<p>I often see on this board that a college will accept some applicants for "developmental reasons?" What is that, i've never heard of it before.</p>
<p>Sounds Like a way for colleges to test their own methods of Addmission. Think about it, if you regularly accept a certain top notch student and someone else who is completely below their "standards" can match them, it's worth investigating.</p>
<p>$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$</p>
<p>Do you see a pattern here? =]</p>
<p>Do a search on "development admits". Basically, a school has the option to set aside a few slots for kids that are the relatives of extraordinary donors to the university. While we hope that no one dumb as granite or significantly below the median standards of a school get in, the positive impact on the school is significant. Again, dependent on the college, we're usually talking about the tens of millions. Lots of financial aid and lack of tuition inflation can be handled through one family -- gotta understand that. Is it OK to allow 2-3 kids in a year that will fund the tuition of 100 low income students? you betcha, in my opinion.</p>