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Author Topic: Alumni Admissions Preferences -- What do you think?  (Read 12251 times)
kabert
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« on: November 12, 2006, 10:21:05 PM »
I'm currently studying this issue and have been finding widely disparate viewpoints.  At private institutions, alumni/legacy admissions preferences seem to be alive and well, particularly those that do not have a massive endowment such that they can afford to ignore alums.
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notaprof
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« Reply #1 on: November 12, 2006, 10:33:30 PM »
Yes, without a massive endowment, it is hard to ignore anyone who might feel generous towards the college.  However, I don't think that a leaning towards legacy applicants in admissions always means that it is because of money.  We have legacy students that are on full financial aid.  But I do think that legacy applicants have a better understanding of what is special about our institution because they had a parent or sibling who loved the place.  The issue of being a "good fit" seems to be more likely to happen in legacy cases.  It's just another form of "word of mouth" advertising for smaller, lesser-known schools. 
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"That's a great deal to make one word mean," Alice said in a thoughtful tone.
"When I make a word do a lot of work like that," said Humpty Dumpty, "I always pay it extra."
prytania3
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« Reply #2 on: November 23, 2006, 11:55:51 PM »
If I gave a big pile of money to my alma mater, I'd expect my kid to get in. Period. Legacies whose parents gave no substantial dough, forget them. Put them in the slush pile with everyone else.
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larryc
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« Reply #3 on: December 22, 2006, 10:04:45 AM »
Provided that they aren't a huge proportion of the student body, and that they get no special treatment, I don't see a problem.  The school has to pay my salary, after all.
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Quote from: prytania3 on August 10, 2011, 01:56:06 PM
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csguy
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« Reply #4 on: December 22, 2006, 05:53:21 PM »
I would recommend reading "The Price of Admissions" by Daniel Golding. He argues it essentially perpetuates privilege.

I would not really recommend any of my alma maters to my child. They were good schools but not a fit.
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