<p>But colleges don’t just income levels by the family’s income, they judge it by the neighborhood as a whole. As it, they are easier on a kid from a poorer neighborhood, not a kid whose parents don’t make much money. Since it is the kids of th eneighborhood that are being ranked against each other, it is assumed that they have the same academic opportunities. And yet, colleges are likely to be easier on everyoen from the neighborhood, not just the higher class-rank kids. the situation might be different if colelges actually had information about income of the individual, but they don’t–that only exists on financial aid applications, which are kept separate from admissions information. </p>
<p>Also, you can’t just assume that every kid from a low income family has to work to support the family. That would be legitamite reason to be more flexable about items like class rank. But we’re just talking about income, period.</p>