How does legacy work?

[believe <3]

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If an applicant gets engaged or married to a medical student at a very top school (think Harvard, JHU, Stanford), can that applicant claim legacy to said school? And does legacy have to be noted at the time of AMCAS submission?

What if the applicant gets married during their app cycle? Is it worth to send an update letter to the top school explaining the recent wedding and stating interest in being with the SO at the same med school? I'm not sure if this would increase the applicant's competitiveness or not…

And…last question: What if the person you are engaged or married to is a resident at the top school's hospital? Does it work the same way?

 

[md-2020]

All of these will have a very very minimal impact on your overall chances. I also don't think they'd count as legacy.

 

[bunchesonothing]

Wouldn't legacy imply multi-generational familial connection to the school?

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Legacy doesn't really apply to medical school. May apply to residency.

 

[Goro]

I don't know about residency, but legacy definitely applies to medical school admissions.

At my school, I personally have interviewed the child of a potential donor, and siblings of current or past students.

As mentioned in a different thread, other medical schools like children of alumni.

Legacy doesn't really apply to medical school. May apply to residency.

 

[MDmichelle]

from my understanding of "legacy" it only means one (or both) of your parents attended that medical school

 

[believe <3]

I don't know about residency, but legacy definitely applies to medical school admissions.

At my school, I personally have interviewed the child of a potential donor, and siblings of current or past students.

As mentioned in a different thread, other medical schools like children of alumni.

So does this legacy extend to married or soon-to-be married couples?

 

[gyngyn]

So does this legacy extend to married or soon-to-be married couples?

A medical student might reasonably meet with the admissions dean regarding their beloved's application. Depending on the school and the candidate's qualifications any number of outcomes is possible. An otherwise well-qualified partner may rise within the interview stratum to which they are assigned.

 

[believe <3]

A medical student might reasonably meet with the admissions dean regarding their beloved's application. Depending on the school and the candidate's qualifications any number of outcomes is possible. An otherwise well-qualified partner may rise in the interview stratum to which they would have been assigned.

Okay, thanks! Now, what if that medical student took part in admissions with other adcoms? Can they still talk to the dean about their SO's app and would this have more or less basis?

If their SO was applying that cycle, would the student be asked to step down from the team to avoid any bias?

 

[gyngyn]

Okay, thanks! Now, what if that medical student took part in admissions with other adcoms? Can they still talk to the dean about their SO's app and would this have more or less basis?

If their SO was applying that cycle, would the student be asked to step down from the team to avoid any bias?

Any admissions committee member whose relative, protege or loved one is under consideration is required to recuse themself from discussion of that candidate. A meeting with the dean would be indicated for this reason alone.

 

[Mad Jack]

So does this legacy extend to married or soon-to-be married couples?

That isn't what a "legacy" is. That just indicates you have ties. Legacy is a multigenerational family presence within a school. Your wife isn't your family, she's your wife. Her child would be a legacy applicant. You would just be some guy that she married. Adcoms might or might not take that into consideration, depending on the school and the strength of your overall app.

 

[Goro]

We use the term a little lucretoosely at my school. Hence my example of the brother of the student who got an interview.

I use the term legacy to mean to mean anyone who gets an admissions boost by virtue Of nepotism or financial lucre.

That isn't what a "legacy" is. That just indicates you have ties. Legacy is a multigenerational family presence within a school. Your wife isn't your family, she's your wife. Her child would be a legacy applicant. You would just be some guy that she married. Adcoms might or might not take that into consideration, depending on the school and the strength of your overall app.

 

[Dr Tony T. Chopper]

There was just an NPR article about something similar. They claimed that legacy was used by the elite to disenfranchise low SES applicants from being in the big boys club. Some supposed physician also commented on legacy and amcas fees favoring the wealthy during the application process.