Do You Have Any Relatives Who Attended...?

You will come across this question or something like it on most private school admissions applications forms. What's that all about? Well, if you attended St. Swithin's Prep, your son or daughter will be considered a legacy. A legacy is somebody whose close relative - father or mother, grandfather or grandmother, uncle or aunt, brother or sister - attended the school. Does that make a difference when you apply to St. Swithin's? Sure it does. Especially if you have all the things St. Swithin's is looking for anyway. The school already knows your family. Hopefully, that is a good recommendation.

Besides knowing you, the school also knows that legacies are good for fund raising. In these tough times with endowments listing seriously to the downside, encouraging families to give is critical. There aren't many things a father or a grandfather enjoys more than knowing his daughter or granddaughter will be attending his alma mater.

Here's my take on Legacy Admissions. I'd love to have your comments.