Legacy Admission

After graduating from high school many graduated seniors face the difficult challenge of applying to a university or community college to attend to in the fall. With applying to college, students compare their likes and dislikes with each school, determine which school environment suits them best, and where can they receive the best possible education for their potential major. Searching for a school to attend is an important part of a student’s life and applying to one should be performed very carefully. Before students are admitted to a school, Universities must determine whether a student is applicable during an admission process. Admission is a crucial step to being accepted into an elite college or major university. There are a few ways which the admissions process can take place, and the legacy admission is one to name out of the few. Many controversial issues have arisen through out the past few years, stating that this type of selection is not fair to other students who do not qualify under the legacy status. It is unethical to choose a student for superior reasons, because it is not fair to other students who are not of superior status, but deserve to attend a school.

Legacy admission is the process in which a student is admitted because of a wealthy, educated, or important relative or close friend; who once attended a certain university in which that particular student has applied to. The Economist in “_The Curse of Nepotism_” describes legacy admission as “using admission systems as tools of alumni managementвЂ"let alone fundraising” (Economist 366), while Lowell and Turner in the “_The History of Legacy Admissions_” describe it as “the son or daughter of an alumnus or alumna” (Turner 375). Legacy admissions have been present for a number of years, and continue to be used through out many major universities today. Legacy admission is most commonly seen amongst Ivy League and elite schools across the nation. In the 1920’s institutions like Yale, Harvard, and Princeton formalized their policies that favored children of alumni in order to appease graduate fathers (Turner 375). During the earlier years of this practice schools admitted, “All alumni students who could demonstrate a minimum level of ability” (Turner 375), but now the constant debate of whether this is ethical or not has led to a decline in students being admitted this way.

Although many see it is unethical to accept students into school based off of alumni and the money they can contribute to the school, some feel that admitting students through a legacy does have a positive aspect on admission and to the university. Schulman in “_May the Best Man or Woman Win_” states that the reason many people are willing to defend legacy admission is because they “ensure the financial continuity of the institution” (Schulman 368). With an ensured financial flow institutions will be able to keep the school running through the ability to provide students with an effective and beneficial learning experience. Not only does it give opportunity for a good education to students, it also creates a leeway for new and remodeled buildings to be designed and used. Universities who value legacy admission believe in their alumni to compensate for most of the institutions possessions. Because alumni are the beneficiaries to the school, institutions believe it is crucial to use legacy admission for the sole purpose of the school. Robert DeKoven conveys that the reason schools defend students being admitted through legacy action is because, “legacy practice builds loyalty” (DeKoven 372). With loyal students, alumni are more likely to contribute their money and time, which institutions want and heavily rely on.

Legacy acceptance faces many negative problems and conflicts. Many feel it is unethical, because it neglects students who deserve to attend an elite school with focusing on students who are well off and have alumni parents. Deserving students may be declined an acceptance, but children of alumni who may be less deserving are admitted into the school. In “_Time to Bury the Legacy_” Robert DeKoven points out that George W. applied to Yale with “a C average from high school and a 566 SAT verbal score” (DeKoven 373), but since his father was a legacy he was accepted while others who received higher credentials were rejected. Just because his father was an alumni and a legacy to the institute and country, students who were well prepared and more suitable for Yale did not get admitted into the college. Not only does DeKoven prove this issue, but Mark Megalli touches bases with the subject. He compares the rate of non- legacies with legacies in which his studies concluded that “legacy applicants would be about 200 fewer accepted” (Megalli 379). His studies contribute to what most students who are not of legacy or alumni fear, because they are not being accepted at the same rate even though they are more applicable.

Admitting students through Alumni and legacy is unethical because students are not being admitted