What exactly are legacy admissions, and what should we understand about them?
WHAT ARE LEGACY ADMISSIONS
Legacy admissions is a process in which universities give children of alumni special consideration when determining who to accept. Colleges, on the other hand, are receiving harsh criticism. A new report, The Future of Fair Admissions, discussed in a new Forbes article, exposes the magnitude of the practice and asks for legislation to curb or perhaps abolish it.
Legacy admissions have grown increasingly contentious as top colleges claim to want to diversity, yet one reason they continue to admit children of alumni is because it is clearly in the school's self-interest to do so. The rationale for this is that alumni children who got offers matriculated at substantially higher rates, providing the institution with greater assurance about their future enrollment figures. And these families with multi-generational links to the institution were more inclined to donate funds, which the school needs. One of these needs would include awarding scholarships to others.
In a recent US News article, according to Natasha Warikoo, a sociology professor at Tufts University in Massachusetts and author of The Diversity Bargain: And Other Dilemmas of Race, Admissions, and Meritocracy at Elite Universities, finds legacy admissions unacceptable. The rationale against legacy admissions, is that it contradicts the notion that the college application process is about merit by giving benefits to children of graduates. Furthermore, favoring legacy students undermines what other applicants have to offer.
However, Mandee Heller Adler, founder and president of International College Counselors in Florida, believes it will help to strengthen the campus community. She also feels that, rather than being a big determinant, legacy status provides a slight benefit - it frequently serves as a tiebreaker to pick between two eligible applicants.
Regardless of how legacy admissions are perceived, MBA applicants should be aware of how they may be affected.
What Legacy Applicants Should Know About MBA Admissions
Some schools, according to Adler, give legacy status to children of graduates, while others include grandchildren or siblings. You should contact admissions offices to learn how your legacy status is determined at your specific target school.
You should also ask about the admissions process. Some schools, for example, require legacy candidates to apply via early decision.
Understanding the advantages of legacy status might be tough for you, because it can involve extra scrutiny. For example, a second look at your MBA application, a third interview, or special visitation days for legacy students. But if you see an opportunity, take advantage of it.
What Non-Legacy MBA Applicants Should Know About Admissions
Knowing that other candidates have a legacy advantage may make the admissions process even more terrifying. However, you should understand that legacy status is beyond your control. You either have a parent who attended that business school or you do not. Nevertheless, as a non-legacy applicant, you should continue to focus on submitting the best MBA application possible. You should also not have your heart set on attending a specific institution, especially if it is very exclusive.
According to Warikoo, giving legacy children an advantage, minimizes what others have to offer. Warikoo argues that just because you didn't get in doesn't imply you're any worse or less worthy than someone who did. On the other hand, she says that someone getting into a school doesn't make them any more deserving than someone who didn’t.
The Future of Legacy Admissions
As an applicant, you should also be aware that certain business schools no longer consider legacy admissions. Some schools still have it, but it is gradually fading. Legacy admissions may be considered by both public and private universities, but public schools are less likely to do so.
MIT, UC Berkeley, Oxford, Cambridge, CalTech and the University of Washington are among the universities that have abandoned legacy admissions.
Regardless of your legacy status, you should always concentrate on presenting your best application possible and understand that acceptance to a particular school does not determine who you are.