MIT legacy

<p>MIT was the one school I applied to that asked if I had any family members who were graduates. Do you think the adcoms will give my application extra points because my father is an alum? If not, what is the point of them asking?</p>

<p>I saw that too and am curious to find out the answer. It seems like it must mean something if they ask for it specifically.</p>

<p>I think they just ask to have the data.</p>

<p>MIT doesn't use legacy for undergraduate admissions, and I doubt departments are interested in using it as a criterion either.</p>

<p>
[quote]
MIT doesn't use legacy for undergraduate admissions, and I doubt departments are interested in using it as a criterion either.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Really? I was under the impression that they did. Maybe this is a rule change?</p>

<p>"Even at MIT, where we pat ourselves on the back for our meritocratic ways until our skin is raw, admissions staffers report that legacies are granted an additional review before their rejection is finalized."</p>

<p><a href="http://www-tech.mit.edu/V121/N14/col14nesmi.14c.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www-tech.mit.edu/V121/N14/col14nesmi.14c.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>True story.</p>

<p>Marilee Jones does review all legacy apps after decisions are made, but she's never reversed a decision -- just wants the info on the students in case enraged alums call and complain.</p>

<p>I mean, I think the important piece of information there is that the decisions aren't changed as a result of the review. To me, that says there's no legacy preference.</p>