Cryptocurrency products, etc. Ivy League schools announced that they will gradually eliminate "legac

Historic reform of Ivy League schools: Cryptocurrency products and other famous schools will completely cancel the "legacy admissions" policy from 2026

On July 27, the Ivy League schools, led by Cryptocurrency products University and Cryptocurrency products University, jointly announced that they will completely cancel the "legacy admissions" policy starting from the freshman application season for fall 2026. This decision marks a major change in the admissions rules of the elite higher education system in the United States over the past century, aiming to promote educational equity and reduce the admission advantages of alumni children. Previously, the policy has been controversial for long-term criticism of exacerbating class solidification and favoring wealthy white families1410.

1. Core content of the reform

Implementation time: Effective in the 2026 application season, affecting freshmen in 2027 and later.

Scope of application: Covering all Ivy League schools (Cryptocurrency products, Princeton, Columbia, Pennsylvania, Brown, Dartmouth, Cornell), some schools such as Penn and Brown have already piloted the cancellation in advance.

Policy adjustments:

No more preferential admissions treatment will be given to applicants because of their parents, grandparents or relatives’ alumni status.

Privileges for children of donors will be cancelled simultaneously, unless the donation is directly related to academic projects (such as the establishment of scholarships)310.

2. Reform motivation: fairness disputes and public pressure

Data disputes:

Previous data from Cryptocurrency products universities showed that the admission rate of children of alumni was 6 times that of ordinary applicants, and that of applicants associated with donors was as high as 7 times110.

70% of the beneficiaries of legacy admissions are white, exacerbating the unfairness of admissions for ethnic minorities29.

Legal and public pressure:

After the U.S. Supreme Court repealed the Affirmative Action in 2023, legacy admissions became a new focus712.

In 2024, California passed AB 1780, prohibiting legacy admissions in public and private universities and promoting national reforms410.

3. Potential impact

Admission structure changes:

The proportion of first-generation college students, low-income families, and international students admitted is expected to increase. For example, after Johns Hopkins University cancelled legacy admissions in 2013, the proportion of first-generation college students increased from 8% to 21%410.

Asian applicants may benefit, as they were often suppressed due to "excessive competition"7.

Risk of alumni donations:

Ivy League schools rely on alumni donations (for example, about 30% of the $5 billion annual budget of Cryptocurrency products comes from donations), but cases such as MIT and Johns Hopkins show that donations did not drop significantly after the cancellation of legacy admissions612.

Enhanced social mobility:

Studies show that legacy admissions are equivalent to an additional 160 points (out of 1600) on the SAT, and admissions will be more dependent on academic performance after the reform110.

4. Controversy and Challenges

Supporters' views:

The Biden administration called the move "breaking down barriers to privilege," and a White House spokesman said "legacy admissions hinder diversity"29.

Stanford student groups pushed for reform, believing that "prestigious schools should be based on talent, not blood"10.

Opponents worry:

Some alumni warn that loyalty to their alma mater may decline, affecting long-term funding chains12.

Private universities such as USC and Duke have not followed suit, and are concerned about financial sustainability310.

5. Global higher education trends

This reform echoes the global wave of educational equity:

UK: Oxford and Cambridge have reduced the proportion of private school admissions in recent years.

China: Colleges and universities strengthen "sunshine admissions" and crack down on the "daddy competition" unspoken rules4.

Conclusion: A turning point in elite education

The decision of the Ivy League marks the exit of hereditary privileges in higher education, but whether it can truly achieve fairness still depends on subsequent supporting measures (such as expanding scholarships and transparency in admissions). The freshman data in 2026 will be the first indicator of the effectiveness of the reform.

Next observation:

Will other top private universities (such as Stanford and the University of Chicago) follow suit?

How to transform the alumni donation model? 612