<p>One of my parents graduated from Harvard grad school. Must it be undergrad, or does grad count as a legacy as well?</p>
<p>Bump10char</p>
<p>It must be undergrad. See: [Legacy</a> Admit Rate at 30 Percent | News | The Harvard Crimson](<a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2011/5/11/admissions-fitzsimmons-legacy-legacies/]Legacy”>Legacy Admit Rate at 30 Percent | News | The Harvard Crimson)</p>
<p>“Fitzsimmons also said that Harvard’s undergraduate population is comprised of approximately 12 to 13 percent legacies, a group he defined as children of Harvard College alumni and Radcliffe College alumnae.”</p>
<p>^gibby is absolutely right. Even then the legacy angle is of minimal assistance. It is essentially a tie breaker–and how often is there a real tie?</p>
<p>The reason for the high legacy admit rate is more because they have the right educational credentials and candle power (not surprising given their parentage) and therefore would be very strong candidates regardless of their legacy status.</p>
<p>^What do you mean by educational credentials?</p>
<p>well they came from parents of high educational pedigree, obviously. therefore it is likely they followed suit, probably going to a competitive high school and achieving higher than average scores</p>
<p>I know of a friend who’s father graduated from the law school. He called himself a legacy, but I’m not sure if that means it counts :D.</p>
<p>Either way, there should be room to put down grad school for your parent on the common app… I believe there are two slots for parent’s education.</p>
<p>I hope you or your mom/dad don’t have an overinflated belief that this will make you a shoe-in. Legacies are hardly a hook. Also recommendations from congressmen/women and such are not hooks - many believe they are, but in actuality as many as hundreds of such letters are received. The only real ‘kicker’ hooks are children of faculty/administration, recruits, low geographic representation, first generations and URM’s, in that order. Even still, nothing works as well as a solid application. </p>
<p>Re: Higher legacy admit rate - correlation does not imply causation. I don’t mean to sound like I’m really downplaying legacy status, just trying to give an accurate point of view. More legacies are admitted than non legacies more often because they have parents who have the responsibility and know how to prepare their kids early and throughout high school. I bet your parents are good at this, so be grateful for that! 
Good luck!</p>
<p>No, I didn’t think this would make admission a shoe-in at all. I was simply curious but thank you!</p>