>>509118810
American universities admit based on extracurricular activities rather than academic performance.

Some gain entry thanks to volunteering or leading an organisation. Such extracurriculars are hard to find fault with. But they're the minority.

So what's the most common extracurricular? It's varsity. And once again - only a minority of the varsity applicants have any athletic talent. They tend to be "athletes" in... rowing. In polo. In horse riding. Fencing. Tennis. Notice a pattern?

People who are good at horse-riding tend to start young. What kind of kids learn horse-riding? Do you think such kids will have trouble paying $340k in tuition?

I believe Harvard has something like 300 olympic rowers. The American university system is just a meal ticket for rich kids.