<p>My dad went to Harvard, so I've been wearing Harvard sweatshirts since before I could spell. Long story short, Dad died a few years ago, and attending his alma mater would mean a lot to me. I've learned to love the school at reunions and through his friends. I probably don't have Harvard stats. My grades pretty good but not stellar. I like to think that I still standout, and I've heard Harvard has a thing for figure skaters. My dad had a classmate who got in with pretty average grades because they wanted a 1st generation Italian-American sax player. A lot of luck determines admissions--or used to anyway. Were admissions different in the 80s? How much does my legacy status help, if at all?</p>
<p>Yes, admissions are much different than they were in the eighties: much more competitive. </p>
<p>If your grades and stats were stellar, then the legacy connection would give you a boost. But it is not going to get you in unless your family donated a building or seven digit donations. </p>
<p>Take a look at Harvard’s mid-50th percentile averages, and you will see what you need for admissions. Remember the lowest 25% are mostly highly hooked applicants (recruited athletes, URMS, development cases).</p>
<p>The admit percentage for legacies is higher than the roughly 8% for the whole pool, but partly that’s because the legacy group has many strong applicants. At all the Ivies there are disappointed alums every year (I’ve been one of them) because the majority of legacies are rejected.</p>
<p>Legacy plus marginal academic achievement won’t do it. If you’re nationally competitive as a figure skater, that could help.</p>
<p>Is there a difference between HYPS on how they treat legacies? Is it more of a boost at some of the other schools?</p>
<p>Stanford likes legacies the most, I think, but it also has a larger pool of them because they give legacy to people whose parents went for grad.</p>
<p>“Harvard received 11,000 applications for the class of 1980.” ([Assessing</a> Admissions | Harvard Magazine May-Jun 2006](<a href=“http://harvardmagazine.com/2006/05/assessing-admissions.html]Assessing”>http://harvardmagazine.com/2006/05/assessing-admissions.html))</p>
<p>In 2009, Harvard received almost triple their 1980 applications – for approximately the same number of spots! As fauve said: The pool of applicants has become vastly more competitive over the past 30 years. </p>
<p>With regards to legacy apps, see: [Leave</a> Behind (a) Legacy | The Harvard Crimson](<a href=“http://www.thecrimson.harvard.edu/article/2007/6/6/leave-behind-a-legacy-at-harvards/]Leave”>http://www.thecrimson.harvard.edu/article/2007/6/6/leave-behind-a-legacy-at-harvards/)</p>
<p>Harvard’s admissions director, Marlyn McGrath Lewis ’70-’73, describes legacy preference as “a feather on the scale if all else is equal.”</p>
<p>According to Harvard’s website, they will give legacies an extra look, but by no means is it a significant factor.
Admissions to Harvard is complex, since I’ve heard that only 50% of people with 2400 SAT scores will be admitted - lower than one would expect.</p>
<p>I don’t know how important legacy status is to the admissions office (though it is definitely a factor), but I will say that I haven’t met any legacy students who don’t seem completely qualified to be here. Then again, maybe I just don’t go to the right parties…</p>
<p>Your father’s passing could make for a good essay. Talk about how you’ve have a connection, of sorts, to Harvard ever since you were a kid. Good luck and I’m sorry about your father.</p>