Why are legacies important to colleges?

Why are legacies important to colleges?

The most important rationale that colleges cite is a financial one: They tend to believe that giving legacy applicants an edge helps them bring in alumni donations. So since those wealthy alumni tend to donate more money, the legacy preference does appear to help colleges’ bottom line.

How much of Harvard is legacy?

43 percent

Do colleges give preference to siblings?

But, at the majority of other colleges, the sibling “hook” counts at least a little. College officials do not typically comb through applications or transcripts to check out the matriculated sister or brother. They simply note the connection and may use it in the candidate’s favor, if there are close calls to be made.

Do step parents count as legacy?

Legacy in college admissions counts when a student applies to a college or university that was previously attended by relatives, including parents, siblings, and grandparents. For example, Princeton only considers a student as legacy if their parents or step-parents attended the school.

What constitutes a legacy?

In college admissions, a “legacy” student is defined as someone whose parents attended and/or graduated from the institution to which the student is applying. In some cases legacy status can also apply to other relatives who are currently or previously attended the institution, including siblings and grandparents.