<p>I've read threads all over CC that say that a legacy only counts if it's a parental legacy, and not if it's an aunt/uncle, anything else...</p>
<p>Anyway, I think that to some degree, a legacy always helps. I know for sure that legacies can't hurt.</p>
<p>I was trying to rank legacies, but I was having a bit of difficulty. I'd appreciate if you guys ranked the following different types of legacies from most important to least important (feel free to add any too!)</p>
<p>Parental Legacy
Aunt/Uncle Legacy
Sibling Legacy
Cousin Legacy
Husband/Wife Legacy (not sure how often that one happens...)</p>
<p>College do give legacy status in different ways, but NOBODY is going to give it based on aunt/uncle/spouse. Most will give legacy status on:
1) parents
2) siblings
3) employees of the college and their children
In addition, some will give it based on grandparents.</p>
<p>I'm curious as to how many legacy cases actually are dealt with on an annual basis? For instance, if you have 11,000 apps, typically admit about 1/3, just how many legacies are actually going to be in that pile of 11000 apps?</p>
<p>If it gets to 200 cases I'd be very surprised. I don't have any rationale for that idea, just a gut feeling.</p>
<p>From a 2003 speech by Steven Sample, President USC:</p>
<p>twelve years ago, about 10 percent of our entering freshman class were legacies that is, students whose parents or grandparents are USC alumni. As we cranked up the academic standards here at USC, there was widespread concern that the percentage of legacies in the freshman class would shrink. But do you know what happened? When we boosted our standards, we suddenly were flooded with thousands of applications from Trojan legacies. Today almost 20 percent of our freshman class are legacies, so our commitment to the Trojan Family has actually been enhanced by higher academic standards.</p>
<p>it depends on the school. For example, Harvard will only give legacy tip to the kid if his parent went to Harvard undergrad -- not B-school, not Law school. OTOH, Chicago will tip grandkid legacies, but the tip factor is not as big as that give to kids applying to Ivies.,</p>
<p>Interesting thread -- I'm not really sure that I understand how legacy works because I think I remember reading somewhere that legacy only comes into play for EA/ED. Is that true because if it is then legacy doesn't really affect regular decision. As a RD applicant if I am up against a legacy does the legacy get the edge (particularly for the the super competitive schools) or once we are in RD is the playing field more level for non-legacy applicants?</p>
<p>USC doesn't offer ED or EA so legacy is a factor in regular admission. UNC does over a non-binding early decision and legacy primarily for out of state applicants does play a role in the admission process.</p>
<p>coldcomfort: Legacy status matters in both ED and EA/RD. The issue I think you are making reference to is that there are alot more legacies typically applying during ED.</p>
<p>A parent is the only one that makes you a real legacy at most schools. If it's another relative and they give big $$$$, you'll then be a development candidate which is even better.</p>
<p>Now that Suze has opened this can of worms.... :D</p>
<p>there are legacies and there are legacies.</p>
<p>If you have attended and graduated and have done nothing for your alma mata since graduation, your being a legacy is not going to be as much of a hook as a legacy who has been really involved since graduation: alumni interviewer, fun raiser, president of the local alumni chapter , gives each year.</p>
<p>Then there is the LEGACY- the legacy who is active in their school and is also a big donor- one example : NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who recently gave his school- JHU a $100 Million donation. He is also a former Hopkins Board memeber and their school of Public Health is named after him.</p>
<p>Penn specifically counts grandparents as legacies; many schools don't. Yale seems to count parents' from its law school; many don't. Some application forms ask for any relatives that attended the school; most don't. The "Why X?" question might offer an opportunity to sneak in a little quasi-legacy BS.</p>
<p>Who knows what various schools do with various levels of family alum involvement: alumni association membership, alum interviewing, attend renunion, give a little annually, give a lot recently, root for the team, whatever? But, really big money potential is probably always in a seperate category.</p>
<p>In "College Confidential", Rachel Toors as an adcom at Duke and said that they consider the level of involvement of the legacy parents. Being involved in the different alumni activities was more important than the amount of the yearly donation. Having attended and never having updated your contact info wasn't that much help.</p>
<p>...after watching part of legally blonde, i wonder if people write essays about how they wnat to go to college X b/c his/her GF/BF goes there...</p>
<p>An OOS legacy at UVa is treated like an in-stater for admissions purposes so it is easier to get accepted. However, you do have to pay out-of-state tuition. They have a great counselling service on admissions in the alum office which is offered to all families with legacy ties. Son found them very helpful. And they must have given him good advice since he received a likely letter from them yesterday!</p>
<p>Dufus, I thyink Rachel meant that giving $1,000/yr or $5,000/yr doesn't make a difference. the difference is taht there are those who give hundreds of thousands a year or multi million dollar gifts. Then they are happy if you never update your address and your darling legacy will get in with a 1200 SAT.</p>