<p>“There is a relative shortage of intelligent, gifted blue-collar kids who are college bound and who have the academic prep to succeed at a place like Harvard.”</p>
<p>Gordon Winston’s study pretty conclusively proved the opposite. There are more than 2 1/2 times as many low-income students who meet the current requirements of prestige colleges without lowering any purported standards than actually attend. (Granted, that is “low-income”, as opposed to “blue collar” - you could probably double that number, given the number of higher income blue collar workers.) </p>
<p>AS to whether they want to attend, or whether they would feel welcome, well that’s Harvard’s (or any other school’s) job to admit them, fund them, and make them feel welcome - if they choose. (since most don’t choose, it’s really not an issue, and I don’t think they are under obligation to choose othewise.)</p>