Should Colleges and Universities Get Rid of Legacy Admissions?

Legacy admissions have come under scrutiny following the Supreme Court’s decision to ban affirmative action. Selective colleges provide preferential treatment to applicants with family ties to alumni, which has sparked debate on fairness.

A law has been passed in Virginia to end legacy admissions at public universities. The new legislation prohibits preferential treatment for applicants with connections to alumni or donors. The ban will impact selective public universities like the University of Virginia and William & Mary. Virginia Tech has already discontinued considering legacy status in admissions.

Virginia is the second state, after Colorado, to ban legacy admissions. Similar legislation is being considered in New York and Connecticut. Advocates of the ban hope this decision will encourage other states to follow suit and promote diversity in college admissions.

While there is growing support for ending legacy admissions, some remain in favor of preserving the practice and oppose the Virginia bill.