New court filings in a class-action lawsuit against 17 elite U.S. universities have shed light on the preferential treatment given to wealthy and connected students in the admissions process. The filings reveal instances where university heads and admissions officials considered applicants based on their family connections and potential for future donations, raising concerns about fairness in the admissions process.
Examples from the filings include a prospective student being listed on the 'president's list' at Georgetown after her wealthy father's meeting with the university's then-president at an exclusive conference. Similarly, the dean of admissions at MIT admitted to admitting students recommended by a board chairman, even if they were not academically qualified.
