Parent attended grad school; grandparent attended college.. will that help?

<p>First of all, does a parent attending grad school and grandparent attending the college count as legacy? In some places I've read that they only count a parent that attended the college as legacy. </p>

<p>The website says "Please note: applicants are considered to be “legacies” of Columbia only if they are the children of Columbia College or Columbia Engineering graduates." But this is vague. Isn't children also grandchildren? And why else would it ask if any grandparents attended, and the school within columbia that your parent attended? </p>

<p>I keep flip flopping my ED like crazy. For someone who is not quite ivy material, would it be wiser to apply to Columbia with legacy (if that counts) or an easier school such as Penn without legacy? How much does Columbia value legacy applicants?</p>

<p>It doesn’t technically count as a legacy, but you should still mention it. You have nothing to lose. I mentioned that my great-grandfather attended the college and med school.</p>

<p>If you’re applying to Columbia ED solely because you’re a legacy, then don’t. Because you’re not. But if you’re applying to Columbia ED because you like the school, then you might as well mention your parent and grandparent on the application.</p>