Myth #19
“Practically my entire family went to that college, and we give them money every year so I’m pretty sure I’ll get in.”
On the surface this is an obvious myth but surprisingly, it’s actually closer to the truth than you might think. Don’t worry, it’s still a myth and that student better get serious or he’ll be collecting a very thin envelope in April but, as I said, there is an element of truth to the statement. The practice of accepting the sons and daughters of alumni is called “legacy preference”. In the past, it was an important factor to a student’s application . . . but over the years its impact has been greatly diminished.
In general, the world of college admissions has steadily become more and more professional and businesslike. The “old boy” network that existed in one form or another until relatively recently is pretty much dead. Well, if it’s not entirely dead, it’s at least in an irreversible coma. Today’s admissions office is typically staffed by skilled professionals working within a clearly defined set of goals and guidelines. If a meeting of the admissions committee once seemed like an afternoon gathering at a restricted “gentlemen’s club”, that same meeting at a top college today feels more like something you’d expect to find at CitiBank.
Your annual gift of $1,000 is no longer worth a few extra points on the SAT’s and it doesn’t boost your GPA. A 6 or 7 figure gift might ensure that your son or daughter’s application will be carefully reviewed and you might even get a personal call with the decision . . . but even that isn’t likely to move a folder headed for the “reject” pile over to the “accept” file the way it could have back in the day. In today’s competitive environment, almost every student accepted at a top college has earned their place the old fashioned way . . . they’ve excelled in the classroom, in standardized testing opportunities, on the athletic field and in community service.
That said, there is one major exception and it’s worth remembering. It’s not very common but it does exist. Most admissions officers will tell you that if a current student has a qualified brother or sister who applies . . . their application will receive extra attention and a nudge toward the “accepted” pile of folders. Keep in mind that I said “qualified” brother or sister. Even this loophole won’t get the “C” student into Princeton.
In today’s world, simply being qualified doesn’t mean that you get accepted. Those days are long gone. Most of America’s top colleges now reject many more “qualified” applications than they accept. But if your big brother or big sister is already going to school at that college . . . you will have an edge.
If you think about it for a minute, this makes perfect sense. I hope that all of the high school students who happen to be an “only child” don’t form a lobby and bring some sort of class action lawsuit against hardworking admissions officers across the country! They’re not trying to discriminate against single child families; they’re just trying to make a good business decision. We’ve discussed how important “demonstrated display of interest” is to a college admissions committee. They want to know if their school is really your top choice. Is this truly where you want to attend college? If they accept you, will you come? And if you come, will you comfortably fit in and positively contribute to the community? Well, it turns out that if your brother or sister is already on campus . . . the answer is probably yes!
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