In a story about college admissions rejection letters and where they fall on the nice-to-mean continuum (really), The Wall Street Journal reports:
Most Discouraging: Boston University. To students who have family ties to the university, its letter begins: “We give special attention to applicants whose families have a tradition of study at Boston University. We have extended this consideration in the evaluation of your application, but I regret to inform you that we are unable to offer you admission.” Consideration of family legacies is common practice at many universities. But Rob Flaherty, 17, a North Reading, Mass., recipient, said he felt the wording in BU’s letter translated to “we made it even easier for you and you STILL couldn’t get in.”
Well, yeah, that’s exactly what it means. Legacy admissions policies are morally unjustifiable. They’re basically a way for colleges and universities to cash in a portion of their academic integrity in exchange for the substantial financial benefits that come with telling alumni that if that if they play their cards right, they may be able to give their children a leg up come admissions time. And admissions preferences only matter at the margin. If you apply to a college as a legacy, then what you’re doing is saying “If it comes down to a choice between me and a non-legacy candidate who’s more qualified, please pick me.” That’s a lot to ask. Now colleges are supposed to lie about it too, so people don’t feel bad?
