<p>I have heard informally that gifts over 1 million are needed to “place a finger on the admissions scale” at the prep schools. Harvard undergrad, maybe over 5 million if you are a “suitable donor”. Harvard turned down the Stanford’s huge fortune, so they started Stanford University in memory of their only son who died as an adolescent. There are also rumors of such gifts being accepted by schools without acceptance of the children of interest - without refund.</p>
<p>For many schools, the “true cost of education” is 35K greater than the tuition - or nearly double the tuition. It is picked up by prep school endowments greater than the budgets of many third world countries (maybe some exaggeration, but 1 Billion is the endowment of several). </p>
<p>For money to carry weight in these circles, it has to be A LOT, and from an impeccable source.</p>