A legacy admission, or giving preference, with regard to the admission of children or relatives of alumni, donors, and other influential individuals, is one of many dirty little secrets of college admissions. Students who otherwise couldn't get in to some of the countries top private colleges and universities often call on friends and relatives, who are alumni association members, to take advantage of special admittance practices which have always been an unspoken practice of private schools of higher learning. Private colleges and universities have, virtually since the inception of this practice, have given “legacies” first preference when requests were made to their parents’ or grand-parents’ alma mata. But public colleges are thought to be exempt from that sort of manipulation. A study on the University of California shows that is not so. Approximately 215 annual inquiries were made on behalf of undergraduate applications by prominent individuals, of whom about 15 a year appeared to have received special treatment (Rodriguez, 1996). During the same time period analyzed, approximately 60 applicants may have or did receive preferential treatment as a result of inquiries or letters from prominent individuals (Rodriguez, 1996).
Many high-ranking administrators in admissions say that giving preference to legacy admissions is widespread and not only involves VIPs from within the school’s system but also VIPs from outside colleges and universities. Special treatment for VIPs is often under the disguise of special admissions or admissions by exemption; categories usually used for affirmative action, students with hardships or special talents like athletes. At the University of California, at the undergraduate level, the board or regents allows chancellors the freedom of admitting six percent of the newly enrolled freshmen and six percent of newly enrolled transfer students by exception. Students are certified as having a special hardship or special...