An eye-opening critique of American higher education exposes the corrupt and elitist admissions practices at many of America's top colleges that favor the children of the wealthy and powerful over more qualified students.

"With a new epilogue by the author."

Introduction : the Tennessee waltz -- How the "z-list" makes the a-list : Harvard's payback for big donors -- Recruiting the rich : development admits at Duke -- The fame factor : celebrity children at Brown -- Enduring legacies : Notre Dame's other tradition -- Title IX and the rise of the upper-class recruited athlete : fencing, crew, and polo scholarships -- A break for faculty brats : free and easy entry for the children of professors -- The new Jews : Asian Americans need not apply -- The legacy establishment : taking on Congress and the higher education lobby -- The challenge of wealth-blind admissions : how Caltech raises standards--and donations -- Ending the preferences of privilege : suggestions for reform.