<p>Holy Cr*p!</p>
<p>Legacies make up 31% of the admitted class!</p>
<p>How am I ever going to get into Wharton, let alone Upenn?!</p>
<p>~sigh~</p>
<p>collegekid100: I am well aware that most private schools fall into that category, not just the IL. That simply came up the most, so I went along with it for an example. At UVA, for example, I was told by an admissions counselor that legacies are offered in-state consideration during the admissions process. The acceptance rate for OOS students is around 25%, while that of in-state is around 45%. So, no, it is not just the IL. Also, name some schools where you have evidence that the student body contains wealthier kids than HYP.</p>
<p>docketgold: I think I know my reasons for not applying, and since you don't even know me, you should give me the benefit of the doubt. Unless you are one of those people who automatically assumes things without any regard for one's own personal choices and preferences. Just out of curiosity, are you a legacy? Do you go to a school where legacy preference is given? </p>
<p>To answer your question, I NEVER stated that every parent who donated money was selfish and arrogant. "And, before someone yells at me, I DO realize that that is not the case with everyone, probably even the majority." That is like the fourth time I have posted that. Many people have simply stated that they knew donors who's kids were rejected from certain schools even though they were legacies, and the donors were up in arms because of it. To me, that is the wrong reason for giving money. You should donate because you are proud of your alma mater and want to help better it for future students. If your kid happens to be one of them, then consider it an gracious benefit, not a God-given right.</p>
<p>Also, many of you say legacies are not that big of a deal, only used to "tip the scale." So, you're saying that a donor is going to give money for 18 years just in case there happens to be some minute possibility that their s or d will be tied with another candidate, and then the donor/legacy status will come into play? Seems like a lot of money for such a small possibility to me.</p>
<p>You can stop saying that you qualified your remark earlier on, I understand you qualified it and I am aware that the position you hold is not the majority opinion. But you're still advocating for your views, so I will advocate for mine.</p>
<p>I will agree with you that people who donate money, no matter the amount, have no right to complain when their kids gets in, no matter what the schools policy with legacy admissions is or has been. If you, as a parent, are donating money in an attempt to influence your child's admissions decision and it doesn't go the way you wanted it to, suck it up, enjoy the tax write off, and keep your mouth shut. If you (and more importantly your money) were that important in the first place, believe me, the school would have been bending over backwards to let your kid in.</p>
<p>Yes, it does indeed seem like a rather steep gamble, but for people with the money to burn, why not?</p>
<p>In the interest of full disclosure, yes I am a legacy (double, in fact - both parents) and I currently attend the school where I have legacy status. However, my parents were never big donors, and I certainly don't have a wing of a building with my last name on it. I don't know what my school's policy on legacy admissions is, and I won't sit here and naively say that my being a legacy had nothing to do with me getting in, but I feel that I was nonetheless a competitive applicant and I can say with certainty that my being a legacy here had nothing to do with my decision to apply - it was, believe it or not, pure coincidence.</p>
<p>Also, I am not "one of those people who automatically assumes things," but when you say that "the reason I am NOT considering the Ivy league is because much of its admissions process is 'political,' " I am going to assume that at least part of the reason you are not applying is because you view the admissions process as being too political. I don't feel as if I'm making a leap of judgement here.</p>
<p>When I stated that you were assuming things, it was in response to your statement about me not applying bc I am afraid of being rejected. Believe me, I have 2 safety schools, 2 match schools, and about 10 reach schools, so "being afraid of rejection" is not really an issue of mine right now. I would be ecstatic if I got into 1 reach school. The IL isn't the only system that's hard to get into, you know. I know some very bright people who applied to the IL and got rejected, but are very happy where they ended up. And it is not just the IL that I view as "political", it is any school who gives preference to certain students because of economic standing.</p>
<p>I do believe you about your school taste having nothing to do with legacy status. Sometimes things just work out a certain way.</p>
<p>Honestly though, please tell me so that I don't make this mistake at such an important time: Shouldn't I pick the school that fits me right, not just the one with the richest kids or the biggest name? I realize that going to Harvard will give me better connections than, say, UCLA, but what if I want to be around people who are more similar to me? I am sure there are some at Harvard (again, just as an example), but I think UCLA is more focused on pure hard work to get you in and out. I did not have the benefits of going to a prestigious high school. The nearest SAT prep was 45 minutes away, and if you wanted to go OOS, that was left completely up to you. So now perhaps you understand why I don't want to be around people who've grown up with everything at their fingertips, or whose parents could have, relatively speaking, "bought" their kids in. Am I wrong in that "political" approach? And, no, I am not trying to be sarcastic at all.</p>
<p>Will you avoid them your whole life? Give up top colleges, the best jobs, wealthy towns and clubs and even giving up your kid being a legacy?</p>
<p>wow, you WAY over exaggerated. No, I'm still applying to top-notch schools, just ones that fit me better. Berkeley, UCLA, Michigan, Boston College, UVA, etc. As you'll notice, some of those even consider legacies in their process. And, honestly, I think it is ridiculous to make a decision on a college based on whether or not your kid will be given legacy status. Give up to the best jobs? umm, by cousin is a professor at Yale. Know where he started? UCLA. Graduated #1 in his engineering class there, in fact. Wealthy towns? My uncle has an ocean view of the Chanel Islands in CA, his house cost several million dollars. He lives right next door to the lead singer of "The Byrds". Know where he went? Fresno State. Clubs: I'm not really into that anyway. My kid? I think we've discussed that enough. Why does not going to the IL mean immediate doom to you? I was up at Berkeley right before school let out this year, and there were Fortune 500 companies recruiting people left and right. It isn't the school you go to, it's what you put into the school.</p>
<p>So where are you a legacy, collegekid100?</p>
<p>As I said, there are always exceptions. In general, a degree from Harvard Business School all but guarantee you will be a multi millionaire if you so choose. However, if trying to avoid those who grew up with privilege, you will be missing out on a lot. Berkeley and UCLA not recruited for many top paying jobs. Don't be naive. If you're not super ambitious, no issue. If you are, can get into an ivy and can afford it, go to one over a UC!</p>
<p>I'm a legacy from SUNY Albany, Syracuse University, Beijing University, and the Free University of Brussels ^_^</p>
<p>Honestly though, please tell me so that I don't make this mistake at such an important time: Shouldn't I pick the school that fits me right, not just the one with the richest kids or the biggest name? I realize that going to Harvard will give me better connections than, say, UCLA, but what if I want to be around people who are more similar to me? I am sure there are some at Harvard (again, just as an example), but I think UCLA is more focused on pure hard work to get you in and out. I did not have the benefits of going to a prestigious high school. The nearest SAT prep was 45 minutes away, and if you wanted to go OOS, that was left completely up to you. So now perhaps you understand why I don't want to be around people who've grown up with everything at their fingertips, or whose parents could have, relatively speaking, "bought" their kids in. Am I wrong in that "political" approach? And, no, I am not trying to be sarcastic at all.</p>
<p>This sheds a lot of light on things. You're 100% right that you should go to the school that fits you. That's an insight that very few people are able to get to before they actually pick a college and realize they have made a mistake - a mistake that can't always be rectified. You really don't know how lucky you are to have figured that out.</p>
<p>So no, you're actually not wrong at all in your approach at all, in fact you're probably more right than you know.</p>
<p>collegekid100- Just because you earn a degree from an ivy league or toop school doesn't neccessarly give you a guarenteed high-paying job or wealth and such and such. The majority of high paying jobs are given to people through a process which is similar to the college admissions process. You give them your reseme and they'll probably give you an interview too. People who went to uh...I don't know....let's say.....Ohio State, can get picked over someone with any ivy league or top school degree. It depends on their credentials, beliefs, their character and many other factors. About the recruiting thing, businesses didn't always do that. You had to go out to the world yourself and I find a job on your own.</p>
<p>Funployee, been out in the real world yet? The guy from Ohio State would not even get an interview at the places hiring from Harvard. Sad, but true.</p>
<p>80% OF Grads of Harvard B School, 10 years out sy they are millionaires.</p>
<p>Docketgold, the problem is she is 17 and doesn't yet know what she doesn't know. She is talking about staying in her comfort zone nd not getting involved with the big boys who have money and connections. The best thing she can do, however, is spread her wings, get far from home nd meet all kinds of people so she knows all that is out there.</p>
<p>"80% OF Grads of Harvard B School, 10 years out sy they are millionaires."</p>
<p>Where did you get that statistic?</p>
<p>Do you have a source?</p>
<p>i mean.. in like say 60 years (well not that long, hopefully) if i donate a quad to harvard do you think they'll let my kids in? hopefully not. </p>
<p>and i wouldn't donate to harvard.. i would donate to wherever i actually end up going to..</p>
<p>Docketgold, the problem is she is 17 and doesn't yet know what she doesn't know. She is talking about staying in her comfort zone nd not getting involved with the big boys who have money and connections. The best thing she can do, however, is spread her wings, get far from home nd meet all kinds of people so she knows all that is out there.</p>
<p>Perhaps. Or perhaps she does in fact know exactly what she wants in a college. It's not always about going to the school that will look the best on the diploma. Although our views on legacy admissions differed, I respect vc08's opinion because she has clearly put thought into her decisions on where to apply. Far as I can tell, she's making a much better decision than anyone else who is simply "getting involved with the big boys who have money and connections," a path which I guarantee will lead straight to a mid-life crisis.</p>
<p>
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Far as I can tell, she's making a much better decision than anyone else who is simply "getting involved with the big boys who have money and connections," a path which I guarantee will lead straight to a mid-life crisis.
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</p>
<p>It will lead to a mid-life crisis if you're not prepared.</p>
<p>You respect her opinion that choosing a college to avoid rich legacies is a good basis?</p>
<p>docketgold: thanks for your confidence. It is good to know that someone thinks I'll survive the next four years.</p>
<p>collegekid100: I find it very offensive that you are trying to slam every move I make in the college admissions process. "Berkeley and UCLA not recruited for many top paying jobs. Don't be naive. If you're not super ambitious, no issue. If you are, can get into an ivy and can afford it, go to one over a UC!" -Why? How many times do I have to say that I don't want to go to an Ivy League school? Could I get in? Yes, possibly, though I won't claim it would be a top-tier one. The thing is, that I am not naive. You are. You think that money and prestige buy happiness. That is not the case at all. I challenge you to someday look up where CEOs of Fortune 500 companies went to school. You'll find that many, possibly even a majority, did not go to the schools you mentioned. Steve Jobs, the creator of Apple, went to Berkeley. As did the inventor of Levi clothing. I know Harvard will boast just as many names, but at the end of the day, that's all they are-names in a book. For me, college isn't coming out with a degree that people 'wow' at. It's about going somewhere where I fit in, where people will understand, or at least consider, my viewpoints. In this instance, you are not doing your argument any favor by acting stuck-up and arrogant. You're simply proving my point. HYPS are excellent for some people, just not for me. I got in and out of high school on my own. My counselor did nothing to help me out, and, you know what? I drove the 45 minutes to that prep course four times a week, so that just in case I decided that I did want to "get involved with the big boys," I was prepared. You are the perfect example of why I hate that attitude. Good thing I can look past stereotypes, otherwise I would say that people like you are the reason why I don't want to go to those schools.</p>
<p>There is a saying in Berkeley that goes like this: "A Stanford man walks down the street like he owns it. A Berkeley man walks down the street like he doesn't CARE who owns it." We don't bs in the UC system. Intellect gets you in and out. That's where I want to be. The fact that it is half the cost makes it even more worth it.</p>
<p>Also, those companies DO recruit. Of course, you're too "naive" to even consider it, but once you "step outside of your comfort zone," perhaps you'll realize that life isn't all about money and connections, and that education extends beyond HYP. This year alone Berkeley had 3 Nobel Prize winners. So don't kid yourself into thinking that it is some third-class school.</p>
<p>Your perspective is so shocking that at first I honestly thought you were joking.</p>
<p>And your outlook shocks me. I went from a poor working farm in ND to a boarding school full of rich kids when I was 14. They taught me more than the school did. They exposed me to things I never imagined existed in my small town where counselors only know the state U. No money might not make you happy, but being on top of your field might. Quote all you want bout where CEOs come from, but take a look at where the students at Harvard law and business schools come from. In this years B school class, UCLA has a fraction of the representation that small schools like Dartmouth and Duke have. </p>
<p>And leaving the place where you come from for college, if you can afford it, will open you eyes to so much.</p>
<p>When you have seen what's out there and put yourself in the position of having the most options, you can decide money doesn't matter and that Cali is the place. However, I'll bet you decide otherwise.</p>
<p>Don't worry, all ivy kids aren't like me. Even if we're thinking about chasing prestige and money, we don't discuss it preferring a constant liberal chatter.</p>
<p>Well, if a rich boarding school opened your eyes, then it doesn't surprise me that you liked the IL. You like big-name schools with great connections and prestige, I like schools that fit me. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. Besides, I don't even want to go into the business arena or law, so I could care less about Harvard, and Harvard could care less about me. Believe what you want, but don't shove your decisions down other people's throats. Just let me be, man, alright? I have enough to worry about in admissions without your constantly satirizing comments about how I have no idea what I want. You don't even know me past "vc08." I have a name, a face, and a life. I let you live your life, so it would be nice if you let me live mine.</p>