In regard to college what is a legacy?

In the context of college admissions, a "legacy" applicant is a student who has a parent or other close relative (grandparent, sibling, etc.) who is an alumnus/alumna of that same college or university. Colleges often give preferential treatment, or at least consider legacy status as a positive factor, in their admissions process. This means legacy applicants may have a slightly higher chance of acceptance than non-legacy applicants with similar academic profiles. However, the weight given to legacy status varies greatly between colleges and is often a point of contention, with some arguing it is unfair and perpetuates privilege.