Does Will Murray's connection to Harvard help his college application chances?
So I recently learned that Will Murray, who's kind of known in a few academic circles, has ties to Harvard. Does anyone know if having a connection like that (whether it’s family or some sort of alumni status) actually gives an applicant a boost?
I’m a rising senior looking into my reach schools, and stuff like this just makes me wonder how much legacy or connections really matter. I don’t have any famous relatives, so I’m not sure if I’m at a big disadvantage. Just curious about how these relationships might influence admissions decisions, or if it’s just a rumor that connections make a difference.
If anyone has insights or personal stories that could help clear this up, I’d really appreciate it!
I’m a rising senior looking into my reach schools, and stuff like this just makes me wonder how much legacy or connections really matter. I don’t have any famous relatives, so I’m not sure if I’m at a big disadvantage. Just curious about how these relationships might influence admissions decisions, or if it’s just a rumor that connections make a difference.
If anyone has insights or personal stories that could help clear this up, I’d really appreciate it!
4 months ago
•
49 views
Luis Nario-Malberg
• 4 months ago
Advisor
Connections like legacy status (having a parent or sometimes a grandparent who attended) can provide a modest boost at some private colleges, including Harvard. For Harvard specifically, legacy applicants—especially those whose parents are alumni—stand out a bit more during the application review. However, this advantage is limited; legacy status is just one part of a very holistic review, and it doesn’t guarantee admission by any means.
Being well-known or having some distant or academic connection, like knowing a faculty member or being related to someone with a soft tie to Harvard, carries much less weight unless the connection is significant (for example, if immediate family are major donors or serve a prominent role at the university). In most cases, unless someone is a direct legacy or has an unusually influential relationship with the institution (for example, a professor writing a personal endorsement or the applicant's family being major benefactors), the "connection" won’t meaningfully shift the outcome.
To put it in perspective: Harvard typically admits fewer than 30% of legacy applicants. That’s higher than the average admission rate, but being a legacy never guarantees a spot. As for applicants who don’t have these connections, it’s important to remember that the majority of every class is made up of non-legacy students. The primary factors are still your academic record, extracurriculars, essays, and recommendations.
For example, I know of a student who had no family or name connection to Harvard but stood out by launching a tutoring program that increased science scores district-wide in their city. Their unique impact in their community became a strong element of their application, which played a far bigger role in their admission than any kind of connection.
So while connections or legacy can help a bit, they're not a golden ticket. Focusing on telling your story and making a personal impact will matter far more. It's definitely not a requirement to have famous relatives or Ivy League connections to stand out in college admissions.
Being well-known or having some distant or academic connection, like knowing a faculty member or being related to someone with a soft tie to Harvard, carries much less weight unless the connection is significant (for example, if immediate family are major donors or serve a prominent role at the university). In most cases, unless someone is a direct legacy or has an unusually influential relationship with the institution (for example, a professor writing a personal endorsement or the applicant's family being major benefactors), the "connection" won’t meaningfully shift the outcome.
To put it in perspective: Harvard typically admits fewer than 30% of legacy applicants. That’s higher than the average admission rate, but being a legacy never guarantees a spot. As for applicants who don’t have these connections, it’s important to remember that the majority of every class is made up of non-legacy students. The primary factors are still your academic record, extracurriculars, essays, and recommendations.
For example, I know of a student who had no family or name connection to Harvard but stood out by launching a tutoring program that increased science scores district-wide in their city. Their unique impact in their community became a strong element of their application, which played a far bigger role in their admission than any kind of connection.
So while connections or legacy can help a bit, they're not a golden ticket. Focusing on telling your story and making a personal impact will matter far more. It's definitely not a requirement to have famous relatives or Ivy League connections to stand out in college admissions.
Luis Nario-Malberg
Mooresville, North Carolina
Harvard College, Class of 2018, A.B. in Philosophy
Experience
5 years