Telling a school about multi-generation legacy

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>In looking over the Common App and the college-specific supplement, there is not a place that specifically asks about legacy/connections to the college where our D wants to apply EA. Although the Common App does ask about where the parents attended college, the Common App goes no farther and the college's supplement does not ask for any more detail.<br>
Our dilemma: father's side of the family attended this institution for the past three generations, and our child would be the fourth generation. We always assumed that this was worth mentioning. But given that the college does not have any particular spot requesting such info, would it be crass to include it? </p>

<p>If it would be appropriate to mention, how would recommend that we mention it, as it does not fit into any the of essay topics. (There is no question such as Why College X?)</p>

<p>It’s hard to be sure without knowing which institution you’re talking about, but I’d assume that if they don’t ask, it’s because they don’t care. </p>

<p>Even my alma mater, which does care about legacy, is interested only in knowing if an undergraduate applicant is the child of an alumnus or alumna of the undergraduate college. They don’t care to know about an applicant’s uncles, grandmothers, etc. </p>

<p>Matters might be different for an applicant whose last name can be found on a building at the university, but people who work at the university are likely to know that already!</p>

<p>Not crass. Many colleges like legacy interest, for a variety of reasons. I’d call them and ask if they want to see it in Addl Info or if a note would do it. The primary legacy hook is parents- but siblings, gp and ggp can have an influence. It can show the depth of the applicant’s “connection” and interest in the U- depending on the school.</p>

<p>I can’t remember where it is, but at least for Y, there’s somewhere else that asks for ANY family members who attended.</p>

<p>If your school doesn’t have this, the appropriate place to put such information is in the Additional Information section, don’t waste essay space for this kind of information.</p>