<p>:Mini, and curmudgeon, does the average student at Smith and Rhodes have the same opportunities at these schools as your kids?"</p>
<p>dstark, the answer is yes and no. There are two types of opportunities. One tangible like pvt. music lessions, week in China or Cape, travel aborad etc. You have the same opportunity is the next kid if you are willing to pay.</p>
<p>The second one is GUARANTEED ACCESS like paid research or internship or getting inloved with this committee or that or getting special attention because you are poor and rubbing elbows with bigwigs. Full pay customers may not have those ACCESS opportunities. It is pressumed that you are rich and family connections will provide some of those opportunities.</p>