Columbia University in New York City is one of the most famous schools in the Ivy League. They’re most known for the Columbia Core, which means students who want a true liberal arts education are probably drawn to this school like moths to a flame. But if you’re here, you’re not just drawn to the academics or culture or location, you’re drawn to it because you have a personal connection to the school.
While some schools have dropped legacy or seem to shy away from it, being a legacy still plays a role at Columbia. The key is knowing how to leverage your legacy status effectively. Let’s dive into what you can do to strengthen your application, stand out from other applicants, and maximize your chances of securing a spot at Columbia.
What’s up with Legacy Admissions?
Legacy admissions, like affirmative action, has become an increasingly debated topic in college admissions. Forbes reports that the number of schools considering legacy status has been cut in half over the past decade, and several states – including Colorado, California, Illinois, Maryland, and Virginia – have even implemented laws to limit or ban the practice.
Despite this shift, many prestigious universities still weigh legacy status in their decisions. Some, like Notre Dame, Duke, and Georgetown, care deeply about legacy, while others, such as Wesleyan, have scrapped it entirely. Columbia, like most Ivy League schools, keeps its approach to legacy admissions largely under wraps (as they do with most of their admissions data in general), but we’re here to help decode the mystery.
Columbia hasn’t published anything relating to their legacy acceptance rate. We know their acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was 3.85%, and online speculation puts their legacy acceptance rate between 5-8%. We think this is fair, maybe a little low – for similar schools that have shared their legacy data with the world, this is in line with what we’ve found.
Here’s what Columbia has to say about their legacy policy:
Does Columbia give preference in the admission process to applicants whose parents attended Columbia?
We are always pleased to receive applications from students whose family members have graduated from Columbia. When an applicant is competitive and compares favorably with other similarly talented candidates, being a "legacy" candidate may be considered as one positive factor among many through our holistic and contextual admissions process. A "legacy" candidate is defined as the child of a Columbia College or Columbia Engineering graduate.
We’ll be frank with you: the vast majority of legacy students don’t get into their parent’s alma mater. With an acceptance rate of less than 4%, it just wouldn’t make sense for a school that’s trying to build a dynamic incoming class. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck.
What Can You Do?
Students admitted to top schools like Columbia through legacy status still have to meet the same rigorous academic and extracurricular standards as everyone else. That means stellar grades, impressive test scores, and those unique, standout activities that make an applicant truly competitive. Legacy might give you a slight edge in a sea of qualified candidates, but it won’t save a lackluster application.
Grades
We work with legacy applicants every year, and the vast majority have flawless academic records. We’re talking 4.0s, unweighted. Legacy students often come from privileged backgrounds, which means you’re probably taking advantage of top private schools and tutors – and Columbia expects legacies who have this background to actually take advantage of it. To stand out, you must be earning top grades in the most challenging courses your school offers. There’s no way around it. Otherwise, how will you stand out from the 60k+ applicants Columbia sees every year?
Scores
Columbia is remaining test-optional, even though many of their counterparts are not. As a legacy student, you don’t want to give them any reason to deny you, so we strongly recommend submitting test scores with your application. And, just like with the grades, they will assume you have a background where you can access tutors – so that means the scores need to be perfect. For the Class of 2028, the middle 50% of students submitting scores were getting between a 1520-1560 on the SAT and a 34-36 on the ACT. For the Class of 2027, we know that 2/3rds of the enrolled class submitted scores:
Extracurriculars
Simply stacking up club memberships or leading a sports team isn’t enough to get into Columbia. You need to bring them a compelling, well-developed story. As a legacy applicant especially, a run-of-the-mill resume won’t cut it. If you say you're passionate about chemistry but have nothing to show for it outside of Chemistry Club and AP Chem, your claim won’t hold weight. We encourage legacy students to start early, ideally as early as freshman year, so we can help them build a track record of deep, hands-on involvement that proves their interests aren’t just talk. Columbia wants doers, not just joiners.
Apply Early
If Columbia is your top choice – especially as a legacy applicant – applying early is a must. Skipping early decision sends the message that you’re not fully committed, which can weaken any advantage legacy status might offer. It’s also just smarter in general – with a sub 4% acceptance rate, why not throw your hat into the ring during the round with a 15% acceptance rate?
The strongest way to prove that Columbia is where you truly want to be? Submit your application early and leave no doubt about your dedication.
Stay Involved
Parents, if you’re hoping to see your child carry on your Columbia legacy, it’s not just about their credentials – it’s about your engagement, too. The most successful legacy applicants have families who remain active in the university community. This can mean volunteering for alumni interviews, supporting fundraising initiatives, serving on advisory boards, or finding other meaningful ways to stay involved. If you want to maximize your child’s chances, let’s talk strategy and ensure you’re taking the right steps.
If you’re a Columbia legacy and truly committed to attending, your application needs to be outstanding. Strong grades, top test scores, and impressive extracurriculars are non-negotiable—you want to leave no room for doubt. Legacy status might give you a slight edge, but it won’t make up for a weak application. Your goal? Make it impossible for Columbia to say no.
If you need help crafting an application that helps you stand out among the crowd, reach out to us today. We can help.