<p>Such as NYU Stern, my sibling graduated from that univ. this year. If I barely meet their requirements, how will legacy help me?</p>
<p>From
What I know, barely, especially as it is only a sibling legacy; unless (s)he donates a lot of money. Don’t count on it carrying an otherwise lackluster application (which you implied you have).</p>
<p>No specific information about this school. But in general:
Colleges will pronounce that legacy doesn’t have much weight.
Parents of kids who didn’t get into their Alma Mater will tell you that it doesn’t much.
Kids who didn’t get into their parents school will echo the parents.
But-
Statistics show that it carries more weight than anyone is comfortable admitting to.</p>
<p>What is very true is that it should not be any factor in your strategy.</p>
<p>It won’t help significantly if you are not already competitive. However if you are borderline, or already competitive, it may give you a boost. For something like NYU Stern, I don’t think it matters that much especially if you are not up there with the other applicants. My best friend applied to NYU Stern with a legacy. He wasn’t accepted due to the sheer competitiveness of the program. He will be happily attending UCLA from OOS this fall. (Goes to show just how hard it is to be admitted to Stern)</p>
<p>I disagree, use your legacy to your full advantage. But again, you don’t have legacy because siblings don’t count.</p>
<p>According to the Common Data Set it is only considered. <a href=“Research with Human Subjects”>Research with Human Subjects;
<p>The amount to which legacy helps in admission as well as the relatives that count as legacy vary from school to school. I’d guess that if you are completely qualified to get in it may give you a slight advantage but if you are not a competitive applicant then it won’t get you in. </p>
<p>Legacy probably won’t make up for large deficiencies in other parts of your application, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt to have it if the college is trying to decide between multiple near-equal candidates.</p>
<p>When applying to that specific school, it will help. But some colleges dislike it. Say you are applying to Amherst. If they see your dad went to Harvard, your grandma went there, and your two siblings are going there, they will hold that against you.</p>
<p>" If they see your dad went to Harvard, your grandma went there, and your two siblings are going there, they will hold that against you."
How would they know that unless you told them? And there is no question on the common app that asks stuff like that. Legacy at other colleges won’t matter against you. </p>
<p>Legacy will only help you if you’re up against other, equally qualified candidates–that is, it doesn’t boost you into the competitive category, it just might nudge you over another in that category. Please don’t rely on a legacy boost to get you in if you’re below the 50% stat range.</p>