If I am a child of a Harvard administrative staff member, then I have an advantage when getting into Harvard. So that would not be a merit advantage. That's just called luck.

Here's the big difference between the upper-class kids and everyone below when it comes to admission's fairness.

Everyone else says "I worked hard as an individual, therefore i deserve to get into a good college."

Upper-class kids says "MY FAMILY worked hard, therefore i (as an individual) deserve to get into a good college."

The emphasis is WHO worked hard. Upper-class kids tend to ride on the coat-tails of their parents and grand-parents.