<p>Brown is much more hung up on fame than Harvard, but it is true having famous parents or coming from a wealthy family certainly helps in admissions (how do you explain all four of Al Gores kids getting accepted?).<br>
Also, if your family has money you might be able to get in as what they call a “developmental admit”. Duke was notorious for doing this when they were growing their national presence in the '80’s but all schools are guilty of it.
You would be amazed how often the development office and the admissions office talk to one another. If they think your family will give money (large sums of money, six figure donations) it will improve your odds, HOWEVER they will not admit some student with a B average and sub-par SAT scores just because his family offers to give to the endowment. Coming from a wealthy/famous family only tends to help when you are on the low end of their admission ranges and might give you a slight ‘push’.
There was a great book written on this a few years ago called The Price of Admission. I’d highly recommend it.
Also, Harvard’s endowment is down to $23 billion. They are really hurting. They just laid off 450 staff and faculty a few weeks ago and are offering professors early retirement. (I still find it amazing that with $23 b. in the bank the school is “hurting”).</p>