Host: What is a legacy and is there any advantage for students to apply to their parents Alma Mater?
Jerome Cole; A legacy is a term that colleges use and it applies to the children of their alumni. So, my children for example, would be legacies to the two schools that I attended as well as my wife s. Is it an advantage, it is going to vary from school to school, but in most cases, yes, there is a slight advantage. One of the things that some institutions will do is that they will grant you what they call an alumni interview based on the fact that you are a legacy.
I think the other thing that it does is you may be afforded a little bit more access when you go and visit a school if you are legacy and then I think finally, when the admissions folks are considering applications, I think that in most cases, not in all cases, but in most cases, the students that are legacies, all other factors being equal, they are probably going to get a leg up on the other kids. They are probably going to be admitted.
It is an advantage, it is a slight advantage, it is going to again, vary from school to school, but it is something that interestingly enough, every college application or I should say, most college applications will ask that question, Are you a legacy? If you see that on your application that is a pretty good indication that, Yes, this is going to be an advantage to you. So, you always want to make sure the schools are aware of that.
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