It seems some colleges may be more concerned with the amount of money a potential student's parents will be able to donate, than what the student offers. Most students submit financial data about themselves to colleges and the government. It would not surprise me if colleges and universities bought market research data that would show them which people were well-off.
A friend of the family was complaining today about Boston College, her daughter's first choice. The college wait-listed her, which means that she will not hear a final decision until later in the year, once accepted students have sent in their decision on whether they will attend the school.
The friend is not upset about whether her daughter got in, provided she is accepted or denied based on her own merits. However, this does not appear to be the case. The daughter plays basketball and lacrosse, is in the top of her class, and has excellent SATs. She has two friends who also applied to Boston College that got in. Both have no extra-curricular activities, poorer grades, and lower SAT scores. It makes you wonder. Since all three were white females, affirmative action is not a factor.
I now I wonder if a relative of mine this year was denied admission to Swarthmore College on the basis of finances. He is the tip-top of his class, his GPA is in excess of 4.0 because of the numerous AP and Honors classes he takes. He is a top swimmer and captain of the team; he competed at States this year and did extremely well. He also excels at volleyball, bowling, golf and ping-pong. He even coaches a swim team in the summer. How much more well-rounded do you need to be? Outstanding student, sports player, leader, and person. Is the problem that he is a white male? Or that the parents' are not affluent? It really makes you wonder.