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The Privilege of Legacy Admissions
by Daniel Yoo
Elite universities like Stanford, Harvard, and Yale have some of the most infamously low acceptance rates. Getting into these selective universities requires applicants to have some of the most prestigious recognitions and awards. These applicant pools are so competitive many of the students will do just about anything to get an edge. Many of these applicants have won Gold in the Science Olympiad or helped Obama manage his inauguration. In this ultra-competitive atmosphere, a student can get is a legacy status.
Legacy is a status when an applicant’s family attends or previously attended a select university. It seems so insignificant at first glance. Why would where my parents or siblings attend college factor into my college decision. The quick answer to why legacy exists is money. Families and alumni are more likely to donate to a university if the university has been a presence in multiple family members, an emotional tie, so some universities favor an applicant’s legacy status. If both of my parents attended Harvard University, I would hypothetically be more likely to get in due to my legacy status.
Valuing a factor outside of an applicant’s control is often viewed as shallow and greedy. As some call it, affirmative action for the rich. Many people have strong opinions in opposition to the usage of legacy status in…
