&gt;  I don't mind if an ultra wealthy person 

&gt; *donates*

&gt; an enormous sum of money ($10-100+ million) so that their kid is

&gt; *guaranteed entry*

&gt; into the school because then the school can turn around and use that money to help thousands of kids or fund kids who meet the qualifications but are unable to afford the costs to attend the school.

#I *do* mind.

#Deeply.

Donate however much you want, and then the school can turn around and use all that money to help any number of students down the road.

But the second that *donation* equals *guaranteed entry* it becomes cheating, and I have a major problem with that.

The correct course is to donate to help the school, and have your kid apply and try to get in, but the end result is that you donated and the school will be helped regardless.

You completely undermine the reputation of the school to be a *nexus of higher learning and academics* when people with money are accepted, instead of people with academic ability.

Then, eventually, all you have is the name of the school.  The academic rigor it took to get admission no longer applies, and eventually everyone will know you sold out.

Please see all the Walmart bike companies that used to be high quality manufacturers before they sold out for insight into this phenomenon.