<p>^^Realistically, unless the kid is a “superstar”, ie a “want” and a “need” for the school as well as a great student with a great personality, a legacy school will weigh their legacy applicants by the interest that student shows, all other things being equal. A BS, same as a college, does not want to offer a place to someone who will not take it. Many schools will look at a student who is a known legacy at a similar school and make the assumption that the applicant will go to their legacy school. Same as the legacy school will not feel the love if a legacy applicant not do anything except just apply. The letter is standard and it does manage expectations. But people are people and AO’s are people too. They guess same as the rest of us about motivations. So while the letter and the school is not officially urging you to do anything, they are wondering about your interest. Again, there will be kids that are accepted by many schools, no matter what. They are in a very exclusive minority of the applicant pool.</p>