If you’re a fan of classic TV shows, you’ve probably seen the “Gilmore Girls” episode where Rory dreams of attending Harvard, while her grandparents are determined she follow the family tradition and enroll at Yale. It’s a charming storyline, but it made me think that legacy college admissions were just a plot device from a rom-com. Turns out, I was mistaken! These practices are very much a reality in the elite college landscape, with institutions like Harvard still playing by outdated rules. According to The Harvard Crimson, between 2014 and 2019, a staggering 33% of students admitted were legacies, despite a mere 6% acceptance rate overall.
Now, let’s be clear — I’m not here to bash students who are legacies. Many of them are certainly qualified to attend these prestigious schools. However, they often come from backgrounds that already provide them with significant advantages, like access to elite tutors and extracurricular activities without the need to juggle a part-time job. While some schools like Amherst, Caltech, and MIT have taken a stand against legacy admissions, others, such as Johns Hopkins University, saw a dramatic shift after ending the practice. In 2014, legacies made up 8.5% of their enrollment; by 2021, that number dropped to just 3.7%, while first-generation students surged to 17.8%. So, what’s holding other elite schools back? The answer is often, you guessed it, money.
Legacy students typically come from wealthy families, which means they have the financial resources to make generous donations — a factor that some colleges use to justify their admissions practices. While it’s not illegal, it feels ethically murky. If colleges truly want to attract the brightest minds, they should consider merit over money. Just because someone has a hefty bank account doesn’t guarantee they possess the passion or hard work needed to succeed in academia.
The college application process is already a daunting task. For many, it’s not as easy as Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde” breezing into Harvard. There are essays, standardized tests, and the intimidating FAFSA to contend with. For first-generation college students, this can be an uphill battle without the guidance that legacy students often receive. It’s high time we level the playing field and give all talented individuals a fair shot by eliminating legacy admissions.
In today’s world, privilege plays a significant role in nearly every aspect of life. Acknowledging this is essential, but dismantling these systems requires commitment. Ending legacy college admissions may not solve all the inequalities in higher education, but it’s a step in the right direction.
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In summary, let’s move away from legacy admissions and focus on creating opportunities for all students, regardless of their financial background.
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