<p>From a few years ago…
- But while this brought in more low-income students, Amherst remains an incubator of the elite. More than half its students come from families prosperous enough to pay the full $42,000 annual tab out of their own pockets. Many shell out thousands more for cars, meals out, and other extras. (One student showed up recently with two BMWs – one a convertible for sunny days.)*</p>
<p>There are also so-called legacy admits, for whom Amherst reserves roughly 10% of its seats,</p>
<p>Kids from the lowest socioeconomic quartile represent a mere 3% of students at the 146 most selective U.S. universities, vs. 74% from the top quartile, according to the Century Foundation, a New York think tank.</p>