Legacy Admissions Ambiguity

[sybbie719]

<p>my bad, it was cornell college and not cornell university.</p>

<p>Here is what Uncle Ezra says…</p>

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<p>The staff in the Undergraduate Admissions Office explain that legacies (applicants who have a connection to Cornell through a family member that was either a student or an employee) go through the same admissions process as any other applicant. There is no “fast lane” for legacy students. There is also a statement in the Big Red Book (the admissions prospectus) that explains “Cornell Families…The Cornell connection counts. Among applicants of roughly equal qualifications, children of alumni may receive preference. Please let us know if a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent attended Cornell, or if a member of your family is a Cornell employee.” So it is true, that a student may receive some preference, but only if other things are equal.</p>

<p>One could debate the origin and “lifeblood” of the Cornell connection. Could the 13% legacy students in the class of 2006 be so considerable, not because of admissions selection, but due to a very high number of legacy applicants out of the total pool? The family connection may inspire a student to apply to Cornell, and influence one to choose Cornell over other acceptances. </p>

<p>Cornell becomes part of a family “identity”, more important as our ties loosen in the busy and dispersed world. Could the geographical connection weigh in? In this case, could familiarity breed content? Are you the first in a long line of Cornellians in your family? I hope, if they so desire, we can be a great academic home to them.</p>

<p>[Dear</a> Uncle Ezra - Questions for Tuesday, December 3, 2002 - Cornell University](<a href=“http://ezra.cornell.edu/posting.php?timestamp=1038891600]Dear”>http://ezra.cornell.edu/posting.php?timestamp=1038891600)</p>

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