“If you are a student of means or ability, or both, there has never been a better year,” said Robert A. Sevier, an enrollment consultant to colleges in a recent New York Times article.
You may have great test scores and an impeccable personal statement, but you’d better have a hefty college fund with your name on it if you want to guarantee a spot at the university of your choice.
Colleges across America are moving the wealthy applicants to the top of the admissions pile. However, this does not mean they’re cutting their budgets for financial aid; they are simply trying to maintain the claim of being “need-blind”. Students who can pay their full way are simply more desirable to universities than other students.
Because of this pledge, a student that would have been wait-listed in past years could be admitted before a student who is a better fit for the university if they request less financial aid.
St. Edward’s University has steadily increased tuition about $2000 each year for the past four years. Although this is typical of universities similar to ours, the fact is, college is not inexpensive…and it’s getting pricier everywhere. Until this year, students and parents could faithfully rely on financial aid to help out. Prior to this, filling out the lengthy FAFSA form was worth our time. Now it’s just more paperwork, added to that never ending stack, that will only hurt your chances of being accepted into a university.
The New York Times article says that more prestigious universities are the ones pushing for this. Somehow they believe this will also help create a more diverse student population. I don’t see how that’s true. All I see if an even greater economic divide. The wealthy students who went to good schools will continue to be wealthy and attend the best universities while the lower-income students who finally had a chance to escape their sub par education will just contribute to the cycle. So much for starting from nothing and working your way up. So much for the American dream.
If universities continue to base admissions off of income, students will never have a chance to interact with anyone from different backgrounds. Isn’t part of college learning about people from all walks of life?
It looks like the best universities will have to follow in SMU’s footsteps and start offering a class that teaches students how to manage their trust funds. Maybe that could be a new CULF class at St. Edward’s.
