What Legacy Students Need To Know

Legacy Status. For those of you who have educated parents you know that where your parents went to school makes you automatically a legacy, some that in the past many schools weighed heavily in on, but no so today.

While it continues to be somewhat true, many families continue to believe
that being a “legacy” gives you a huge advantage in the application pool, especially at the most prestigious colleges and universities. Unfortunately in today’s heavy competition to get the best, being a legacy is not an automatic guarantee that sweet little Johnny is going to get in.

While College and Universities still factor in the “legacy status” factor in to an
admission committee's decision, it is not enough to just be the child of an alumna/e. This is why we stress the importance of doing your research and getting assistance in developing a comprehensive application strategy.

Just because your parent(s) have gone to the college which you are applying might carry weight, double check with each school. Some colleges only count legacy for their
early decision applicants. Some schools like California Institute of Technology, the University of California (all 9 campuses). Texas A&M, and Cooper Union never give legacies an advantage because they work of their own unique formulas, Schools like USC or Stanford, take legacy status into account, but it does not carry the weight it once used to. Sometimes, with great credentials, parents who have been loyal alums, it still does not work out. And, if your grandparents attended a school but your parents did not, you might want to check to see if they consider you “legacy”. Some schools do, some don’t.

Dartmouth noted on their website: “Applicants are considered "legacies" if either parent graduated from Dartmouth”. Though the college values its long-term relationship with alumni, legacy candidates must still meet Dartmouth's rigorous admissions criteria.

Legacy status to a university creates a value and importance that only a legacy
student can bring to a school, which no other student can do. Penn,
Northwestern, USC and Stanford, give an applicants legacy status even when a parent attended any of their graduate schools.

It is important that you know the thoughts of the schools you are applying to, even when you are a legacy--- even if you are applying as second, third or fourth generation student .