[oldalum]

  But isn't the back door illegitimate as well?  Doesn't it give one pause that a mega-donor can get less-qualified applicants admitted?  Or is it more or less acceptable compared with the "side door options" created by Singer?

I think the side door is clearly less acceptable because it is fraudulent; it is monetizing an admissions slot and only some of that money is going to a specific program (in Stanford's case), the criminal middlemen are pocketing the rest. The megabuck backdoor at least is not fraudulent per se. I can see an argument for a backdoor at a particular university if the money is necessary for and goes directly to fund admission and education of students who could not otherwise be admitted and matriculate. So you admit one rich kid and get 10 more poor ones that you otherwise wouldn't have. I don't think that argument works for Stanford or Yale, though; wonder how they justify it--the benefits to the university as a whole and everyone in it? Does anyone know how they use the money?

[oldalum]

  But isn't the back door illegitimate as well?  Doesn't it give one pause that a mega-donor can get less-qualified applicants admitted?  Or is it more or less acceptable compared with the "side door options" created by Singer?

I think the side door is clearly less acceptable because it is fraudulent; it is monetizing an admissions slot and only some of that money is going to a specific program (in Stanford's case), the criminal middlemen are pocketing the rest. The megabuck backdoor at least is not fraudulent per se. I can see an argument for a backdoor at a particular university if the money is necessary for and goes directly to fund admission and education of students who could not otherwise be admitted and matriculate. So you admit one rich kid and get 10 more poor ones that you otherwise wouldn't have. I don't think that argument works for Stanford or Yale, though; wonder how they justify it--the benefits to the university as a whole and everyone in it? Does anyone know how they use the money?