<p>Please don’t come on too strong if you feel this is a long shot, but just wondering since I am new to this whole process…my first is going to college and we are just firming up her college list. The only reach/slight reach school on her list happens to be a prestigious school and one where my great great great grandfather was one of the founders and there is a large wing in his name as well as several buildings on campus with the family name. Now, question is- is this worth mentioning?
If so whats the best way to be subtle about it without looking too obvious?
One thing we were thinking, was on the common app. part at the end, where it says you can list anything that there was not a place for on the app. to list it, (a place to list odds and ends) that she could list it there…
Or is this something better suited for a school advisor to list in her letter? Since we have never done this before, could just some advice from you veterans. Please let me know what you think…thanks!</p>
<p>Any of that family money still floating around? Does it mean anything to DD that one of her ancestors was a founder? Or is she like - “ho hum”. (I didn’t find genealogy interesting until I was over 40, but I know people who were more into it as kids.) If she thinks it’s meaningful then maybe she could write about it in her essay.</p>
<p>Many schools, especially the more selective ones, have a separate supplement to the Common App that you need to fill out. It’s where they ask things like “Why us?” or “How did you hear about us?” That’s where I’d put this kind of thing. Try to put it in the context of what you like about the school and why it’s a good fit.</p>
<p>What qialah said.</p>
<p>My great great grandfather was president of the college where my daughter goes.</p>
<p>She certainly never mentioned it. She did not put that she was a legacy either.</p>
<p>Personally, I would say don’t do it. It’s just not that relevant, and makes it seems as if you daughter can’t get in on her own. It’s not as if she knew him or he had any personal effect on her.</p>
<p>Our last name is the same as a street by the University of Chicago and another street is Maryland. My daughter twisted both of those into her essay–more for humor than for anything else. I think that you can put all kinds of things in essays. What you want to avoid is acting like it makes a difference in the admissions process.</p>
<p>If the family has given major money to the school which buildings with your name imply, someone in the family should have a relationship with the development office. It’s those folks who will care. In the admissions office, unless development tells them otherwise, the only legacy they care about is the ones that fall under the college’s official policy-most often only the child of a grad.</p>
<p>I wanted my D to apply at the school that her ggg grandfather grad from, a few years after its founding. She was qualified on her own merits and liked the place. I thought that, when asked how she learned about the school, it would be amusing to note the connection. (Agree with MDmom, humor is key or it sounds like you’re digging for an edge.) Then, if it mattered to the school, fine. If not, fine.<br>
The term legacy is being redefined now. For schools that actually give it consideration, the relative is usually just back a few generatons.</p>
<p>Let’s not confuse legacy as some have given examples of that. In the OP’s case, albeit going back generations, the relative was a founder of the college, not just a graduate or donor. If the family is not still making huge donations, then it is also not a development case. However, there is some significance to being a descendent of one of the founders of the college. It is not the same as a legacy hook or a development case. But there is a history in the family with this school. </p>
<p>Many colleges have a “Who or what influenced your decision to apply to X college?” essay prompt. Even for schools that don’t have such a prompt, I think it is wise to include a very specific statement as to why a student wishes to attend. In your child’s case, he/she can weave into the Why X College essay statement how he/she has known of the school his/her whole life due to the legacy from his/her ancestors, “the XXX’s” who were one of the founders. Your child could weave in what he/she heard of the school growing up and what it would be like walking the halls of XXX hall named after his/her ancestors etc. and then focus on many specifics about the college that appeal to him/her and why it is a good match for him/her and why he/she is a good match for them, as any applicant should do.</p>
<p>I don’t see anything at all inappropriate with sharing this information with the college. This is pretty special information. So yes, I would include it in the essays somehow, and additionally, if your D has a grandparent or great aunt or uncle still living, you could ask them to send a letter about it to the college president.</p>
<p>Agree with soozievt. I think it’s pretty cool. Definitely find a way to work it in. I don’t think there’s any need for reverse snobbery or modesty. It’s a war out there ;)</p>
<p>If there is a “Why ___ College?” That’s the obvious place to put it. There’s also the “Anything else you think we should know” part of the Common App. I don’t think it will ever hurt to tell the admissions office though I doubt it’s likely to make a big difference either.</p>
<p>Right…I should clarify that it is more of a human interest that adds flair to the Why X College essay, but I would not classify it as a “hook” as the thread title suggests. If she were a development case, it would be a hook, but I don’t think you are saying that is the case. Still, it would make her Why X College essay statement a bit unique.</p>
<p>I think some colleges might think it kind of cool to have a great great great grandchild of a founder in the student body. So it’s worth mentioning. I wouldn’t hold my breath hoping something comes of it, though. Might help, can’t hurt, maybe just neutral. Now if there’s a long line of family members who have attended or somehow been associated with the college since the founding, I think it’s an even better story.</p>
<p>I’d say this definitely can’t hurt. It’s actually pretty neato. </p>
<p>The only time I’d stay mum on the connection would be if your ancestor is Salazar Slytherin and your D is applying to Hogwarts. ;)</p>
<p>“Hi! My name is Susie Mather. I’m really sorry about the witch burning thingie. But I think could I add a lot to Harvard, and living in Mather House would be like WAY KEWL!”</p>
<p>Since her ggg+ grandfather was one of the FOUNDING members and has a building with his name on it: do it. I should tell you though, unless she’s already a likely candidate, it won’t get her in. And as others have said, add it as part of her “Why XX essay”. Be sure to include it in the first “pass”, but, if she deffered or WL, don’t mention it when you update her info.</p>
<p>Actually, she might even want to tie in some aspect of him that she reveres that tells about her character. Like: let’s say the college is Oberlin and she can talk about how she admires that Oberlin was one of the first colleges to admit woman and she even formed a Woman’s XXX League at her school because woman’s equal rights was always important as a family.</p>
<p>Schools love to hype their history. As long as this kid is not totally unqualified, I can’t imagine any school not admitting a direct descendant of their founders.</p>