a few thoughts: kid we know participated in a stanford summer program; kid’s mom told me that was an “in” to the school. NOPE. didnt get in with the 36/2400. They were so sad; kid did get in to an HYP school though. it was eye opening to our midwestern community.
my kid qualified for a Duke TIP program a few years back, but we couldnt afford it. We could afford $150 to let kid go on a mission trip to SD – Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Look it up if you’re not familiar. It’s one of the most impoverished areas/reservations in the US, quite dismal, (and that makes me sad but that’s a whole other story). 30 kids stayed in a church basement and tore down a rotting community center. It was eye opening, if anything. This was listed on EC section, and a small part of essay focusing on architecture. No answers to the “pay for play” question - but know kiddo gave willing time and labor, and learned, and that was worth mentioning.