Illustration: Harry Haysom/The Chronicle

Four years ago, the Operation Varsity Blues admissions scandal exposed just how far rich and famous parents would go to get their kids into prestigious universities. But in reality, there are many ways colleges already give preferences to wealthy students—and they are completely legal.

This episode of College Uncovered explores some of those advantages, including how early decision benefits wealthy students who can afford to commit to a college before seeing a financial aid offer.

Preliminary enrollment data for fall 2023 largely brought good news to colleges and universities. Undergraduate enrollment rose 2.1 percent, with all major institutional sectors enjoying increases.

Additional highlights from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center's latest report: Short-term credentials gained steam, Latino and Hispanic students saw the most significant enrollment growth at the undergraduate level, and Vermont had the largest enrollment decline, with Kentucky witnessing the biggest uptick.

When students enter Danielle Insel’s college and career advising office with their sights set on higher education, she has a checklist of next steps ready for them to follow. For years, around nine out of 10 kids fell into that camp, she estimates.

But the pandemic has profoundly reshaped the college and career landscape for high school graduates in New York City and across the country. Counselors who advise them are now shifting their approach in response, providing more post-graduation plans that include career pathways such as apprenticeships and vocational training.