What are legacy admissions, and how do they impact college admissions?

Legacy admissions provide college candidates with family members—such as parents or grandparents—who attended the same university preferential attention. This long-standing custom has had a big impact on college admissions; it usually favors wealthy, well-connected families and increases access to higher education, hence aggravating inequality. Colleges may unintentionally miss other competent applicants by giving legacy candidates top priority, therefore sustaining a system that favors some groups. Critics contend that since legacy admissions give an advantage based more on bloodline than aptitude, they compromise justice and equal opportunity. In debates on fairness and access in higher education, the practice remains a divisive topic.