In the US - everything about education - especially higher ed - is fucked. Not only do unis have legacy admissions - there are special legacy admissions. Like Harvard's Z-list. If mommy or daddy went to Harvard and have given the uni enough money - their kid gets guaranteed admittance. It's a totally vile situation.
Harvard caters to the children of well-connected alumni and big donors through the "Z-list." Z-listers are often guaranteed admittance while in high school but are obliged to take a year off between high school and Harvard, doing whatever they wish in the interim.
---
I'm American and I'm mystified why we don't use the abbreviation "uni".