<p>“Why does that entitled them to a special advantage over an equally bright, talented, and hard-working child of immigrant parents, whose ancestors never had the chance to attend one of these colleges?”</p>
<p>It doesn’t. But why do you think that’s who they’re getting an advantage over? I’m guessing that legacies, to the extent that they’re accepted over anyone else, are accepted over other equally bright, talented, and hard-working kids from other well-to-do families.</p>
<p>Maybe colleges like legacy students because they bring a sense of tradition (and perhaps a bit of prestige) to the student body. If colleges were to lose that sense of continuity and heritage would so many people still want to go there?</p>