<p>sompornburin, I agree with that but I would argue that this is primarily for large countries (primarily Asian) that have new middle class that exceeds the # of slots available in the top high schools and top universities in these countries. If one is from a small country, the college will accept 1-2 for their phantom quota so there would be enough spaces for all US colleges to get an elite (not necessarily academically) student from that country. If the full pay student is for example Chinese/Vietnamese where the # of applicants is significantly higher and going to school in the US is a status up symbol, then they do get a leg up by attending a US high school than the other average unhooked student from their country. But for example a socially up Chinese student who has attended a domestically top high school will be ranked higher than a Chinese student who has international awards but attended a Chinese HS, or a Chinese student who attended a US HS. Colleges have a relationship with specific schools in each country and they basically guarantee admissions for at least one student from that school. In recent years with the internet and books, the number of average middle class internationals students who apply to US colleges have increased dramatically, but the reality is that the slots in each school are still at 10% for internationals and the chances of getting accepted for that average unhooked student has decreased.</p>