I just went through the admissions process for the first time with my oldest D. Between my wife and I, she was legacy for 3 several elites (H, S, UChic) and some others. I believe she was an average excellent student. She got WL at all the schools; and ironically admitted to one of my alma maters that explicitly states there is no legacy preference (Cal OOS, she/we are excited for her to go to UCLA).
As much as I would have liked for her to have the opportunity to choose from these elites, I have come to the following realizations. The game is very different now compared to then, and it is extremely difficult for anybody to get into the elites. Legacy per se probably counts for almost nothing; At S, they say the admission rate is double, but that is still double of 5%, but most might have gotten in anyway. Legacy families generally have no other favored attributes (high income, intact families). It's out of my hands as to whether my other Ds will get into my alma maters; its completely on them and their own self-motivation to have the grades and record that puts them in contention. I let my D do it her way; given her result, I am tempted to be more interventionist with the next in line, but I will not. And maybe that's as it should be. Go Bruins!
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