The focus on subjective essay over objective tests baffles me. It is guaranteed that the rich kids will have more opportunities to a.) get a more polished essay

The focus on subjective essay over objective tests baffles me. It is guaranteed that the rich kids will have more opportunities to a.) get a more polished essay written by whatever help needed, b) do all kinds of stuff that looks good on an essay but costs either time or money and is much harder for a poor kid to do. A poor kid can compete on objective tests relatively better by spending a much smaller amount of money. Subjective criteria just seem designed to game. It seems like what the US universities really want is some quota for the % of students representing some demographic ratio they have in mind. But since that is not constitutional, and might also make bad press, they come up with totally opaque and subjective criteria. I feel really bad for students being rejected for being less "likeable" just so the University can meet it's undisclosed quotas. If quotas are what you want then come out and say it.