Why are you linking alumni donations with Legacy? They are irrespective of each other. Sure, many would presume that a small minority of the Alumni of our institution have become affluent through out their lives and have donated to Penn and therefore use their “pull” and legacy status to get their kids in her. But I know plenty of students who are not affluent but are legacy. So whats your point?

But more importantly your argument for “Less Legacy, More Minorities” is a hot topic on campus. Props for bringing it, but boo to you for your own ignorant beliefs. Legacy students are in no way related to minority students. Sure we should strive to be as diverse as possible, but STUDENTS SHOULD BE ADMITTED ON MERIT, not on their race. Race shouldn’t even appear on part of the application. We are admitting too many minorities over others just because of the color of their skin. We need major reform in our admissions process that is not based on race, but on one’s merit to attend Penn.

Natural selection and the natural progression of our society should reflect the admissions review of applications.

Why should we give special treatment to minorities? Sure, many minorities with great merit should be admitted, but I am glad Stetson left, we need reform in this area. Minorities’ admission decisions should not be given any special treatment like “alumni-donation” students (if thats what you want to call them).

Let nature take its path. Talk about your “minority” status or “legacy” status if you want in your essay where Penn REALLY can see what you are really about and have to offer. Don’t base it on some check mark that gives you some extra points with admissions. Many would agree that this “race” section on the app is in itself racist within itself.

A diverse campus will become diverse NATURALLY over time.

I’m not a legacy, but I am an Early Decision acceptee. And nobody has ever made a coherent argument why Early Decision is so “inherently unjust,” or “socio-economically biased.”

If it’s about financial aid, Penn is pretty generous with that, and not getting an affordable package is good grounds for breaking ED. If it’s about legacies getting extra consideration, I don’t see what’s wrong with giving people whose parents or grandparents went here a slight boost. Nepotistic? No, for reasons I’ve already said.

All Early Decision does is give an advantage to people who want to be at Penn…not quite sure what’s wrong with that.

40% of legacies get accepted. I think it’s safe to say that if your parents were bright, there’s a 40% chance you’re pretty bright too, no?

Sure, you can look at the statistics…or you can put two and two together. Almost all the legacies I know are pretty smart.