<p>I know that money (alum donations) is the biggest reason for the higher admittance rates of legacy applicants. </p>
<p>Yet, how much of a factor do you suppose that loyalty plays? </p>
<p>That is, do you suppose that colleges feel as if legacy students will feel closer to the school and, therefore, go the extra mile to help the college prosper?</p>
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<p>The single biggest reason for legacy applicants having higher accept rates is because the kid came from a household with highly educated parents, who had been through the “system” before and could guide their kids along. My alma mater rejects +80% of legacy kids. Granted that’s lower than the non-legacy kids but top schools have examined this carefully as rambunctious alumni communities grumble. Most alums only give small sums anyways.</p>