a sibling attending (“legacy”) so they took me and deferred others. </p>
<p>So to answer your question… I would say it will give you a boost in admissions to undergrad as long as you are qualified, but as for Ross pre-admit, that is extremely competitive and I would say that legacy is pretty much irrelevant…especially since you have a chance to apply the following year. Hope this helps and good luck!</p>
<p>I agree with wishfulwolverine. Although I’m not sure if my legacy helped…both of my parents did graduate school at michigan (engineering and music). </p>
<p>I agree with previous posters that legacy does help but it’s more of a “tip” factor than a “plus” factor–that is, it won’t overcome deficiencies in your application, but if you’re qualified and on the bubble, it might help push you over the top. Michigan cares about its alums, and not only those who have contributed, or might contribute, gazillions. Its alumni network is a major source of strength for the university. So if it can feed and strengthen that alumni network without sacrificing admission standards, it will. But you’ve got to be well qualified for it to help you.</p>
<p>Admissions lists legacy as “considered” but not “important” or “very important” when it comes to evaluating applicants. It may help a person that is right on the borderline but is likely not going to help a low ACT or GPA person much. </p>
<p>It is similar to having volunteer work - a good thing but ultimately not going to be what determines whether or not you are accepted.</p>