Do colleges (specifically top colleges) prefer the student that most likely pay for most of the tuition or the student that has limited resources, but still has top grades, scores, etc. ?
I’d guess the bump at elite schools with large endowments is about equal, full pay vs low income. Technically they don’t know, since they are mostly need blind, but there are clues in the application anyway, and a low income student who excels despite barriers can have a compelling story to tell. High grades, scores and other achievements are more difficult for low income kids to achieve and most elite colleges recognize and reward that. But most colleges also need full pay students.
I was going to answer “yes” for the reasons provided above.
Harvard and other super endowed schools do not need full pay students.
However, they enroll about half full pay students anyway, since their admission criteria include things like legacy that favor high SES more than the usual advantage that being high SES gives in terms of better K-12 schools etc…
While they are need blind in looking at individual applicants, the macro level design of the admission process and criteria can certainly be done to get a specific target SES mix.
I would say top colleges are looking for students from both SES categories, and all those in between. There is no top college that doesn’t want the student from a hardscrabble background who managed to get great grades and test scores, especially if it is a URM. Top colleges probably love highly qualified rich students too. I am willing to bet though that the student from the lowere SEs has an advantge at top schools, provided they have whatthecollege wants in terms of stats.
Neither. They prefer the 0.001% capitalist class “development cases” who can afford to donate a $60 million new library wing to the school.
Unfortunately for the schools, these stratospherically wealthy kids aren’t numerous enough to fill an entire class.
Luckily for the schools, stratospherically wealthy kids aren’t numerous enough to fill an entire class; some alums provide fame to their schools through accomplishment.