Definition

In higher education, a polite term for institutional nepotism where being related to an alumnus gives applicants a significant admissions advantage. Universities defend this practice by claiming it builds "tradition" and "community," which coincidentally also builds endowment funds when grateful legacy parents write large checks. It's the academic version of a VIP list, where your last name matters as much as your test scores.

Example Usage

Despite his mediocre grades, Brad got into Yale as a legacy admit—his father's donation of a new library wing certainly didn't hurt.

Source: Common educational terminology

Related Terms

Intermediate

solute

The substance that gets dissolved into a liquid solvent, creating a solution—basically the Kool-Aid powder before you add water. In chemistry, it's the minor player that disappears into the major player (solvent) like your motivation on Monday morning. The solute is always the one getting absorbed into something bigger, never the other way around.

🎓 Education / Academia
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learning plateau

A period in the learning process where progress appears to stall despite continued effort, before eventual advancement. It's that frustrating phase where practicing more seems to accomplish nothing, testing every student's persistence.

🎓 Education / Academia
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matriculate

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redshirting

The practice of delaying a child's kindergarten entry by a year to give them a competitive advantage, borrowed from college athletics. Because apparently, education is now also an arms race starting at age five.

🎓 Education / Academia
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Dissertation

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🎓 Education / Academia
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credit transfer

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🎓 Education / Academia

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