<p>By the way, Harvard has a high percentage of full-pay students (something like 60% aren’t on financial aid, and financial aid goes up to $180,000 …!) because students with a high socioeconomic status generally have better applications. They go to good schools, usually have well-educated parents, might be legacies, have money for expensive but cool ECs, generally score better on the SAT and the ACT (not necessarily due to the prep they can afford), are able to volunteer instead of work, etc.</p>