ENGLAND: Public schools and Oxbridge

In all countries, pressure is exercised to admit to universities children of the powerful and wealthy. It is especially serious in highly selective universities like Oxford., where a student must be admitted both by the university and a college. Rob Gaudet reports: "Trinity College [with which Rob is connected] was the subject of press attention this past year. It denied admission to the daughter of one of its chief fundraisers and board members.

In addition, some reporters did a test. They offered money for scholarships to various Oxford colleges and then asked if they would give preferential admission to the donor's child. Pembroke said yes and was humiliated in the papers. Trinity said no".

Ronald Hilton - 7/5/02