<p>If your kid is a legacy, do you think the school actually looks up the parent's/grandparent's academic record from way back when? They must at least have to verify it, no?</p>
<p>Yes, I think the colleges do check on legacy status. It's not that hard. Most colleges keep extensive records about alum because alum are some of their major sources of donations. I know that I get financial solicitations from my graduate and undergraduate schools at least once a year.</p>
<p>There are no stupid questions, right?
Lying, however, is always stupid.</p>
<p>I think they look up two things about legacies: the donation record and the donation record. If you can afford to donate and you're not asking for financial aid for the kid, they could care less what the parent (g'parent) had for grades.</p>
<p>No lying here, just wondering if let's say, 2 equal legacy candidates applying, one whose parent had a 3.0 GPA vs. the other whose parent had a 4.0... would the latter have a better chance... i.e., would the PARENT's college record have anything to do w/ the kid's admission?</p>
<p>OK, let's say I've been far from a generous donor, and we DO require fin'l aid... I guess my kid is not as attractive as an equal candidate who had a parent who contributed mucho? Or is this pretty obvious?</p>
<p>On the Princeton Financial Aid form, they ask you if you had a relative graduate from Princeton and the year if applicable. Note that they don't ask for the name, only the year.</p>
<p>Why? Why on the financial aid form?</p>
<p>Seems bizarre. Anyone?</p>
<p>Makes some sense that they'd ask about legacy on the financial aid form: they're obviously checking to see if the relative donated after graduation to get a sense of how generous you'll be about "returning" your opportunity to the school in the form of future donations. I wonder, however, what that says about Princeton's claim to be fully need blind in financial aid --- to me it kind of suggests that they'll be checking to see if you have any wealthy relatives...</p>
<p>Cuz--two legacy candidates would be unlikely to be equal. My hunch would be that donation record would trump grades. Unless one parent is politically for socially powerful.</p>
<p>Carolyn: But why ask for the year and NOT the name? How would they verify that, if the applicants surname is different from their relative's name? They also did not ask what relation that person is to the applicant. It could be a third cousin for all they know.</p>
<p>But carolyn, worldshopper said the form didn't even ask for the NAME, just the year of grad...odd, no? Unless they are somehow prohibited from asking these names on a fin'l aid form?</p>
<p>First page of Princeton F/A Application:</p>
<p>Other:</p>
<p>I am a descendent of a Princeton undergraduate alumnus from the following class year(s) (separate by commas):</p>
<p>I have a sibling who is currently an undergraduate at Princeton.</p>
<p>Sorry Cuz...shouldn't have jumped...</p>
<p>As for the real question...I don't think they care about a parent's grades. On the other hand, a friend's son is a freshman at the highly selective LAC his brother just graduated from with very high honors. I think if that sort of legacy relationship is considered, how a sibling did at a college might be an issue....but I think money trumps all, in fact. </p>
<p>As to the asking about legacy relationships on a financial aid form, maybe they are using it for research purposes. Maybe a school like Princeton wants to know what %of their alumni go on to request financial aid...etc.?? Just a thought.</p>
<p>You are probably right robyrm, that makes sense. They probably also want to know why a descendent of a Princeton grad would be applying for financial aid. LOL</p>
<p>"As to the asking about legacy relationships on a financial aid form, maybe they are using it for research purposes. "</p>
<p>It also may have to do with where the financial aid officers have to send the financial aid information after the aid office does the calculations. For instance, one admissions officer may be the point person for all legacy admits.</p>
<p>Another possibility is that legacy financial aid applicants may go to one financial aid officer who uses kid gloves handling alums' complaints about financial aid. After all, the disgruntled alum parent is still a potential donor.</p>
<p>I truly doubt, however, that alums' kids get more aid than do nonlegacy accepted students with the same amount of need.</p>
<p>Correct me if I am wrong Northstarmom, but a descendent is not the same as a legacy.</p>
<p>Well if that's true, worldshopper, I just might have to hate Princeton's guts.</p>
<p>Worldshopper, you are right. I missed the fact that the Princeton financial aid form is checking out descendants, not just legacies. Weird. Perhaps it is simply for research purposes.</p>
<p>I did write down the year my ancestor graduated and his class has donated more money than any other class in the history at Princeton. I wonder how they use that information.</p>