Introduction to the Debate
As President Donald Trump attempts to reshape college admissions, he’s promising a new era of fairness, with an emphasis on merit and test scores and a blind eye toward diversity. Yet, his critics — and some allies — are questioning his silence on admissions policies that give applicants a boost because of their wealth or family ties. While he has pressed colleges to eliminate any possible consideration of a student’s race, he has made no mention of legacy admissions, an edge given to the children of alumni, or similar preferences for the relatives of donors.
The Issue of Legacy Admissions
President Donald Trump often rails against systems he describes as “rigged,” but he has overlooked a glaring instance in higher education, said Richard Kahlenberg, a researcher at the Progressive Policy Institute think tank who has written about admissions. “It’s hard to think of a more flagrant way in which the system is rigged than legacy preferences,” Kahlenberg said. “Rarely is a system of hereditary privilege so openly practiced without any sense of shame.” In recent weeks, Trump has taken several actions to scrub any vestiges of race from admissions decisions, suggesting that some schools are ignoring a 2023 Supreme Court decision striking down affirmative action.
Many Selective Colleges Consider Family Ties
Sometimes called “affirmative action for the rich,” the practice of legacy admissions remains widespread among elite colleges even as it faces mounting bipartisan opposition. Virginia’s Republican governor signed a bill last year barring legacy admissions at public institutions, following similar measures in Colorado, California, and elsewhere. Some Republicans in Congress have worked with Democrats on proposals to end it nationwide. Roughly 500 universities consider legacy status when evaluating applicants, including more than half of the nation’s 100 most selective U.S. schools, according to 2023 disclosures to the federal government. A few have abandoned the policy, but it remains in place at all eight Ivy League schools.
Stanford University said in July it will continue considering legacy status, even after a California law barred it at institutions that receive state financial aid. Stanford opted to withdraw from the state’s student financial aid program rather than end the practice. The university said it will replace the funding with internal money — even as it begins layoffs to close a $140 million budget deficit. Stanford officials declined to comment. Last year, as part of a state transparency law, the school reported that about 14% of its new students were relatives of alumni or donors.
A Push for Merit, but No Mention of Legacy Admissions
The executive action signed by Trump last week requires universities to turn over more information about students who apply to and are accepted to their campuses. Taxpayers “deserve confidence in the fairness and integrity” of decisions, his memorandum said, adding that more information is needed to ensure colleges are heeding the Supreme Court’s decision. A week earlier, the Justice Department issued a memo clarifying what it considers illegal discrimination in admissions. It takes issue not only with overt racial considerations but also “proxies” for race, including “geographic targeting” or personal essays asking about obstacles applicants have overcome. Similar language requiring “merit-based” admissions policies was included in the government’s resolutions with Brown and Columbia universities. None of the actions made any mention of legacy admissions.
Few Americans Support Legacy or Donor Preferences
Colleges defend the practice by saying it builds community and encourages families to become donors. Some backers say it increasingly helps nonwhite students as campuses become more diverse. Then-President Joe Biden, a Democrat, urged colleges to rethink legacy preferences in the wake of the Supreme Court decision, saying it expanded “privilege instead of opportunity.” Some feared it would drive up white enrollment as affirmative action ended. Georgetown University reviewed the policy but kept it in place this year after concluding the pool of legacy applicants had a similar makeup to the wider admissions pool. An AP-NORC poll in 2023 found that most Americans have a dim view of legacy and donor preferences, with few saying either should play a strong role in decisions.
Conclusion
Trump’s push for fairness in college admissions has been met with criticism for leaving out legacy preferences. The practice of giving an edge to the children of alumni or donors remains widespread among elite colleges, despite facing mounting bipartisan opposition. As the debate continues, it is essential to consider the impact of legacy admissions on the fairness and integrity of the college admissions process. By ignoring legacy admissions, Trump’s efforts to reshape college admissions may be seen as incomplete and unfair. The issue of legacy admissions is a complex one, and it is crucial to address it in any discussion of college admissions reform.
FAQs
Q: What is legacy admission?
A: Legacy admission is the practice of giving an edge to the children of alumni or donors in the college admissions process.
Q: Why is legacy admission considered unfair?
A: Legacy admission is considered unfair because it gives an advantage to students who are already privileged, rather than basing admissions decisions solely on merit.
Q: How widespread is legacy admission?
A: Roughly 500 universities consider legacy status when evaluating applicants, including more than half of the nation’s 100 most selective U.S. schools.
Q: Has Trump addressed legacy admission in his efforts to reshape college admissions?
A: No, Trump has not mentioned legacy admission in his efforts to reshape college admissions, despite criticism from his critics and some allies.
Q: What is the impact of legacy admission on diversity in college admissions?
A: The impact of legacy admission on diversity in college admissions is a topic of debate, with some arguing that it expands privilege instead of opportunity and others saying it increasingly helps nonwhite students as campuses become more diverse.
