California Bans Legacy Admissions

What are legacy admissions?

Legacy admissions are a policy some colleges use where they give special consideration to applicants who have family members—typically parents or sometimes grandparents—who attended that same school. The idea is that alumni families have a historical connection with the school, and colleges hope that by admitting their kids, the family will continue supporting the school through donations or involvement.

As of September 2024, California private universities can no longer consider legacy or donor preferences in admissions. The law, Assembly Bill 1780, aims to make the admissions process more fair by focusing solely on merit rather than family connections or wealth. Supporters argue this will help level the playing field and ensure students get accepted based on their hard work and achievements. Public universities in California have already had similar rules in place since 1998. To learn more, visit www.ca.gov.