🍦 Today's Scoops: California’s Crackdown on Legacy Admissions (Oct 4)

Good morning folks! Here’s what we have today:

1. Link Lounge Refresh

2. School of the Day: Johns Hopkins University

3. Friday News Focus: California’s Crackdown on Legacy Admissions

LINK LOUNGE REFRESH
New Resources & Scholarships!

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays we will be updating the Link Lounge section with links to great resources such as scholarships and tools during the college application process. You’ll find it at the top of your email on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and near the bottom during the rest of the week.

Davidson Scholars (NEW) - Support, resources, and scholarships for gifted and accomplished students under 18.

Wyzant (NEW) - High quality private tutoring for a reasonable price.

Robertson Scholars Program - Full-ride scholarship to Duke or UNC, if you get into either school

College Confidential - Anonymous data on college applications from other students

SCHOOL OF THE DAY
Johns Hopkins University

Every day, we cover a different school, helping you learn something new about your favorite schools or find a new school that could end up being your dream school.

📍 Location: Baltimore, MD
🎓 Undergraduates Enrolled: 6,090
📊 Acceptance Rate: 7%
📝 Average SAT/ACT: 1550/35
💸 Cost: $65,230
📅 Admission Options: Early Decision I (Nov 1), Regular Decision (Jan 2), Early Decision II (Jan 2)
🏆 Top Ranking Programs: Public Health (#1), Music (#4), Biology (#5) (Niche)
📈 Most Popular Majors: Cellular/Molecular Biology (12%), Public Health (9%), Computer Science (9%) (US News)

Pros:

🧬 World-Class Research Opportunities

Johns Hopkins is renowned for its cutting-edge research in fields like medicine, engineering, and public health. With more funding for research than any other U.S. university, students have countless opportunities to work alongside world-class faculty. Learn more about Hopkins research.

⚕️ Top-Tier Medical School & Hospital

For pre-med students, JHU’s medical programs and hospitals are among the best in the world. The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and its affiliated Johns Hopkins Hospital provide extensive clinical and research opportunities. Explore the School of Medicine.

🌱 Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Hopkins is a hub for student entrepreneurship through initiatives like FastForward U, which supports startups and innovations with resources, mentorship, and seed funding. Discover FastForward U.

📚 Prestigious Writing Seminars

JHU’s Writing Seminars program is one of the country’s best for aspiring writers. With a faculty of renowned authors, students can explore fiction, poetry, and more in a highly respected program. Check out Writing Seminars.

⚖️ Flexible Grading Policy for Freshmen

First-year students can opt for pass/fail in some courses, easing the transition into the academic rigor of Hopkins while still exploring different fields. Learn about the grading policy.

🌍 Global Focus Through SAIS

If international relations is your passion, JHU’s Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) offers world-class programs in Washington, D.C., with a focus on global policy and economics. Learn about SAIS.

Cons:

💼 Competitive Environment

Hopkins’ academic rigor is no joke, and it’s known for being a high-stress environment. The pressure can be intense, especially for pre-med students. Make sure you’re prepared for a fast-paced and competitive atmosphere. Explore life at Hopkins.

📍 Baltimore’s Reputation

While Baltimore has a lot to offer, the city has faced challenges with crime rates and infrastructure. This can be a concern for some students and their families, although the university does invest heavily in campus security. Learn about campus safety.

👥 Smaller Undergraduate Community

With a relatively small undergraduate population, some students might find the social scene more limited compared to larger universities. This could be a downside for those seeking a more diverse and expansive student body. Read about student life.

💰 High Cost of Attendance

Hopkins is a private university with a hefty price tag. While financial aid is available, it’s important to assess the total cost before making a decision. Check out tuition and aid.

SCOOP’S SPECIAL
We’re Hiring!

We’ve spent this last month getting our content down, figuring out what topics and formatting help you readers the most. Now, we’re looking to expand, and share our content out there. To do this, we’re looking for curious and dedicated high schoolers to join our team.

If you’re interested in joining our team, apply here.

Here’s the specific roles we have open:

• Content Writers

  • You don’t have to be amazing at writing, just be interested in researching and learning new things about college and sharing those findings with others

  • Takes 15-25 minutes a day, around 2.5 hours a week

  • Great opportunity to learn more about the admissions process, work on your writing skills, and understand the responsibilities that come with writing content read by 1k+ readers every morning

• Social Media Manager

  • We’re trying to market our newsletter and get new signups by sharing our content on TikTok, LinkedIn, and Instagram

  • Ideally, we would have one person manage all three accounts, maintaining different personalities on each (understanding you can’t post the same stuff on LinkedIn as Instagram/TikTok)

  • Great opportunity to get experience making content interacted with by 10k+ viewers

FRIDAY NEWS FOCUS
California's Crackdown on Legacy Admissions 🏛️

In a historic move, California just threw out the “old school ties” that used to quietly open doors at top private universities. Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law banning legacy admissions at schools like Stanford, USC, and Caltech. The state joins a growing list that includes Colorado, Illinois, and Maryland, all aiming to make college admissions fairer by removing advantages tied to family connections.

But here’s the key detail: this law won’t go into effect until September 2025. That means it won’t impact current seniors applying this fall but will shake things up for the high school Class of 2026 (juniors). So, if you’re a current junior, this change is something you’ll need to watch closely. 📅

This new law comes at a time when schools across the country are scrambling to rethink their admissions practices after the Supreme Court banned affirmative action last year. For those who aren’t familiar, legacy admissions have long allowed applicants with parents or grandparents who attended a school to get a leg up in the competitive admissions race. It’s like playing a video game with cheat codes—except those cheat codes have mostly benefited wealthy and white students, leaving everyone else playing on hard mode.

How Legacy Admissions Impacted You (Even if You Didn’t Know It) 🎓

Legacy admissions might seem like a distant problem, but it affects students across the country, including those applying to highly selective schools in California. By giving legacy applicants an extra boost, schools were narrowing opportunities for many first-generation and underrepresented students. Essentially, more legacy admits meant fewer spots for students who worked hard but lacked the right family connections.

With California’s new law, private universities will now have to admit students solely on merit—your grades, your essays, and your accomplishments. So if your family doesn't have a building named after them at Stanford, you no longer have to compete against those who do. 🏫

What’s Next for College Admissions?

This move to ban legacy preferences is part of a larger conversation about how colleges build their incoming classes. After the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling, many schools are looking for ways to ensure diversity without considering race explicitly. Banning legacy admissions is a big step toward leveling the playing field, especially in elite private schools where wealth and connections have long shaped admissions decisions.

You’ll likely see more states following California’s lead in the coming months, and colleges will be forced to rethink the weight they place on factors unrelated to academic merit. For students, this is a win. It means your acceptance letter will rely more on your story and less on your family’s history at a school.

How Could This Affect Your Application Strategy? 💡

If you’re a current senior, breathe easy—this change doesn’t affect you. However, for the Class of 2026 and beyond, the admissions landscape is changing, especially at private schools in California. The legacy boost will be off the table, so your applications will focus entirely on what you’ve achieved.

Here are a few takeaways as you prepare your applications:

• Put your best foot forward. The end of legacy admissions shifts the focus squarely on your accomplishments, so make sure your essays, extracurriculars, and recommendations shine. ✨

• Don’t rely on legacy ties. Even if your family has connections to a school, those ties won't influence your admission. Highlight what you bring to the table.

• Diversify your application strategy. While legacy admissions are fading, schools still value students who fit their mission and values, so research what each university prioritizes. 🌟

With this ban, California is helping create a more merit-based admissions system, ensuring that higher education truly rewards hard work and talent. That’s one big step closer to fairness, and it means future applicants—especially juniors—will have a better shot at the college of their dreams based on what they can do—not who their family is. 🎓💪

DAILY DEADLINE UPDATES
Oct 15 is just 2 weeks away!

In the Daily Deadlines section, we will keep you updated on upcoming deadlines in the college admissions world. Remember to not procrastinate and stay ahead of these deadlines!

University of Texas/UNC Chapel Hill Early Action Deadline: October 15
Most ED, REA & EA Deadlines: November 1

THE ARCHIVE
Looking for past mailings?

You can view all our previous posts at our website at https://scholarscoops.beehiiv.com

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