I don't think it's inappropriate and also not unexpected. It is inappropriate to pretend to have an impartial process when money drives the admission process fo

I don't think it's inappropriate and also not unexpected. It is inappropriate to pretend to have an impartial process when money drives the admission process for as long as the American universities (either public or private alike) have existed. It's a part of the nature of these schools that money/donors get kids into school. That's the way it's always been, and it's worth saying it up front. That's the first step. And face it, this is the reason UC Berkely, etc are so great. It's because there are donors supplying a huge stream of funding dollars. Without these kinds of favours, UC Berkeley will be a 4th or 5th rate school. You want that new lab or that new library wing? Accept some kids with rich families. That's how it works.