Introduction

Piotr Redlinski for The New York Times

Why is it so hard to get into college?

Private institutions that were famous for admitting anyone who could pay are now "highly selective." Public universities whose mandate was to educate all high school students with a C average now wait-list transfer students with A-minuses.

Why is the recession not affecting the college market, the way it has the housing market, consumer spending and other economic sectors? What is the supply and demand dynamic?