As I mentioned previously, there are many kinds of Harvard applicants. The purpose of describing these profiles is not to stereotype any member of the Harvard community. Rather, the purpose is to enlighten prospective students about what types of candidates Harvard is seeking. In fact, many undergraduates fall into several of the categories that I will describe.
The legacy admission is the student who has strong family ties to Harvard. Usually, a direct relative is a Harvard graduate, such as a parent or sibling. Often, multiple generations have attended Harvard. For example, many generations of the Kennedy family have attended Harvard.
Legacy candidates are typically well-qualified on their own, but as one can imagine, having the connections does not hurt. As they say, it's not what you know, it's who you know, right? An applicant who knows someone who went to Harvard, especially recently, can ask them for advice regarding who to contact at the Admissions Office and how to structure their application.
There are various views on the issues of 'legacies' and what role that should play in admissions. As this article in the Harvard Crimson notes, there are several arguments for considering legacy status in admission:
Future posts will discuss the other applicant profiles, such as the Harvard Athlete.
The legacy admission is the student who has strong family ties to Harvard. Usually, a direct relative is a Harvard graduate, such as a parent or sibling. Often, multiple generations have attended Harvard. For example, many generations of the Kennedy family have attended Harvard.
Legacy candidates are typically well-qualified on their own, but as one can imagine, having the connections does not hurt. As they say, it's not what you know, it's who you know, right? An applicant who knows someone who went to Harvard, especially recently, can ask them for advice regarding who to contact at the Admissions Office and how to structure their application.
There are various views on the issues of 'legacies' and what role that should play in admissions. As this article in the Harvard Crimson notes, there are several arguments for considering legacy status in admission:
Various proponents of legacy preference have offered several reasons for continuing to give legacies a boost. For example, a critical mass of legacies on campus might help to generate a larger sense of Harvard spirit and tradition on campus, through their own emotional connections to the University and their familial connections to alumni.The article goes on to argue against using legacy status as a criteria for admission. Still, if you are applying to Harvard and have a close relative who went there, it cannot hurt you and can only stand to help you. Even if you only know someone who went, I would suggest contacting them and asking them about their experiences. They can serve as a valuable advisor during the application process and beyond.
More importantly, proponents of legacy preference claim that the practice also helps to engage alumni with the University beyond their Harvard years; knowing that their sons and daughters stand a better chance of admission to their alma mater, alumni are more generous with their money, and possibly more significantly, their time.
Future posts will discuss the other applicant profiles, such as the Harvard Athlete.
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