Legacy admissions is a complex and often controversial topic, but it remains a factor at many selective colleges and universities. Ivy League and other top schools may consider legacy status during the admissions process, and in some cases, it can provide an advantage. Surveys and statistics indicate that more than 70% of leading U.S. colleges and universities consider legacy status when making admissions decisions
A legacy applicant is typically a student whose parents attended or graduated from the college or university to which the student is applying.
Many U.S. colleges admit legacy applicants—students with a family connection to the institution—at significantly higher rates than non-legacy applicants. For example, Harvard’s legacy acceptance rate has been reported at about 33%, compared with an overall acceptance rate below 6%. In Harvard’s incoming Class of 2023, 23% of students were legacies. Princeton has also admitted legacy applicants at roughly four times the overall applicant rate.
Still, legacy status is not a guarantee. Not all legacy applicants are admitted, and more are being waitlisted or rejected each year. Having involved alumni parents—or even parents who make significant financial contributions—does not ensure acceptance. Legacy applicants must still distinguish themselves, especially because they are often competing against other legacy candidates for limited spots.
We are increasingly hearing from legacy parents whose children have been waitlisted or rejected outright.
Work with a educational consultant/admissions who understands the legacy admissions process from both professional and personal experience, including successfully guiding legacy applicants through acceptance – Dr. Paul Lowe, Admissions Expert.
Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe, founder/managing director and lead admissions advisor of Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group, provides comprehensive counseling advice, exclusively for admissions to top private schools; Ivy League and highly-selective colleges/universities; BS/MD programs; graduate and medical schools and top visual and performing arts programs. The admissions affiliate: Ivy League Admissions Advisors specializes in admissions to Ivy League and highly selective colleges. Dr. Lowe helps students gain admissions to BS/MD programs:| BS/MD Admissions Guru | BS/MD Admissions Advisors and also specializes in helping students who have been rejected by BS/MD programs reapply to BS/MD programs as a Gap Year applicant: GAP Year BS/MD Admissions.
Dr. Paul Lowe - Admissions Expert 