Are There Ivy League Schools That Do Not Allow Admissions Based Only on Legacies?
Yes, Ivy League schools do not admit students solely based on legacy status. While legacy status—where applicants have familial ties to alumni—can be a factor in admissions, it is not the sole criterion. Ivy League institutions consider a variety of factors, including academic performance, test scores, extracurricular activities, personal essays, and recommendations.
Legacy Status and Admissions Criteria
For example, schools like Harvard and Yale have publicly stated that they evaluate applicants holistically. This means that legacy status is just one piece of a larger puzzle in the admissions process. The approach aims to ensure a diverse and talented student body rather than favoring legacy applicants exclusively.
It is important to note that legacy status may provide some advantage in the admissions process but it is not determinative. For instance, many legacy applicants still face competition and may be waitlisted or denied admission despite their familial ties to the institution.
Legacy Admit Rate and Disparities
Legacy applicants do have a higher admit rate compared to non-legacy applicants. About 30% of Harvard’s incoming freshman class is made up of legacies, as highlighted in the article Harvard’s Incoming Freshman Class is One-Third Legacy—Here’s Why That’s a Problem. However, none of the Ivy League schools limits its admissions to only legacy applicants. And, being a legacy does not guarantee admission. For instance, my children, all excellent students, were denied admission to Dartmouth despite their legacy status.
The legacy admissions policy is coming under increased scrutiny for being discriminatory. For a well-written article on the topic, read “Ending Legacy Admissions Is the Right Thing to Do. But for Black Alums, It Stings.”
Religious Overemphasis on Legacy Status
Legacy status is often overrated as a factor in the admissions process. For example, my daughter was admitted to an Ivy League school but was denied admission at Princeton despite her legacy status and her distant relative's role as the President of Princeton.
Furthermore, legacies are not the primary fundraising tool for Ivy League schools. Civic leaders like Malia Obama have highlighted their legacy connections, but the percentage of legacy admits can be found in publicly-available reports from each of the schools.
Final Thoughts and Considerations
All Ivy League schools consider legacy status or alumni/ae relations as a non-academic factor for admissions, but it is not the sole factor. The legacy admissions rate is nowhere close to 100% at any of the Ivy League schools. A significant number of legacy applicants still get rejected or waitlisted every year.
The admissions process is designed to be multifaceted and holistic, ensuring that a diverse and talented student body is admitted regardless of their legacy status. Parents and applicants should have a clear understanding that legacy status provides some advantage but is not a guarantee of admission.