Ivy League admission process biased, unfair

[chanel]

Consider the often-expressed (and misguided) discomfort over the fact that every one of the nine current justices of the U.S. Supreme Court holds degrees from either Yale or Harvard. Far from indicating the domination of our most powerful legal institution by members of an American aristocracy, the background of the reigning justices demonstrates the effective operation of an educational meritocracy.

Not one of the jurists on the high court (with its six Catholics and three Jews) arose from the old-line, blue-blood, WASP establishment. Two of them, Clarence Thomas and Sonia Sotomayor, grew up in abject poverty, while most of the others came from modest circumstances and immigrant families. They attended Yale and Harvard not through family connections (a charge that could accurately be lodged against presidential candidates Al Gore, John Kerry and George W. Bush) but due to academic excellence and scholarship aid.

Opinion: Sarah Palin, Charles Krauthammer and the Right Kind of Elitism

Hmmm. Kinda disproves the OP, eh?

 

[Bundini24]

Far more students apply to the top schools than there are spaces. Of these applicants, a greater number have all of the numerical and EC qualifications and supporting recommendations than there are admission spots. That leaves one last hurdle -- the essay. An applicant is asking a school to commit to them for four years or more; in some ways, the applicant is "joining up" for life.

In that essay, the applicant must convey, in her or his own words (they can tell): who you are; what made you who you are; what you want to do; what you have done to show that you are truly committed to doing that which you want to do; and most importantly -- how the school will aid in this pursuit and what the school will gain by your pursuing your goals at their school. Frankly, if this isn't conveyed (or isn't the case), then one's chances of gaining acceptance at a top school, particularly an Ivy, are significantly diminished. They are looking for something more than a well-rounded top student of which there are more than enough to go around.

As for George Bush: when he went to Yale, the acceptance rate was around 35 percent. Furthermore, in those days, if you could pay for your education, your chances of acceptance were even higher. Today, the Ivy's and other top schools have acceptance rates below ten percent and apply needs-blind assessment to applications. In addition, with the Common App, students can and do apply to more schools, which increases the number of applicants and reduces acceptance rates.

Lastly, sometimes the school just doesn't want another kid form Indiana or wherever. They do try to create a diverse population of students; sometimes something as trivial as where you are from or whether the school band needs a tuba player can be the deciding factor.

 

[boedicca]

Earth to rdean:

Life in general is biased and unfair.

Get over it.