applicant

They also talked of a "crippling bureaucracy" which required some organisations to employ consultants with form-filling, and according to another independent report, contributed to mental health issues for almost all of the applicants.

Elite schools like Harvard, Columbia, Emory and Wellesley have added essay questions in the last couple of years asking applicants to recount a dispute with someone whose beliefs differ from their own.

But getting into college is in fact becoming easier, with admissions offices trying to entice more applicants from a declining pool of 18-year-olds.

Older applicants now will be prioritised, victims will now be compensated for lost pension contributions and immigration fees, and 75% of a financial offer can be paid before the outcome of any challenge.

Family members will not gain automatic status when the main applicant qualifies.