A total of 145 of the 990 members of the Class of 2011 are carrying on a Friar family tradition as legacy students. That is, they have either a parent or a sibling who has graduated from or attends the College.

This figure represents an increase of 9.8% over the Class of 2010 and is the largest number in the last five years. While it isn’t clear what accounts for this growth beyond the continued increase in applications to PC, being a legacy student can play a role in a successful application to PC, said Christopher P. Lydon, associate vice president for admission and enrollment planning.

He explained that while the primary focus is on the strength and rigor of an applicant's high school education, other factors considered for admission to the College include an array of subjective information. These include choice of major; geography; cultural and racial background; socioeconomic background; musical, artistic, and athletic talent; and family tradition.

“None of these subjective factors can overcome an academic background that is not competitive for admission,” said Lydon. “However, among the thousands of candidates who have academic credentials that assure their success in the classroom, any of those subjective factors can ‘tip’ an application in a favorable way. So the family tradition can certainly be a help in the process.”

Legacy applications are important because they signify the existence of a strong relationship with a family, Lydon said. As a result, the Committee on Admission pays especially close attention to these candidates. By recognizing an existing family tradition and supporting the extension of the legacy, the College is strengthening a relationship that ideally continues through the entire cycle of life at PC—from application, admission, enrollment, retention, and graduation to alumni status.

Lydon added that students with a family tradition enroll at the College at a significantly higher rate than students without such a family tradition. While tradition doesn’t guarantee acceptance, it clearly indicates that the value of a PC education is communicated among family members. And this may play an important role in keeping the family tradition alive, he said.