<p>One of the dads at S school asked me about a question on an app which asks parents to state their highest level of education, specifically, how it mattered in D's application. I know traditionally, with respect to college apps, a student MAY experience a slight bump by potentially being the first college grad in the family but in terms of prep schools, I honestly don't know. </p>
<p>Is this a factor or a non-issue?</p>
<p>I am guessing that it does matter or they wouldn't ask. I'm guessing that they want to evaluate a candidate within the context of his/her opportunities. I think they also have college guidance in mind. I was surprised by the number of schools that wanted to know not just the level of education of both parents, but also which colleges and universities. My guess is that those that ask for specific names also consider legacy factors.</p>
<p>Thanks Burb Parent...</p>
<p>How would legacy play into this if they're inquiring about education at the university level as opposed to prep/private/public schools that parents attended? Perhaps it's more of an evaluation of the quality of education the parents obtained, knowing that all B.A/ M.A/M.S degrees are not created equal.</p>
<p>An important part of attending a prep school is college guidance. Having legacy status still gives an admissions boost at many colleges & universities. I'm somewhat cynical, although I hope it's just because they want to know the quality of education.</p>
<p>I agree it's all about legacy status at colleges. Interesting to note that St. Paul's used to ask this on their application but they've dropped it this year.</p>
<p>Let me make sure I understand....are you guys saying that having a parent attend an ivy would give a boost because the applicant would have a better shot at getting into the same ivy as a legacy, thus improving the prep's matriculation list?</p>
<p>Yes, that is my cynical belief. Can't imagine why else it would matter.</p>
<p>One more aspect to this is development fundraising - by knowing what colleges parents attended, schools can often find out their donation record. While that sounds cynical as well, the ability of a family to "be generous" can make a difference in secondary school process.</p>
<p>I don't think it has anything to do with a BS believing that an Ivy parent may improve the BS's graduation of the child to the same or a different Ivy. </p>
<p>I think it has everything to do with giving the BS's admission's office important context for its assessment of the applicant.</p>
<p>My daughter was a BS triple legacy, 95%on SSAT, Father has PH'd from MIT, Uncle is Harvard law --- and she still got turned down for 9th grade (but was admitted for 10th)</p>
<p>Its all a crap shoot.</p>
<p>Who knows? They may just collect the info for statistical purposes.</p>
<p>Wow, you guys are VERY cynical. </p>
<p>I can say with great confidence that admission offices do NOT look at where the parents went to school to ensure the quality of the college matriculation list four years later. </p>
<p>In fact, they ARE looking to see if the applicant would be the first in his/her family to potentially attend a four-year college. </p>
<p>In addition, studies have shown that the level of education obtained by a child's MOTHER is one of the greatest indicator of how well that child will do in school and on standardized tests (i.e. academic achievement). </p>
<p>A mother's educational level is a great predictor of other things as well, like how many children she might have, the nutrition of that child, etc.--things that admission offices don't care about, but it's interesting stuff. </p>
<p>In sum, Parlabane is correct. It has everything to do with giving the admission officer important context for its assessment of the applicant.</p>
<p>GemmaV -- It sounds like you work in Admissions. Some applications ask for the degrees of both parents, which I think is a good way of assessing an applicant. Other applications ask that the colleges and universities be named. In this instance, I am suspicious that legacy factors may also play a role.</p>
<p>But, why would we think that a child of an alum of College X would ultimately matriculate to College X? Just like being the child of an alum does not guarantee admission to boarding school, being the child of an alum does not guarantee admission to the college/university which the child's parent attended.</p>
<p>Why do some schools ask that the colleges and universities be named?</p>
<p>Legacy can help at some colleges and universities. Of course it doesn't guarantee anything, but it can help.</p>
<p>nylecoj007 had it right: Perhaps it's more of an evaluation of the quality of education the parents obtained, knowing that all B.A./M.A./M.S. degrees are not created equal. </p>
<p>It's all about context.</p>
<p>Toadstool--how would the BS know an uncle went to Harvard Law?</p>