<p>In addition to what cpt wrote, the study was conducted in 1991 before the stock market went wild and endownments at HYP went through the roof. I think these schools are more need blind than ever as proven by recent FA changes. The study also appeared to look at only Harvard admissions and what happens at Harvard cannot necessarily be imputed to all its competitors. I don’t think the articles “proves” (nor does it claim to, the conclusion is merely the professor’s interpretation of data) that students at all top school (study only looked at Harvard) WILL (not may, but will) be looked at differently because parents didn’t live up to their potential. They are alternate explanations like the one cpt gave.</p>