For a century, legacy admissions have been used to maintain a uniform body of white, wealthy students at elite institutions. They do so by favoring the admission of applicants related to a school’s alumni or faculty. In college admissions processes across the country, the advantage awarded to legacy applicants can be stark. Within the Harvard University Class of 2022, legacy applicants, who made up over 36% of the class, were admitted at an acceptance rate of five times those without legacy status. Nationwide, one publication put the value of applying with legacy as equivalent to an extra 160 points on the SAT. 

The importance of equity in college admissions is apparent now more than ever. In July of 2020, Tufts University recognized as much, making a commitment to identify and eradicate structural racism in five key areas, including the selection of its academic body. Yet over a year later, the majority of Tufts’ students are selected with the consideration of legacy as one of the factors affecting their admission. Aside from legacy policies’ explicit racism and classism, the reason they are particularly problematic at Tufts is because Tufts' student body is wealthier and whiter than its peer institutions. In 2017, the median family income of a Tufts student sat at $224,000, 8th highest in the nation. Data from admissions today show that Tufts’ student body (which includes Tufts’ most diverse incoming class) is 51% white, while only 5% black, and 8% Latino, making it less diverse than private institutions of similar prestige.

Despite these grim statistics, change is possible. Since the 2019 college admissions scandal, there have been sweeping calls across the country to reform college admissions, including the removal of legacy policies. In July, Colorado banned the consideration of legacy at all of its public universities, effective this coming admissions cycle. Here at Tufts, the School of Medicine announced in April that it would no longer ask about legacy on its application or provide special access for legacies.

We demand that the remainder of Tufts programs that inquire about or consider legacy status, including Undergraduate Admissions, the School of Veterinary Medicine, and the School of Dental Medicine* follow in these footsteps. We demand that they adhere to their stated commitments and values, and set an example for institutions across the country by ending this discriminatory policy once and for all.

*Tufts School of Dental Medicine did not respond to email or phone communications, leaving unclear if they inquire about or consider legacy status in their application.