Legacy and First-Generation Applicants

What legacy status means in admissions

A "legacy applicant" is generally defined as someone whose parent attended the same college as an undergraduate — though some institutions extend the definition to include grandparents, siblings, or other relatives. The exact definition differs by school and should be verified on each institution's admissions pages.

Legacy preferences — meaning that legacy status is given some positive weight in an admissions decision — have historically existed at a number of private US colleges and universities. However, institutional policies on this vary widely, are subject to change, and have come under increased public discussion. Some colleges have publicly announced that they have ended or reduced legacy preferences in recent years. The only reliable way to know a specific college's current policy is to check its official admissions materials or Common Data Set.

How legacy is handled in practice

At institutions where legacy is a considered factor, it is one element in a holistic review process that weighs academic preparation, essays, recommendations, extracurricular involvement, and other factors together. Legacy status does not guarantee admission, and at highly selective institutions admission rates — for any category of applicant — are low.

For applicants who are legacy, it is generally appropriate to list this where the application asks for it (some Common App supplementals or school-specific sections ask about family alumni connections). For applicants who are not legacy, no disadvantage is created by the absence of this status — focus on the factors within your control.

What first-generation college student means

A first-generation college student is generally defined as someone whose parents did not complete a four-year college degree. Some institutions define it more broadly (neither parent attended any college) and some more narrowly. The definition used for admissions consideration or scholarship eligibility at a specific school should be verified on that school's official pages.

Many US colleges have dedicated support programs, scholarships, and advising specifically for first-generation students. These are designed to help students navigate processes — financial aid, campus resources, academic expectations — that may be less familiar to families without prior college experience. Check each college's official financial aid and student life pages for currently available resources.

First-generation status and admissions

First-generation status is treated as a positive contextual factor by many colleges — it provides context for an applicant's achievements and demonstrates resilience and initiative. In the Common Data Set Section C7, colleges indicate whether "first generation" is a factor in their admissions decisions and how much weight it carries.

In application materials, first-generation students can choose to address their background in the personal statement or additional information sections if it is relevant to their story — but there is no requirement to do so. The decision of whether and how to share this context is personal.

• Check whether the college lists "first generation" as a considered factor in its current Common Data Set (Section C7)
• Look for first-generation scholarship or grant programs on the college's official financial aid pages
• Look for first-generation student programs or advising offices listed on the official student services pages

Checking current policies

Both legacy and first-generation policies are subject to change — legacy preferences in particular have shifted at a number of institutions in recent years. Before drawing conclusions about any specific college, review its current official admissions pages, its most recent Common Data Set, and any official announcements about admissions policy changes. Do not rely on general statements about what "most colleges" do; institutional policies differ.