<p>How much does legacy help? I have an uncle on-staff there, and both of my father's parents went there for their masters and PhD.</p>
<p>i don't believe UChicago considers legacy as heavily as some other top schools, especially the Ivies.</p>
<p>You have a lot of Chicago connections, but none of them within your immediate family. Combine that with a school that doesn't weigh legacy status heavily, and it doesn't seem like it would be that much of a factor (thought it always helps).</p>
<p>These comments are from Libby in the thread: Watch out, it's an admissions counselor! (Multi-page thread 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page)</p>
<p>I want to discourage students from thinking that they are being compared to others in our applicant pool. You aren't. Each application is read based on its own merit. We have no quotas for international students, DC students, blond students, left-handed students, or any other kind of students. We have no designated spaces in our class for children of alumni or athletes. </p>
<p>The legacy question is a tough one. I'm pleased to report that we do not hold spaces for legacies. Usually in the reading process, we hold legacies to higher standards because they should know more about the school.</p>
<p>^ Good for Chicago!</p>
<p>thanks for the input guys!</p>
<p>If you don't live in the Chicago area, come and visit, impose on your uncle and try to stay a night in one of the dorms. You are in a position to develop a pretty good feel for that the university was in your grandparents time and is today. If it is truly a good fit - you should be able to convey this information pretty strongly in your 'why chicago' essay. If you grandparents are still alive, talk to them. Remember that in your grandmother's day, a woman's earning two advanced degrees wasn't all that common - interesting story in there, I am sure.</p>