<p>weenie - I posted before I saw your post. </p>
<p>For good or ill, our entire society is based on a merit system. Frankly, I'm far more concerned about high school juniors who cannot write a coherent sentence or do basic math than whether a given val or sal does to Yale or Ohio State. If an underpriviliged kid has some proper mentoring, there are tons of opportunities for them - there is money available, de facto "diversity goals" available to them, etc. </p>
<p>In my view the hurdles to college for underprivileged kids are only symptoms of much deeper problems. Those problems revolve around failed homes, poor schools, a lack of interest in academic achievement among some groups (evidenced by huge high school drop-out rates), parents who do not grasp, or care about, the necessary investment of time or attention to the college process, etc.</p>
<p>While I understand it is not politically correct to cite some of these issues, many wish to point to "The Process" as the culprit. Expressions of concern by college presidents - who complete aggressively in their own "merit" rankings - will not overcome this issue.</p>