Opinion: An inside look at admission into an elite university confirms your worst fears

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by decimon, Jan 1, 2018.

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  1. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member

    Market Watch
    Natasha Warikoo
    Dec. 31, 2017

    After weeks of negotiation, Harvard University recently agreed to provide the Department of Justice access to its admissions files. The department is reopening a complaint by 63 Asian-American groups that Harvard discriminates against Asian-American applicants. The complaint was previously dismissed under the Obama administration. Many worry that government lawyers plan to use the case to argue that all race-conscious admissions — including affirmative action — are a violation of the Civil Rights Act.

    Separately, Harvard undergraduates have recently begun to take advantage of their right to view their own admissions files, often only to become frustrated in their efforts to pinpoint exactly why they got admitted.

    https://www.marketwatch.com/story/get-over-the-idea-that-admission-to-top-universities-is-a-meritocratic-process-2017-12-14
     
  2. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Basing a decision on someone's race, whatever that race may be, is pretty much the definition of racism.
     
  3. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member

    Yes, but I recognize that race, like geographical origin, has long been an admissions factor. Rating an individual will always include many factors. And will be somewhat subjective. And will depend on how great their need to fill seats. And so on.
     
  4. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Race is a benign, non-behavioral, non-performace factor. No matter how hard someone works, they cannot change their race, so it should have absolutely no bearing on college admissions.
     
    BlueMason likes this.
  5. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member

    Way back when...

    I recall some local contention when some regional colleges tried to lose their image as...regional colleges. A school in Vermont might seek someone from California and a black student from Alabama and a foreign student and whomever. This wouldn't sit well with Vermonters not wanting to send their kids far from home for that degree. So, right wrong or otherwise, this isn't new.
     

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