Regarding UMich’s usage of legacy status, they say it’s not used in the admissions decision any longer.
Does Michigan consider legacy status today?
Rick Fitzgerald, a spokesman, told Inside Higher Ed that legacy status is used for only two purposes. He said that the college does want to acknowledge family relationships to alumni when communicating with parents of applicants about the admissions process. Further, he said that legacy status is an important factor in calculating yield, the percentage of admitted applicants who enroll. Legacy applicants who are admitted enroll at a higher rate than do other applicants. So it’s important for enrollment planners to know whether those in the applicant pool are legacies, he said.