<p>I have legacy status from both Yale and Harvard. Naturally, I'll be applying to both because of my parents, but I'm facing a moral dilemma with regards to mentioning the legacy to better my chances of being admitted.</p>
<p>I'm a strong candidate, but by no means outstanding. Thus, given that both these colleges are very selective, I don't have any certainty whatsoever as to whether I'll be admitted or not.</p>
<p>My reasoning behind not including the legacy is that, if I do get in because of it, I'd be admitted purely because of circumstance - not because of merit. And, if I'm not admitted on merit, who is to say I'm capable of handling the rigor of a Ivy League school?</p>
<p>Overall, I'd like my college experience to be a pleasant one. Is it worth including legacy to better my chances, or should I leave this out to ensure that I go to a college that picked me based on me, and expects me to fit in very well?</p>
<p>well people always find it hard in college, so if your SAT/ACT scores were just a bit below their average scores, then I say you mention your legacy!</p>
<p>“f I do get in because of it, I’d be admitted purely because of circumstance - not because of merit”</p>
<p>Nope. They turn down the vast vast majority of legacy applicants. The ones that do get in? Very deserving. The fact that the schools give an extra look (without lowering any standards) is perfectly fine (IMHO). Plus, what are you going to write down when they ask where your parents went to college? You need to say something.</p>
<p>Plus, the odds are against you anyway. Put forth the best package possible and let what happens happen.</p>
<p>Lol who cares how you THINK you got in. Because honestly none of us know, and probably will ever, know why we got in. Take every single advantage you can get. Trust me I know how you feel, being an AA people will probably be like “you got in because your black,” but guess what? I don’t care and neither should you!</p>
<p>Your parent’s educational background is a standard part of your application. You do not need to agonize about this…there will be many legacy admits to both schools.</p>
<p>The common app asks where your parents went to college so you will need to put you are a legacy when it asks on the Harvard and Yale supplements.</p>
<p>Schools often ask for “family affiliations” on their Commonapp supplements. If it doesn’t explicitly state which family members you can include (eg: some schools might ask only about parents/grandparents), I would go ahead and list them.</p>
<p>My husband and I are graduates of the same elite, highly competitive college, which is our son’s first choice. Should he list our affiliation on the Common App? Or could it hurt his chances at other schools if he doesn’t get into his first choice?</p>
<p>populoso- don’t overthink this. just list the leagacy status. Unless your parents have donated very big $$, you will be admitted or denied on your own merit. You can always chose to turn them down for Princeton later :)</p>
<p>The amount of advantage a legacy confers depends on the school. At Stanford, for example, they say legacies are admitted at twice the rate of regular applicants (14% vs. 7%). The Admin Officer went on to add that most of the difference in admission rate reflects that fact that legacy applicants are stronger than the average applicant - so the real benefit is actually very small. Of course, every school handles legacies differently and there may be others were the advantage is much greater: But you are unlikely to know that so do as other suggested: Make your best case, mention your legacy status, and hope for the best.</p>
<p>A legacy- even one whose parents donate huge sums of money- still has to be “in range” to get in, capable of managing that school’s challenges. Trust the adcoms to assess that. We don’t know your stats or “strengths,” to be able to comment further. And, if you don’t really love either school…</p>
You’re overthinking this here. Unless there is a building on campus with the family name, you are not going to be admitted purely on circumstance. Legacy status might give you an extra look or slight boost, but rest assured you won’t get in unless they think you are well qualified.</p>
<p>I agree with mikemac, don’t over think the situation and believe that you will solely be accepted on your parents legacy. Yes it may be a small factor in their decision, but it won’t be a deciding factor. Leaving it out won’t hurt you, but adding it wouldn’t be a bad idea either.</p>
<p>@Prefect, it was interesting to me that the Harvard supplement doesn’t ask for legacy connections–though they would see if parents attended via the Common App, they don’t know about grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.</p>