The rich are learning how to look less rich on their children's college applications

A report focused on elite college admissions highlights how wealthy families are becoming more cautious about “showing” their privilege on applications. It references a competitor marketing an “Elevation Experience” costing about $300,000 for a four-day college tour per student-parent pair, including a Gulfstream G650, private tarmac pickups, chauffeur service, Four Seasons hotels, VIP concierge, curated dining, and designer luggage—plus claims of a “strategic edge.” The piece argues that flaunting wealth can backfire, recalling earlier admissions signals like expensive “service trips,” Hamptons summer listings, and internships at prominent family-connected firms. The article suggests families now lean toward subtler optics as admissions culture shifts.