<p>By merit I am talking about;
1)Academic achievement-i.e.-high GPA, rigorous classes, etc
2)Excellence in things such as instruments, a certain sport
3)Achievement in contests like spelling bee, quiz bowl, etc
I am also fond of a college entrance examination like the IIT administers. Racial preference, economic status, volunteering is total garbage (Disagree? Look how things were done 50 years ago)</p>
<p>Perhaps, but 50 years ago most of the "elite" universitites pulled only from the well known prep schools (and legacies were definitely prefered) nor did they allow women. So, I guess if you're a male who goes to Exeter, Andover, Deerfield or Choate then perhaps that system would work well for you.<br>
However, I'm not sure that type of university would be very appealing to most people: women, jews, minorities, people from West of the Mississippi.
Many universities outside of the United States look for criteria exactly as you have described. Perhaps one of them would be of more interest to those who think as you do. I happen to think the ways in which American universities are different: believing in creating citizens who will improve the country by their individuality/creativity and civic conscious makes it a more interesting place to want to spend four years. But this is just me. And I do not see an inherent negative in the type of educational system you've posited.</p>
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[quote]
I am also fond of a college entrance examination like the IIT administers
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Yeah, so kids would have to spend 2 years of their lives just preparing for them...</p>
<p>Yea, so? They become more competent than if they would go to an Ivy..Case in point, Intel's new investment plant in (Bangalore? or Hyderabad?..w/e) and outsourcing to Indian IT firms..In your face.</p>
<p>what are the advantages/disadvantages of leaving the ethnicity section blank?</p>
<p>Well, the best way to tackle this problem is to try to overturn the Bakke decision and wipeout race as a factor in admissions entirely.</p>