<p>^ I would want to know more about family income distributions at the wealthiest, most selective schools. How many middle income students apply to and then enroll at these colleges? Are they truly being squeezed out by wealthy full-pay students and low-income, high-need students? </p>
<p>My impression is that many highly qualified middle income students simply don’t apply to these schools because they believe they have no realistic hope of getting adequate need-based aid. They may or may not be correct, depending on the school, their circumstances, and what they consider adequate aid.</p>
<p>However, I believe that if more of these students applied, and if colleges felt more pressure, then more of them would find ways to lower their costs. That might mean admitting fewer wealthy but less qualified applicants.</p>