The Legacy Admission Debate

The huge college admissions scandal has drawn attention to the broader discussion of how colleges decide who to accept.

Legacy admissions gives preference to students whose parents attended the school. Legacy is considered by 42% of private colleges in the US. Children of legacies are two to four times more likely to be accepted to elite schools. This is equivalent to a 160 point boost on a student’s SAT score. Legacy admissions has been called “affirmative action for rich people”. Critics say that it gives an unfair advantage to students who don’t need it and undermines the belief that admissions should be based on merit. On the other hand, defenders say that it creates a generational commitment to a university and makes alumni more likely to donate.

The potential impact: States like California are considering laws that would ban schools from receiving state grants if they use legacy preference to determine admissions.