Vox Clamantis: Gone Too Far
By Caitlin Roberts
Published on Monday, April 28, 2008
To the Editor:
Regarding Brian Solomon's editorial ("A Corrupting Legacy," Apr. 24) I would like to voice my concern at the author's blanket view of legacies. In the article, unless I am very much mistaken, the author implies that the only thing a legacy student may offer Dartmouth is a "personal connection" with the college and wealthy parents -- that a legacy only arrives at Dartmouth with a mediocre record and a silver spoon in his or her mouth.
I am a legacy, and I literally spent my entire life pursuing acceptance to Dartmouth. I hated high school. For me, it was just a necessary, grueling four years to get into Dartmouth. And it was worth it. When I got in ED, it made me incredibly angry to hear my classmates say, "Oh, she's a legacy. That's why she got in."
I understand that legacy preference is a problem in college admissions, not just at Dartmouth. However, to imply that all legacies are wealthy wastes of space is offensive to me. I am confident that, even not knowing my connection to the school, Dartmouth would have considered my application seriously. My family did not get me into Dartmouth. I got here on my own.