Is race still an unwritten factor for admissions?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the role of race in college admissions, particularly whether it is still an unwritten factor influencing decisions. Participants explore various perspectives on the legality and implications of race-based admissions policies, referencing specific cases and institutional practices.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants reference articles suggesting that different admissions standards may exist for Asian-Americans, questioning whether concerns about discrimination are valid.
  • Others assert that race is often a stated factor in admissions, citing examples from institutional policies, such as those from MIT.
  • One participant challenges the notion that schools do not discriminate based on race, claiming that many institutions openly acknowledge such practices.
  • There is a discussion about the U.C. vs. Bakke case, with some noting that while explicit quotas are illegal, race can still be a factor in admissions decisions.
  • Another participant argues that the importance of race in admissions may be overstated, sharing personal experiences of successful admissions despite being a white male.
  • Concerns are raised about the implications of having a predominantly white student body, with one participant mentioning that university policymakers believe this creates an unhealthy academic environment.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the influence of race in admissions, with no consensus reached. Some believe that race is a significant factor, while others argue it is less impactful than perceived.

Contextual Notes

Discussions include references to legal cases and institutional policies, with varying interpretations of how these apply to current admissions practices. The conversation reflects differing understandings of what constitutes discrimination and the implications of diversity in academic settings.

PhizKid
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I've recently been reading some articles and discussions:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/educat...sian-students-college-applications/51620236/1
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1228264-race-college-admission-faq-discussion-9-a.html
http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2012/2/8/lawsuit-admissions-fair/
http://thedartmouth.com/2012/02/13/news/discrimination

And I know formally, schools can't discriminate based on race, right? So are people just being paranoid when they say there're different admissions standards for, say, Asian-Americans (as the articles above note)?
 
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"And I know formally, schools can't discriminate based on race, right?"I've never heard of that. AFAIK schools are among the most openly discriminatory institutions.
 
yeah schools openly discriminate on the basis of sex and race. Pick any major USA school and I am willing to bet somewhere on their website they openly state "minorities" and women have an edge in admission. At least for physics/math programs.
 
I wouldn't worry about it. The USA is a country with so many fine schools that you will end up somewhere with great faculty, and resources. Other countries have less Universities than the USA, and just a few are that good (if at all) at specific areas. However, admission practices may also differ.
 
I'm a white male, and I managed to get into a physics/math program at a very good school that is filled to the brim with minorities and chicks. The minority/woman thing is overblown in importance.
 
PhizKid said:
Maybe I am not understanding how the admissions process works, then...what about U.C. vs. Bakke? http://scholar.google.com/scholar_c...&q=Bakke+Regents+California&hl=en&as_sdt=2002

Bakke says you can't have explicit quotas, not that it can't be a factor in admissions.

EDIT: After a little reading, it explicitly says that race *can* be a factor in admissions. However, you can't exclude candidates *solely* because of race, and in the Bakke decision, Berkeley had a pool of admission slots that were only for minority candidates, and this was found to be illegal.
 
Last edited:
Yes, according to university policy makers too great a percentage of white people creates an unhealthy academic enviroment.
 

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