<p>The 'low income" or “social class” stratifications dont solve the inequities of AA either. What Adcoms should be looking for are kids who have overcome a significant and objectively discernable hardship to succeed at a high level. For example, the kid who has had a taste of success despite having to work 40 hours a week or attend to a sick parent or take care of siblings or has taken community college or online classes to overcome a limited HS curriculum etc. The key is achievement in the face of some provable objective hardship. The Low Income category just doesnt do it. There are plenty of low income students who attend good schools (good school districts, magnet schools, parochial schools or private schools on scholarship). There is no legitimate purpose to be served in giving them a further leg up in admissions based on mere income levels. It’s just more social engineering by the amateur anthropologists and sociologists who dominate the college admissions scene. Finaid is another story however. That kind of leg up is certainly acceptable if the applicant is objectively qualified.</p>