‘Affirmative Action for the Rich.’ Legacy Students Confront Their Privilege | NYT Opinion

A lot of people have recently weighed in on legacy admissions, the preferential treatment given to the children of alumni in the college application process: President Biden. Members of Congress. Supreme Court justices. Officials at numerous colleges - some defending the practice, others calling to ditch it.
The Education Department even opened a civil rights investigation last month into Harvard University’s legacy admissions policy.
But what about the students who have benefited from the practice themselves, and were accepted by elite colleges in part because their parents are alumni?
In the Opinion Video above, five recent university graduates, all legacies, wrestle with the advantages they enjoyed in the college admissions process.
“It’s painful for me to think that all of my hard work in high school was so irrelevant compared to the fact that I was able to check the box that my dad went there,” a graduate of Brown University says. “There is a pretty natural human shame in admitting that you might not have earned something.”
Subscribe: bit.ly/U8Ys7n
More from The New York Times Video: nytimes.com/video
----------
Whether it's reporting on conflicts abroad and political divisions at home, or covering the latest style trends and scientific developments, New York Times video journalists provide a revealing and unforgettable view of the world. It's all the news that's fit to watch.

Пікірлер: 357

  • @tristansalvanera
    @tristansalvanera11 ай бұрын

    But the real question is: would the privileged give up their spot for someone who earned it? I think not. It’s easier to acknowledge and recognize when you’ve already benefitted.

  • @anenga

    @anenga

    11 ай бұрын

    These people just had their degrees not do anything, and are mad and want attention. They blame being fast tracked to a college that ended up not "being the one" for them, so they think that's the problem (not themselves).

  • @tristansalvanera

    @tristansalvanera

    11 ай бұрын

    @@anenga agreed; just another ally-ship performance. Perhaps if they lobbied or advocated for getting rid of legacy admissions and put some money and time/effort where their mouth is, then it could be seen as actually addressing the issue. But hey, are they really going to dismantle a system that benefits them? That’s like asking white people to give reparations

  • @calvin394

    @calvin394

    8 ай бұрын

    @@anenga Nope. They will continue to benefit from their name, university and wealth for the rest of their lives. Everyone in America knows that's how America works.

  • @nexii_vr

    @nexii_vr

    6 ай бұрын

    Stupid ultimatum. No one, not even in a public university would do such a thing. Not enough spaces for people either.

  • @swiftsights7342

    @swiftsights7342

    6 ай бұрын

    They would be stupid to pass it up. They didn’t pick themselves. If someone is willing to make that decision on your behalf, who are you to say, no? It’s obvious no one would

  • @reneem3895
    @reneem389511 ай бұрын

    Everyone was against affirmative action, but have never had any issue with legacy admissions. Just because their parent went to a certain school or can afford to make huge donations, doesn’t make their kids any smarter than anyone else.

  • @ssmfetti

    @ssmfetti

    11 ай бұрын

    In America, college is about money, not morality.

  • @reneem3895

    @reneem3895

    11 ай бұрын

    @@ssmfetti This is true.

  • @annetoronto5474

    @annetoronto5474

    11 ай бұрын

    Clearly these kids are dumb AF! They didn’t sound sincere.

  • @spikedpsycho2383

    @spikedpsycho2383

    11 ай бұрын

    Who cares. If a college wants to give a kid an enrollment because his family did, it's their perogative. Giving a person an admission, because you dub them functionally inferior to do so on their own, when statistics bear it out. Half all black college students drop out

  • @augustuspetrov7844

    @augustuspetrov7844

    11 ай бұрын

    strawman

  • @EnronnSierra
    @EnronnSierra11 ай бұрын

    I remember reading about this in Lisa Jobs (Steve Jobs daughters book). She didn't check any boxes, but when they saw her name on the application form, they took it to the back then came out with a big smile on their face. It wasn't because of her academic performance, but her connection to the Apple CEO at time. Pretty much, money on the brain, the thought of potential endowments because his daughter attended Harvard.

  • @mwl5

    @mwl5

    10 ай бұрын

    I mean, that's how the real world works in any area.

  • @Remiladesusansarah

    @Remiladesusansarah

    6 ай бұрын

    @@mwl5and that’s the problem lol

  • @joehfletcher

    @joehfletcher

    6 ай бұрын

    @@Remiladesusansarah That's human nature. People with power and wealth will always have advantages over those who don't. Do you think communist or socialist countries are any different?

  • @coldsphagett8910

    @coldsphagett8910

    6 ай бұрын

    @@joehfletcher you dont need to be a full on socialist/communist to have better policies to prevent these unfair advantages from happening

  • @ptyten9718
    @ptyten971811 ай бұрын

    It's sad that more rich kids aren't like this. Most of them never recognize their privilege.

  • @eateateat7118

    @eateateat7118

    11 ай бұрын

    Of course they recognizes it, they are not rich kids like In the movies. You know rich kids have NO duty or responsibility what so ever to speak up against anything their parents do. Harvard is a private school it’s not injustice just because our parents can’t afford the same level of education they get.

  • @b1rdbot510

    @b1rdbot510

    10 ай бұрын

    there's a difference beteween having a conscience and virtue signalling. No one needs to apologize for an injustice they never created. Yes, it was easier for them to get into Harvard, but by no means was it a mere walk in the park. Getting extra-curriculars and a 4.0 GPA is still very much a difficult requirement, till that happens you have no right to criticize someone else's hard work, even if the system is rigged.

  • @davy209

    @davy209

    4 ай бұрын

    @b1rdbot510- You’re not getting it. There are so many smart and hard working students out there who do meet all of the requirements (4.0 GPA and a high score on their SAT’s) but that still wouldn’t guarantee their college admissions, especially if they’re poor and their education came from a poorly funded public school. If all legacy students only have to worry about meeting the basic academic requirements to guarantee their college admission, don’t you see how much of an advantage that is? Any poor student trying to get into college would love to have that privilege!

  • @jacobthompson6265
    @jacobthompson626511 ай бұрын

    I got into University of Southern California and graduated. I’m a first generation college graduate. The admissions process and academic requirements were so difficult especially when you had to work to avoid being evicted. I did it by myself

  • @yesno4065

    @yesno4065

    6 ай бұрын

    Congratulations!

  • @rhodabaruch4
    @rhodabaruch48 ай бұрын

    As a Black person, I don't care about legacy student admission. Y'all are not the enemy. The enemy is those that are attacking the LITTLE we have with Affirmative Action, that we are not even the main benefiters of...

  • @jackjohnson4386

    @jackjohnson4386

    8 ай бұрын

    The "little" you got from affirmative action came at the cost of rejecting Asian Americans who worked hard their whole lives only to be wrongfully rejected from a school they deserved to get into. You may not care if you don't mind getting a handout, but affirmative action is a racist policy that has no place in modern society

  • @jackjohnson4386

    @jackjohnson4386

    7 ай бұрын

    @@joycevaughn5913 No, that's basic statistics which apparently you can't comprehend. The admitted black students don't deserve it. Their test scores, GPAs, and virtually every objective metric is lower.

  • @babyqueenxo

    @babyqueenxo

    7 ай бұрын

    Like what?? you were benefiting a "little" at the cost of a smaller minority (Asians) but instead of going after your bully you decided to see the smallest kids who stood up for themselves as the enemy?

  • @rhodabaruch4

    @rhodabaruch4

    7 ай бұрын

    No respect for what Black people have done for the price of their and their descendants' lives so that everyone can even have a #1 college to attend.

  • @jackjohnson4386

    @jackjohnson4386

    7 ай бұрын

    @@joycevaughn5913 You tried reading actual data yet?

  • @rockysage7760
    @rockysage776011 ай бұрын

    Props to these students for admitting their privilege. At least they're that self aware.

  • @ieva647
    @ieva64710 ай бұрын

    I think a lot of people have felt imposter syndrome in one aspect or another, but I never stopped to think that legacy students would feel imposter syndrome. Checking that box may have meant that this student got in over somebody else. It's a very conflicting and guilt-inducing experience.

  • @word42069
    @word4206911 ай бұрын

    Yeah this is nothing new to anyone familiar with highly ranked / ivy league schools. Even happens in elite prep-schools. Best part is that even if you don’t have “legacy”, for a nice donation you can get a meeting with the dean or head of admissions. Donate a library and you can ensure your descendants’ admissions as well!

  • @Pou1gie1

    @Pou1gie1

    11 ай бұрын

    I went to school with David Ellison and it was widely known at USC film that his billionaire dad gave the school 10 million so that he could get into USC film.

  • @Johnrl21
    @Johnrl2111 ай бұрын

    Money rules the world. If folks didn’t know it now, best time they learn.

  • @spencerhuang_
    @spencerhuang_11 ай бұрын

    Never thought that legacy people will ever have imposter syndrome. Very Interesting topic.

  • @reneem3895

    @reneem3895

    11 ай бұрын

    I think it’s because we usually see the ones that think they deserve all of the advantages vs people that feel some sort of guilt.

  • @dongysakura418

    @dongysakura418

    11 ай бұрын

    They do because they know people have worked hard and lost sleep to be where they are. Some of the don’t even want to go to those schools. They have to

  • @owtsideperspective3588

    @owtsideperspective3588

    24 күн бұрын

    Because the easier route is to always make minorities feel like they're the imposters

  • @Mr.MBarrett
    @Mr.MBarrett11 ай бұрын

    Jay-Z's lyrics repeat in my head as I ponder the depths of "Legacy, legacy legacy." I must acknowledge my feelings of envy for such upbringings. I couldn't imagine having professional parents with doctorates passing down their knowledge and experience. My mother was a single parent who committed suicide when I was 11 years old. I never knew my father, so the majority of my life has been a solo expedition of curiosity and lessons through mistakes. I appreciate these individuals recognizing and acknowledging both the legacy privileges within their families and within Ivy League institutions. Many affluent individuals lack the humility, understanding, and care for those with humble beginnings and complicated stories in life. It feels like a step in the right direction when we aren't simply insisting that people "pull themselves up by their bootstraps," in addition, acknowledging that context matters in regard to educational opportunities. The younger generations give me hope that the future can be a more perfect union for all in this country.

  • @jauntily
    @jauntily11 ай бұрын

    Has anyone investigated legacy admissions and/or nepotism in the US military too? For instance, the late Senator John McCain came from a Navy family, was admitted to the US Naval Academy and got on the coveted naval aviator career trajectory. The US military seems to proclaim that it's a meritocracy but maybe not so much? Or maybe it's more that military families pass on a willingness to serve in the armed forces to their children. And they know how to navigate the bureaucracy to get the better assignments.

  • @GeeBee212

    @GeeBee212

    11 ай бұрын

    McCain ironically wasthe presidential candidate who was not born in the US (unlike his opponent Obama who was!) McCainwas born in the Panama Canal zone while his father served in the US Navy as an Admiral. Of course legacy and familiarity got McCain into the Naval Academy where he graduated 894th in a class of 899. He later showed his mettle when he served in combat during Viet Nam. His plane was shot down and he was taken as a POW. Others like the 45th US president, lied about heel spurs to shirk his duty to serve.

  • @MrHotrodcharlie
    @MrHotrodcharlie11 ай бұрын

    Oh poor you...now that you've already benefitted from it...hypocrisy has its own reflection.

  • @jamessmith7909
    @jamessmith790911 ай бұрын

    I would be filled with pride that my child, even though they benefited from program, have the self-awareness, honesty and courage to acknowledge and speak out on the inherent unfairness of admin policy. WELL DONE.

  • @robertafierro5592

    @robertafierro5592

    11 ай бұрын

    That's exactly what I just said! As a matter of fact these kids have one thing in common. Integrity. Their consience bothers them. Their parents did something right!

  • @jamessmith7909

    @jamessmith7909

    11 ай бұрын

    @@robertafierro5592 I agree with most of your sentiments. Young adult's views often vary from those of their parents, ironically generally resulting in positive change for World. However, humans tend to forget easily, so same mistakes are made over and over again. I'm more comfortable saying these youths have integrity and hopefully their parents played a part in that.

  • @nicholetaimi5331

    @nicholetaimi5331

    10 ай бұрын

    Hilarious.@@robertafierro5592

  • @wuguay5526

    @wuguay5526

    7 ай бұрын

    @@jamessmith7909these youths may have “integrity”, but once they are in the real world, where they are faced with complex decisions, where they find two competing /opposing but equally valid positions, that they start to flounder. Let’s wait and see how these youths feel 10 years from now. Hope they interview the same people then.

  • @MHren

    @MHren

    6 ай бұрын

    wouldn't it have been more honorable if they had rejected the admission offer or just not check the box. this is EASY what consequence do they get. They get to play victims AFTER they BENEFITED and then they are CELEBRATED for doing nothing. ACTIONS speak louder than meaningless words

  • @khakisuitANDting
    @khakisuitANDting8 ай бұрын

    "Remove the check box - but not before I get a chance to check it" - 😂 Classic

  • @ziyu8061

    @ziyu8061

    2 ай бұрын

    They are making their kids less likely to go to those Uni, they will pay the cost, it's not hypocrisy

  • @Supreme-gu1jz
    @Supreme-gu1jz11 ай бұрын

    Man great students really. However these students speaking out is probably a small fraction of the legacy admission population. Most kids who benefit from this probably know they have an advantage and have no quams with it. Still thumbs up 👍 for these brave students for starting the conversation.

  • @imagydmusic1129

    @imagydmusic1129

    11 ай бұрын

    Jared kushner

  • @O_Canada

    @O_Canada

    11 ай бұрын

    Note they only have "qualms" after they graduate. They were more than happy to take advantage of their backgrounds while there was something to be gained.

  • @carbine090909

    @carbine090909

    11 ай бұрын

    ​@@O_Canadaoh come on, give them a break. I'd check the box. It's too tempting at that stage, 17 and 18 years old. They're begging them to get rid of the box because it IS too tempting .

  • @lim4275

    @lim4275

    11 ай бұрын

    @@carbine090909 They might get rid of the box, but people from prominent families will still have a leg up, because the admissions office will recognize their names. I have read several times that one of the Kennedys applied to Harvard by writing his name on the application and nothing else. I don’t know if it’s true or not, but it seems plausible to me.

  • @ronjaj.addams-ramstedt1023

    @ronjaj.addams-ramstedt1023

    11 ай бұрын

    ​@@lim4275 , what is your practical suggestion?

  • @YogeshJhala-du8xg
    @YogeshJhala-du8xg11 ай бұрын

    Very strange that in this era this is going on in the USA. Is there no importance of merit? Appreciate the children who spoke against it.

  • @JusdoinstuF

    @JusdoinstuF

    11 ай бұрын

    merit is an excuse to deny poor and brown people.

  • @jm2307

    @jm2307

    11 ай бұрын

    There’s only the perception of merit. Stereotyping is a hallmark of American culture. People assume that certain people deserve to be where they are because of what they look like rather than who they actually are. And if you dare to challenge those notions in any way that disrupts the cozy status quo, you’re ostracized or worse.

  • @Sece1

    @Sece1

    11 ай бұрын

    Good morning after the supper. Have you seen death poets’ society the movie?

  • @YogeshJhala-du8xg

    @YogeshJhala-du8xg

    11 ай бұрын

    @@Sece1 No

  • @Ek0

    @Ek0

    11 ай бұрын

    Its not strange. Corruption is very much drafted into the framework of our systems. Congress stock trading etc.

  • @bombaytalkie.
    @bombaytalkie.11 ай бұрын

    Why would the NYT choose so many people of color for this video?

  • @Catoo.

    @Catoo.

    11 ай бұрын

    That was my first question and the second was why to check the box or apply to the same university your parent(s) went, if you are against it?

  • @emmafath4287
    @emmafath428711 ай бұрын

    I also have parents who went to Ivy League institutions. In some funny way, I actually didn’t apply to the universities they attended because I had a fear of not getting in, but may also the fear of feeling unworthy was also there.

  • @KleWdSide
    @KleWdSide11 ай бұрын

    Man, I'm sure the less fortunate feel so much better now after watching this video 🤣

  • @fredrik1164
    @fredrik116411 ай бұрын

    I am so glad I live in a country where academic results actually matter in the selection, not your personality type or association work done before

  • @zoeman7720
    @zoeman77206 ай бұрын

    affirmative action for the rich but rich people were complaining that poor POC were only getting in because they were POC

  • @jackjohnson4386

    @jackjohnson4386

    6 ай бұрын

    +zoeman7720 Let's be clear about who you're referring to by "poor POCs". These are overwhelmingly black and Hispanic students. Generally speaking, most Asian Americans, including ones from poor families, have been very opposed to affirmative action. I make that distinction because we need to be very clear that affirmative action wasn't a rich vs. poor issue. It was a race issue. And the supreme court decided correctly since it was a racist policy.

  • @Mark12434

    @Mark12434

    3 ай бұрын

    @@jackjohnson4386 East Asians don't count as POC they are white adjacent and always have been for quite a while.

  • @carbine090909
    @carbine09090911 ай бұрын

    lol, I'd check the box. It's too tempting, especially at that stage in life. Yeah, get rid of it. If you can't have it at the bottom, you shouldn't have it at the top.

  • @MHren
    @MHren6 ай бұрын

    it would have been more honorable if they had rejected the admission offer or just not check the box. this is EASY what consequence do they get. They get to play victims AFTER they BENEFITED and then they are CELEBRATED for doing nothing. ACTIONS speak louder than meaningless words

  • @koshakuguides9863
    @koshakuguides98634 ай бұрын

    Why should everyone pay tax money to a college institution that doesn't give everyone the same opportunity??

  • @KushChakraborty1
    @KushChakraborty111 ай бұрын

    Glad NYT finally published this. Just curious why NYT published this only AFTER the affirmative action was overruled. Like somehow legacy conscious admissions weren't terrible as long as race conscious admissions was allowed? It's high time people admit race conscious admissions were a cover for legacy and athletics conscious admissions which let privileged kids into these institutions. [Don't presume NYT would publishing be stats about how many of NYT staff themselves are legacy anytime soon though]

  • @SF2036

    @SF2036

    11 ай бұрын

    They care about the common good. Back when I scrubbed toilets at a Vermont coffee house they would go out of their way to let me know if they’d left a fecal painting in one or two of the stalls. One very talented gentleman did a replica of the Sistine Chapel on the ceiling.

  • @PhrontDoor

    @PhrontDoor

    11 ай бұрын

    They'd covered legacy admissions pretty much every fall, for years.

  • @maxtremolo4220

    @maxtremolo4220

    11 ай бұрын

    NYT editorial board only came out against legacy admissions in 2019, so fairly late in the game. If you really want to know the deep nitty gritty on how much Harvard prefers rich kids, both legacy, big donors and those who don’t need financial aid, go read Peter Arcidiacono’s briefs for SFFA and his rebuttal to Harvard’s expert, David Card. All I can say is, be prepared-the preferences for these special groups are so deep, it’s in Harvard’s DNA.

  • @dongysakura418

    @dongysakura418

    11 ай бұрын

    @@PhrontDoorlol that commentor was ridiculous

  • @kaleb51

    @kaleb51

    11 ай бұрын

    @@PhrontDoor It just sucks people focused on race conscious admissions instead of the way bigger problem

  • @az55544
    @az5554411 ай бұрын

    Hypocritical? Hypocritical is you attending and finishing your degree THEN closing the door. Keep the cash funds going and work to give a hand up.

  • @babybopkidsrock5713
    @babybopkidsrock571311 ай бұрын

    And how many continued until graduation? Yeah your privilege may make you feel guilty but understanding that makes you understand that is how the world always worked. Glad you had a great opportunity. Use it for more good like this.

  • @Catoo.
    @Catoo.11 ай бұрын

    This documentary came across as phony. In the US, there are numerous Ivy league schools, why would someone choose to apply to the one their parents attended, where they're already assured admission, if that wasn’t one of the reasons they applied?

  • @dustinoverbeck
    @dustinoverbeck11 ай бұрын

    These people are good actors.

  • @Catoo.

    @Catoo.

    11 ай бұрын

    I wouldn’t say so, the sadness wasn’t very believable 🙂

  • @yanikkunitsin1466
    @yanikkunitsin146611 ай бұрын

    Ritch kids devaluing ritch kids? Shocking.

  • @JWEATHERSBY
    @JWEATHERSBY11 ай бұрын

    I applaud the spirit behind this... But... I have to admit it felt a little awkward to watch/hear.

  • @v.emiltheii-nd.8094
    @v.emiltheii-nd.809411 ай бұрын

    Elitism. The constant evergoing conundrum.

  • @Muhdah1972
    @Muhdah197211 ай бұрын

    Okay but did they have the grades? This gives the impression that they didn't but were able to get admission due to their legacy status.

  • @CristinaRodriguez-wl2mm
    @CristinaRodriguez-wl2mm7 ай бұрын

    Of course the rich privilige exists. It's called "perpetuating the rich class" and not giving opportunities to the people who are more intelligent but they cant afford it. The world is like this and it will not change that. Welcome to empowering the gap class! This is the society, we live in.

  • @alegrecastillo
    @alegrecastillo11 ай бұрын

    I'm so disgusted, 😠 don't even know where to start? It's nauseating how school's that hold so many things in such high esteem would wallow in the gutter when it came to real IQ for prestiges administration, mind blowing???🤨🤔🤦

  • @jm2307

    @jm2307

    11 ай бұрын

    Because it’s all smoke and mirrors, fueled by big checks

  • @brianmartin4035
    @brianmartin40359 ай бұрын

    Nice to see their recognition and honesty about a terrible practice. But at the end of the day, all of these kids could fail out of whatever IVY they got into, and they would still be fine, because their families' are wealthy. But what about poor kids who got in because of a "check box"? If they feel like they don't belong, and fail out, what happens to them?

  • @UseURHead
    @UseURHead6 ай бұрын

    …and yet, they chose to go to a school their parents went…

  • @cpklapper
    @cpklapper11 ай бұрын

    My Dad was a debtor whose WWII Army CWS service in New Guinea subjected him to defoliant carcinogens. Nonetheless, he taught me algebra when I was 3 years old, and consider that his legacy for me, rather than his war-interrupted degree at Lehigh University. It has also made it clear that my schooling was more a benefit to the schools than it was for me.

  • @ssmfetti
    @ssmfetti11 ай бұрын

    They fake this sadness yet gladly attended class upon being accepted‼️🤣 3/15 rate of acceptance to regular colleges yet accepted into Ivy League? Okay. 🫡

  • @LeoPard-HQ
    @LeoPard-HQ11 ай бұрын

    And guess what their kids will be a legacy students just like them.

  • @volkerengels5298
    @volkerengels529811 ай бұрын

    People form castes when they gather in groups. When "money" is the distinguished caste symbol - something fundamental changes. The top of the pyramid grows towards the sky. You get the point: the noble classes are finite by definition - billionaires have (unbounded) growth rates. Personal wealth grows - so does the number of members. "Is this sustainable?" ....waiting for AI³ coming up with the answer.

  • @thenightcorereaper
    @thenightcorereaper11 ай бұрын

    Am i the only one who finds this laughable? why are they complaining? Some people will always be privilaged so take advantage of it.

  • @jerrymemes2207
    @jerrymemes22076 ай бұрын

    Ivy leauge schools have the goal of making its students succeed. Being able to say that this one famous, rich, athletic, or smart person graduated from this school is the end goal of ivy leagues (and hopefully that person donates a lot of money later). Ivy league schools ensure that its students succeed through connections and name recognition. Because the degree you get at Harvard and the degree you get at your local community college taught you the same exact things. The only difference is that the person from Harvard has a friend who knows a guy who has a nice comfy job opening and legacy is how these school ensure that you can make these connections. its not fair for everyone but it is why ivy league schools have the reputation that they do.

  • @TheNumber1Whorelord
    @TheNumber1Whorelord5 ай бұрын

    You can’t speak up for something after you benefit from it

  • @Jokani1
    @Jokani17 ай бұрын

    Next time, dont check the "legacy" box

  • @Dragonfu666
    @Dragonfu66611 ай бұрын

    I think everyone is missing the point, they used it THEN THEY'RE SAYING, "NOW REMOVE IT." Like bruh, you guys used it.

  • @roolyfe
    @roolyfe10 ай бұрын

    Legacy 💰 or smart 🧠 that’s how you get into Ivy League school 🏫

  • @treytoomuch
    @treytoomuch11 ай бұрын

    Thing is…THIS HAPPENS IN EVERY INDUSTRY!!! my dad is a top exec at a tech company and I’m getting into the industry with the same degree as everyone else….OF COURSE I have more opportunity to get a job because of my relation….stop crying you babies

  • @kcochran5700
    @kcochran57006 ай бұрын

    Why not make the most of your opportunity? Your parent(s) paved the way.

  • @user-ll9ro1rh7m
    @user-ll9ro1rh7m10 ай бұрын

    Are there colombian legacy students in Harvard, Yale or another important private university?

  • @garyjsimm
    @garyjsimm11 ай бұрын

    You didnt have to check the box

  • @andrewsmith3613
    @andrewsmith36136 ай бұрын

    What a bunch of sad sacks. Legacy admissions make great financial sense for these schools and they are private institutions, so free to choose who they admit. If they are opposed to the legacy admission process, they can forbid their children from applying to the same school they attended.

  • @lokimsjrrd3451

    @lokimsjrrd3451

    3 ай бұрын

    Legacy admissions is a non-merit process for gaining admission to top schools. They steal spots from qualified students through bribery. If you oppose AA but not LA, you are a hypocrite.

  • @TheRepty818
    @TheRepty81810 ай бұрын

    Yet, no one is trying to end this in the supreme court.

  • @mdiesel23

    @mdiesel23

    6 ай бұрын

    Why does the Supreme Court need to end it? The colleges can very well not use it as a criteria since they're so progressive and stand on a moral high ground? 😂

  • @TheRepty818

    @TheRepty818

    6 ай бұрын

    @@mdiesel23 Because the Supreme Court recently ruled to end Affirmative Action for people of color. So they felt it important to stop poor minorities from getting into colleges but felt that it's fine that wealthy people get grandfathered in.

  • @mdiesel23

    @mdiesel23

    6 ай бұрын

    @@TheRepty818 ? Has nothing to do with the Supreme Court. They will only rule on the issue before them. It is in the power of the colleges though. They can remove that check box today on the college application. It's likely a PDF file.

  • @TheRepty818

    @TheRepty818

    6 ай бұрын

    @@mdiesel23 Don't know if you read the news much, but the Supreme court ruled during a case broug by Edward Blum to end affirmative action for people of color. Then Blum openly said he had no issue with affirmative action for the wealthy and people being grandfathered in. So again, if you look at my original comment. When I said no one is trying to end this in the supreme court, I'm specifically talking about Blum and his firm. BTW if you're wondering what else he's been up to he's the one who got the voting rights act struck down in the Supreme Court, and now he's going after charities that specifically help marginalized groups. The dude is a white nationalist, and he's succeeding, using the Supreme court as a hammer to knock down any opportunities offered to marginalized people.

  • @mdiesel23

    @mdiesel23

    6 ай бұрын

    @TheRepty818 there's another lawsuit for legacy admissions. I only read the headline so I am not sure where the case is at the moment. Likely in a Superior Court somewhere.

  • @user-sn2oq4qt7b
    @user-sn2oq4qt7b6 ай бұрын

    Their probably ashamed of themselves because obviously the most succesfull people in the world dont even go to college or university and they think well what about me i am from harvard yale mit blag blah blah

  • @tattooedbeasty3567
    @tattooedbeasty356711 ай бұрын

    It’s not privilege it’s entitlement.

  • @conor2439
    @conor243911 ай бұрын

    I went to a very well regarded community college in Boston and there's no way i would have been able to get in if my Dad hadn't gone there and made such large endowment donation. I'm very conflicted by this.

  • @CameronS437
    @CameronS43711 ай бұрын

    You poor things!!!!

  • @denise3885
    @denise388511 ай бұрын

    Everyone check the ☑️

  • @chrissiec2123
    @chrissiec21235 ай бұрын

    I’m unimpressed by individuals who want to discuss certain privileges they feel are immoral after having benefited from it. I feel this way even moreso in this case because except in the case of academic misconduct, an educational institution cannot “take back” your degree and there’s no formal process for voluntarily giving up your degree. So, you can’t say, “Oopsies, I feel bad that I benefited in ways others were unable to” and return your degree. Once you benefited there’s no turning back. What’s done is done.

  • @arangelrb
    @arangelrb11 ай бұрын

    brave kids , recognizing your privilege is important

  • @ginyilee6538
    @ginyilee653811 ай бұрын

    without legacy, these ivy leagues could not fund their college. it`s all about money. if you want the top talent in your uni, u need money. simple math

  • @jackmiddleton2080

    @jackmiddleton2080

    10 ай бұрын

    I think Harvard has an insane stockpile of money. They don't remotely need money for anything. But more is always better.

  • @brianyu7333

    @brianyu7333

    3 ай бұрын

    Every single top college has over 10 billion dollars in endowment, for some like Harvard that's 50 billion. They could literally waive tuition for every student and barely feel any hit to their bottom line. They could easily afford to remove legacy preferences. They could admit twice as many students as they currently do if they wanted. it's just that the exclusivity, low acceptance rates, and the selectivity is the whole point. You don't know what you're talking about.

  • @d46512
    @d4651211 ай бұрын

    I had no idea this was a thing. What about alumni donations from the applicant's parents?

  • @lim4275

    @lim4275

    11 ай бұрын

    Tony Kushner, Jared Kushner’s father, donated 2.5 million dollars to Harvard when Jared was a junior in high school. He didn’t have the grades or the test scores to get admitted on his own merit, although he did do well at Harvard once he got there. It’s funny how wealthy people will say that everything is a meritocracy when they know it’s not true. (Jared’s father was not a Harvard alumnus. He attended NYU. Jared also attended the NYU School of Law after graduating from Harvard.)

  • @highlyfavored2434

    @highlyfavored2434

    10 ай бұрын

    My guess is if the parents donate a million dollars or more then yes

  • @madzen112
    @madzen11211 ай бұрын

    Try not checking that box

  • @lwyatt6264
    @lwyatt626411 ай бұрын

    Would like to hear from current students instead of just graduates. It's easy to argue against something after it is already over. These people already are done with college so there is no risk of them potentially being reprimanded for speaking out. Not saying that these people shouldn't be interviewed it just that is easy for them to go against legacy admissions.

  • @dongysakura418

    @dongysakura418

    11 ай бұрын

    And those students risk getting expelled? Even these graduates can be looked down by their alumni (who did the same exact thing)

  • @mdiesel23
    @mdiesel236 ай бұрын

    It's funny because these colleges can simply not use this as a criteria. It's as simple as change the application to not inclue that check box. It's a privilege granted by those colleges. Has nothing to do with the kids. If someone is offering you a practical gold ticket in life, it's idiotic to not take it.

  • @JAY-JAY74
    @JAY-JAY749 ай бұрын

    It’s a big club and if you ain’t rich, you ain’t in it.

  • @Cj239h
    @Cj239h11 ай бұрын

    Awesome video. More of this!!

  • @folumb
    @folumb5 ай бұрын

    I struggle a lot with this. I didn't go to any elite institutions through my education (I went to mid tier state schools for undergrad and grad school). I excel in my field in surgery where a large number of my colleagues did (both ivy league undergrad and grad school). My spouse is one of them. Even though I got to the same place as her with none of the advantages (still have debt from those mid tier state schools, went to a bad public highschool instead of private school), I don't think for a moment I'd have my future kids follow my educational path. Its way more likely they'd fail given the number of people I know from high school and college who didn't make it

  • @TanyaTsukrova
    @TanyaTsukrova11 ай бұрын

    Kudos for speaking out for what you believe in

  • @Kyarrix

    @Kyarrix

    11 ай бұрын

    They believe in it after they benefited. They all checked the box. They all got in through legacy admissions. Railing against it afterwards doesn't carry as much weight. It's good that they're speaking up, but each one of them benefited before they spoke up.

  • @ronjaj.addams-ramstedt1023

    @ronjaj.addams-ramstedt1023

    11 ай бұрын

    ​@Kyarrix , they realized it is wrong *even though* they benefitted. Of all the people that Harvard, Brown, Yale, etc. might listen to the universities can not say that these alumni don't understand the alleged benefits of legacy admissions. They do understand the benefits, viscerally and personally. They still think it's wrong. I can not imagine a stronger argument than that. (here in Finland, EU, we don't have legacy admission points to any universities, and I am glad we don't, as even without such systems, a person's educational "class" tends to resemble their parents')

  • @bacquetqge

    @bacquetqge

    11 ай бұрын

    @Kyarrix While it is true that this came after the back, it is also true that it is highly unlikely that they would have that awareness at 17 years old when they applied. They speak out now because they have gained insight into this issue, which shows, at least to me, thay they have grown up. I am a teacher and I don’t know many 17-year olds who are particularly aware if their privilege

  • @stigandersen3783

    @stigandersen3783

    7 ай бұрын

    @@ronjaj.addams-ramstedt1023Action speaks louder than words. They actively chose to steal a spot from someone hard working by checking the legacy admission. The fact that they speak against it shows that they are corrupt human beings who will throw aside their morals if it benefit themselves. The fact that you are impressed in a positive way makes you an equally scary human being.

  • @thehypetraveler8114
    @thehypetraveler81146 ай бұрын

    My uncle went to Columbia and my sister did not get even an INTERVIEW, even though she had legacy status.

  • @tindrums
    @tindrumsАй бұрын

    Unless the government is willing to make good alumii donations, they should keep out

  • @kirya11
    @kirya1111 ай бұрын

    Oh please every one of these people have graduated already and now they speak up about the unfairness of a legacy admission. They didnt have to check the box but they did. Hypocrites.

  • @stevemc1790
    @stevemc179011 ай бұрын

    I don't think we have this problem in Canada. We have other prbs like high-school grade inflation. With the marks I had I wouldn't get into uni easily today.

  • @Bea-3ice

    @Bea-3ice

    11 ай бұрын

    Can you elaborate on this?

  • @stevemc1790

    @stevemc1790

    11 ай бұрын

    @Bea-3ice we don't have private universities that cost a kings ransom to Attend. Marks are the currency to get into cad universities It's kind of a meritocracy but it leads to gradeflation without smartflation

  • @stevemc1790

    @stevemc1790

    11 ай бұрын

    Basically anyone who wants to go to university in Canada 🇨🇦 can. And more and more people are choosing to go but space is limited. This is driving up admission standards. So now a student has to have an average in the 90s possible even mid 90s!!!! So I guess high-school teachers are grading easier or something. So that the people who want to go can go. It's not z perfect system. Justin Trudeau is famous for getting into one of Canada's sought after universities because of who his dad was. But in general it seems to work. I think we get the same quality of education as the elitist private American universities.

  • @Kyarrix
    @Kyarrix11 ай бұрын

    And yet they all checked the box. Every single one of them checked the box. I'm glad they're speaking up now but it would be so much better if legacy students didn't check the box. They probably wouldn't have gotten in without it. I used my privilege but now I want to make sure that others don't do the same. What happens when it's time for your kids to apply and you want to ensure them a successful career? Will you tell them not to check the box? How will you explain to them that you did?

  • @marcya4428

    @marcya4428

    11 ай бұрын

    Why would they lie?

  • @marcya4428

    @marcya4428

    11 ай бұрын

    It shouldn’t be about the individual students choosing to give up an advantage they have. It’s about system reform.

  • @Kyarrix

    @Kyarrix

    11 ай бұрын

    @@marcya4428 Why would they "lie" about what? When you check the box indicating that you are a legacy student you do so with the knowledge that this will almost ensure that you are accepted because the university wants to continue to benefit financially from your family. If you feel very strongly that legacy admissions are wrong, and they are, have the courage of your convictions and refrain from taking advantage. They did not. They checked the box, got into ivy League schools that they probably would not otherwise have been accepted to. It isn't lying to refrain from taking advantage of unearned privilege.

  • @Kyarrix

    @Kyarrix

    11 ай бұрын

    @@marcya4428 I'm going to assume that you or someone you know is a legacy student. I got into Yale law school without being a legacy student. I decided not to go because it was too expensive. I went elsewhere and I'm glad that I did.

  • @Kyarrix

    @Kyarrix

    11 ай бұрын

    @@marcya4428 Yes, it should be about systemic reform but that does not negate the point that individual students, all of them, can decide to be ethical and refrain from checking the box. This is not an either or situation.

  • @Iam0ne1
    @Iam0ne111 ай бұрын

    Topical they first benefit then act like you care, why dont you act like that before you get yours.

  • @andya9050
    @andya905011 ай бұрын

    Don’t accept the invitation…hilarious…heck don’t attend college…

  • @robertafierro5592
    @robertafierro559211 ай бұрын

    That takes alot of sand to admit this..I admire all.the kids in this little film.

  • @Rilows
    @Rilows5 ай бұрын

    To everyone hating on these kids, keep in mind to "blame the rulebook, not the players" They did what everyone would have done, to check the box. It's the universities' fault, not these kids who benefitted from it.

  • @TheCarlScharnberg
    @TheCarlScharnberg11 ай бұрын

    I applaud these students for speaking up for what's right. It IS hypocritical that legacy admissions are still a thing, while affirmative action was taken away from minorities who'd need it.

  • @johnsnow145
    @johnsnow14511 ай бұрын

    What a joke, go cry to your student lender

  • @randy3588
    @randy35886 ай бұрын

    This is why those people in higher positions hate on people they didn't have that many Advantage but also sure Great Character and skill... they feel threatened they know the situation was really fair that that person will probably overtake them in success... this is also why America handicaps itself it really is not designed for the best to make it, it's designed for the privilege and the lucky to succeed.

  • @angneatb6036
    @angneatb60367 ай бұрын

    Just say it is classism and call it a day.

  • @stevenlaput9496
    @stevenlaput9496Ай бұрын

    quote, unquote…. “a foot in the door and so much more”

  • @O_Canada
    @O_Canada11 ай бұрын

    Oh yes the old ladder Pull, "once I've benefited from something I immediately want that benefit to end for anyone else who might compete with me and I'll pretend that instead of caring about competition ill care about morals"

  • @word42069

    @word42069

    11 ай бұрын

    so perpetuate the cycle? lol

  • @ronjaj.addams-ramstedt1023

    @ronjaj.addams-ramstedt1023

    11 ай бұрын

    The question is: should that ladder ever have been there? They have experienced the benefits personally yet say nay - if the universities would listen to anyone, they just might listen to these alumni. I'm not holding my breath, though.

  • @dylansteiner493
    @dylansteiner4935 ай бұрын

    I dont understand why people are mad at them be mad at the system not those born into it.

  • @brianwang8546
    @brianwang854611 ай бұрын

    They got in and want to shut the door behind them.

  • @taka-taktak
    @taka-taktak6 ай бұрын

    If the universities are govt funded, there'd be no legacy admissions like in European countries. These universities get big money from their parents which is why they enroll their kids.

  • @9879SigmundS
    @9879SigmundS11 ай бұрын

    Virtue signal much?

  • @worthlessendeavors
    @worthlessendeavors11 ай бұрын

    Cheers to showing humility among the wealthy in a fair way

  • @anenga
    @anenga11 ай бұрын

    Hey NYT, now do this video with the privlaged minority students who got in with actual affirmative action and the regrets there.

  • @mydogisbailey
    @mydogisbailey5 ай бұрын

    even the way they talk about this is so privileged and naive. "i felt insecure about my admission, so let's get rid of AA". not a single one of them addressed the fact that legacy families donate significantly more, which directly funds financial aid for poorer students. stop virtue signaling and think critically an holistically. As a non-legacy Ivy League graduate myself, I'm not pro AA, but I think there's more nuance than just yes or no.

  • @RM-xr8lq

    @RM-xr8lq

    5 ай бұрын

    richest country but needs alumni to donate for financial aid, at their wealthiest schools of all places... to learn things that should have been taught in their secondary school level education years ago.....

  • @lokimsjrrd3451

    @lokimsjrrd3451

    3 ай бұрын

    BS. The entire reason for removing AA was the assumption it was not a merit-based system. Neither is Legacy. You can't just remove the merit requirement because it has an outside benefit; AA had an outside benefit, but it was quickly ignored. You are just a hypocrite.

  • @elierry
    @elierry7 ай бұрын

    Well, well, Money and family background. It is said that self-activity is the key to education, but without money and a secure family background it is easily beyond a person's coping skills. Conversely, with money you create your environment according to your interests, you educate for education's sake, not just because you are supposed to have a degree from a public school that is more of a prison than anything else. People have different views on education because education simply exists in many shapes and contorted shapes unfortunately too.

  • @chocolatesugar4434
    @chocolatesugar443411 ай бұрын

    👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

  • @WatermelonSugar1209
    @WatermelonSugar12095 ай бұрын

    Good on these guys to Atleast admit and confront it.

  • @hyunhokim5912
    @hyunhokim59125 ай бұрын

    Just take what you got and enjoy your life

  • @Comm0ut
    @Comm0ut6 ай бұрын

    So what? The point of these schools is to GET MONEY FROM DONORS which catering to those donors facilitates. Life is competitive and to renounce advantage is silly and naive (unless your existing status makes that trivial). The point of striving for prosperity is the advantages it confers. The point of legacy admissions is the money it generates for all students.

  • @lokimsjrrd3451

    @lokimsjrrd3451

    3 ай бұрын

    aka you're a hypocrite.

  • @brianyu7333

    @brianyu7333

    3 ай бұрын

    Just because society is unfair doesn't mean we shouldn't try to make it better?

  • @camadams9149
    @camadams91494 ай бұрын

    Why exactly would I care about this? We all know they are privileged. This nonsense is about making them feel better. Seize their wealth and give opportunities to working class kids. No need for this "tearful" apologies. Materially change the situation

  • @NarrowedEyes09
    @NarrowedEyes0911 ай бұрын

    With proper education and good character, this is something that anyone should understand but don't always. These are good and smart kids to understand their position in society and the privledge they have. With power and privledge comes responsiblity. Good on them for taking it up.