<p>About the legacy advantage: I think at many very elite schools it’s really non-existent at this point unless the kid has another hook (eg, URM or geographically desirable) or the family is extremely wealthy and generous toward the school. I think it would be far more honest, and prevent much bitterness, if the schools acknowledged that legacies who are not extremely wealthy really don’t have an edge, particularly if they come from regions where there are plenty of legacy candidates. That would remove the sense of unfairness others feel when a student who happens to have legacy is admitted. And, it would end the bitterness of once enthusiastic alumni whose highly qualified children are rejected or politely waitlisted. Some anecdotal examples: At my daughter’s school (suburban NYC-area) last year the one legacy student who applied ED to Penn was rejected–not deferred to rd but rejected. And, based on her stats, naviance, etc she was a very strong candidate. The GC was shocked. Penn took nobody from the hs that year (whereas in the past they took four or five). Then there was Brown: all four legacy kids who applied (all very strong, top 5%, great ECs, near-perfect scores) were waitlisted. One non-legacy student of equal caliber was admitted. Brown announced they were not going to their waitlist at all that year. After which, one of those 4 legacy kids got Z-listed. And, yes, it was the kid with the extremely wealthy, generous parents. So at this point I think the legacy advantage may be something of an illusion. </p>
<p>Fond- at my 30th Brown reunion a bunch of us were comparing college application notes on our kids (none of mine applied to Brown so I didn’t have a horse in the race.) It quickly became apparent that Legacy was a tip factor when paired with something else- geographic diversity, parent a United States Senator or Governor, hugely philanthropic family (not just being rich- being rich and having a history of giving whether to Brown or to Sloan Kettering hospital or the Kimball museum), etc. Just being a legacy? Do the math. The schools are too small to admit the children of grads in big numbers.</p>
<p>I agree with Blossom. I’ve noticed the same. One of my brother’s former classmates is quite upset that his kid, who has all the numbers and the profile to make the school without a single eyebrow going up, was denied with double legacy ED. A classmate, with on the surface lower stats did get accepted ED. No hooks other than the double legacy on part of the one kid. But who knows what that other kid had. If I had some in, I would not share it at all to my kids school because it can cause too much more talk. Better to just shut up and let it pass and be “one of those things” and chance.</p>
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<p>They were doing so to an extent 20+ years ago at my NYC public magnet as this point was clearly communicated by many GCs when I was a student there. They’ve even gone so far as to say if one’s parents were alums, but just donated $50-100 per year and/or weren’t celebrities or highly notable scholars/titans in their field*, one doesn’t really have a legacy advantage. </p>
<p>From observing folks I knew who admitted being admitted via legacy, all of them either had parents/grandparents who donated generously(in the neighborhood of millions) and/or were notable titans in their respective fields(Prominent scholars admired by alma mater, politician kids, etc.). </p>
<p>On the other hand, the ones who were alums and donated relatively nominal sums per year/nothing and/or merely volunteered without drawing special notice from the alma mater for their service, nada…even if their kid had in the ballpark/outstanding packages. </p>
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<li>And who are likely to bring positive credit to the alma mater.</li>
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<p>I think the thing with Legacy and these super-selective schools is that it does give an edge, but you are still looking at maybe 15-20% chance compared to 5-10% chance. So it’s like having 2 or 3 lottery tickets instead of 1, but chances still are that you are going to lose the lottery! For Stanford they send out letters to legacy parents when kids apply, letting them know this fact. And I don’t think all those legacies who get in are wealthy donors, it’s just that it’s still a crapshoot, just a crapshoot with an extra shot (like at Stanford, I think legacies are guaranteed 2 readers of their app).</p>
<p>Congrats on your son’s acceptance to Chicago!!! Problem solved. </p>
<p>My one bit of data to offer this thread is that my daughter, a double legacy applicant to Cornell, was rejected this year at the RD stage, while most of our friends’’ kids from college days who applied to Cornell ED have gotten in over the last three years (and my S-1 in 2007). I would put my D squarely in the upper middle of that pack in terms of grades/scores/activities. She went into that with eyes open as I once had a Cornell admissions officer tell me about legacies “we’ll love you, but you have to love us back” - meaning apply ED. She didn’t love it enough to apply ED. Recognizing that side-by-side comparisons to other applicants are impossible, and recgonizing fully that this was a harder year than any past year, my working hypothesis and advice to future legacy applicants at least at Cornell is to apply ED if you want to play that card. No great surprise, but I’ve now seen sort of a control set/experimental set. </p>
<p>@celticbar,
Your story about ED at Cornell is fascinating. Personally, I have tended to advise students to not apply ED. However, your story makes me rethink. There are times when it is the best approach.</p>
<p>That Cornell story is also interesting because Cornell claims not to consider “level of applicant’s interest”, which is usually the main point of ED.</p>
<p>But the widespread belief in ED as greatly boosting admission chances (often true, though perhaps not as greatly as believed at some schools) means that lots of students who are not certain of their first choice, or are unsure of being able to commit without comparing financial aid offers, come to these forums as ask “which school should I apply ED to?”.</p>
<p>My brother is a a very active alum at Cornell, not in the money giving sense, both of his kids were admitted without top grades during ED. My younger kid was admitted ED after her older sister was WL during RD few years back. D2 stats were certainly very good (but so were a lot of other kids), but I think the fact D1 graduated from the school and my brother also called/wrote on her behalf helped. In speaking with some legacies, Cornell also give them better dorms. The alumni relations give the “Red Carpet” treatment for their special alum’s kids. It includes private tour of the school with interviews, and their applications also go in the special file. D2 did get the tour per my brother’s relationship, but not sure if she got any other special consideration.</p>
<p>If anyone wants to use the legacy card, I would try to cultivate the relationship early (host parties, volunteer for interviews, career recruiting, be a mentor…), and if nothing else, apply ED. </p>
<p>I went to Brown also. Looking at my friends and their kids’ admission to Brown shows very different results than blossom. I know plenty of qualified legacy kids who got in without “geographic diversity, parent a United States Senator or Governor, hugely philanthropic family.” My own kid got in, and we don’t fit her description either. (I also know many highly qualified legacies who didn’t get in. I don’t know any substandard legacies who got in.) Blossom and I will just have to agree to disagree on this one. </p>
<p>Congrats… a little late but my DD got off the UofC WL on April 25th and we had to make a decision on April 30th.</p>
<p>Congrats to OP’s DS and artloversplus’ DD. Got to enjoy some of those waitlists.</p>
<p>bookworm</p>
<p>^^ It was four years ago. Now I am cross fingers on her med school applications…^^ Its much harder, and needs lot more luck…</p>
<p>Art,
Somehow the past wins diminish with the present challenge. Med/grad school/then residency/then job, and mix in with future spouse and where they find employment. Very challenging when people move all over the country for each stage </p>