A coalition of 64 Asian-American groups has filed a complaint against Harvard for discriminating against Asian-American kids in admissions. They’re right to assume there is a quota system at work. But they’re wrong that it is targeting Asian Americans. In fact, it is discriminating in favor of Blacks and Hispanics.
The complaint, filed with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, alleges that for Asian-American students to gain admission, they have to have SAT scores 140 points higher than white students, 270 points higher than Hispanic students and 450 points higher than African-American students.
The Coalition’s complaint is based on a false assumption: that admissions decisions at elite colleges are based on smarts – and represented by high SAT scores and grades. Yes, those metrics count – a lot. But they come into play only after an applicant’s “tag” – his or her target group is assigned. That’s because top schools are not looking just for the smartest kids, or for well-rounded kids; they’re looking to put together the well-rounded class. Kids who will fill key niches on campus.
Admissions deans are charged with putting together a freshman class that reflects the desires of important constituencies: the faculty, alumni and even students. The most powerful constituency is the faculty. Teachers are numerous, long-term, vocal and largely protected by tenure. As a result, and not surprisingly, the largest niche to be filled is academic.
Other important niches include athletics, performing arts, legacies, and yes, diversity. It is well established that college faculties self-identify as liberal; students even more so. So it should not be a surprise that getting racial minorities onto campus would be a priority. At Harvard, 11.8% of admitted freshman are African American – an almost identical percentage as last year’s entering class, and the previous year’s. Hispanic students also comprise a consistent 11.8% — year after year.
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About 50% of a highly selective college’s entering class will be admitted solely on academic potential. The admissions committee will be sensitive to finding kids with great academic potential for just about every academic department. In fact, at Harvard, there are more than 20 faculty members on the admission committee.
Some 20% of the entering class will be recruited athletes. Legacies – sons and daughters of Harvard grads – comprise 12% to 13% of every entering class. (Their acceptance rate is about 30%– four times the overall applicant pool’s acceptance rate.) The very wealthy and famous are also sought-after target niche. Applicants whose families who can afford to endow buildings and professorships, while few in number, are high in clout.
Within each of these niches the admission office will look for the smartest kids – or at least those likely to survive the school’s academic rigors – who satisfy the constituency’s recruiting needs. Athletics is an instructive example.