<p>Op,
I’d say, yes, in general, applying to, being accepted, and attending college is easier and less stressful for a student who comes from a monied family than one who does not. Having money does allow an advantage to getting accepted to college. This would not only apply to Ivies, but to most, if not all, colleges. Colleges with large endowments, such as Yale, can at least spend time, effort, and money, trying to catch the low income kiddos especially by setting up low FinAid threshholds and trying to admit kids with low incomes who did not have these advantages. </p>
<p>The flip side would be that there are plenty of kids from monied families who do NOT get accepted to Ivies and there are some low income/middle class kids that DO get accepted to Ivies.</p>
<p>At Harvard, in 2009, 82% of entering students qualified for financial aid, so it is unlikely that they are ALL snobby rich:</p>
<p>Costs (2011 - 12):</p>
<p>•Tuition and Fees: $39,851
•Books: $1,000
•Room and Board: $12,801
•Other Expenses: $2,348
•Total Cost: $56,000</p>
<p>Harvard Financial Aid (2009 - 10):</p>
<p>•Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 82%
•Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid •Grants: 69%
•Loans: 12%</p>
<p>•Average Amount of Aid •Grants: $35,541
•Loans: $4,448</p>
<p>Source:
[Harvard</a> University Admissions: SAT Scores, Financial Aid & More](<a href=“http://collegeapps.about.com/od/collegeprofiles/p/harvard_profile.htm]Harvard”>Harvard University: Acceptance Rate, SAT/ACT Scores, GPA)</p>
<p>And, yes, it is a bummer that it’s more difficult to get into places without the extra advantages of money. At least nowdays, people without money have a chance. Back in the 1960s-70s, students did not get accepted to H/Y on stats and ECs, it was mainly based on money, family, and connections. Now, at least, stats and ECs count for something…in fact, that’s how many people get accepted these days…are these the people that you are calling “genius”?</p>