<p>It’s well-known that no university admits students based solely on which applicants, in the view of its admissions committee, are the most intelligent. Geography, legacy status, athletics, race and ethnic background, economic status, extracurricular involvement, and other factors come into play.</p>
<p>According to the Harvard Crimson, Harvard admits legacy applicants at a much higher rate than other applicants–about 30%–much higher than the admit rate of most top universities for general applicants.</p>
<p>[Legacy</a> Admit Rate at 30 Percent | News | The Harvard Crimson](<a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2011/5/11/admissions-fitzsimmons-legacy-legacies/]Legacy”>Legacy Admit Rate at 30 Percent | News | The Harvard Crimson)</p>
<p>But, of course, the same applicant would not have legacy status at most other institutions they apply to and would not therefore get preferential treatment at those other schools in admissions.</p>
<p>But as soon as one of the non-legacy schools rejects the unqualified applicant that Harvard or another school gave preference to, some cry “yield protection.”</p>
<p>(The Dean of Admissions at Harvard is quoted in the article as saying that 13% of Harvard undergrads were considered legacy admissions, about 845 students.)</p>
<p>Also from the article, “According to a New York Times story on the event, Brenzel said that Yale rejected 80 percent of its legacy applicants. Brenzel reported that Yale legacies comprise less than 10 percent of the class, according to Kahlenberg.” If Yale rejects 80 percent of legacy applicants, that means it accepts 20 percent.</p>