<p>I know that you have probably heard this argument before, but I had to say it with my own twist. I believe colleges should get rid of AA and replace it with a form of socio-economic status acceptance policies. I will explain. Also, remember, this is all hypothetical, but you should get my point.</p>
<p>Scenario 1:</p>
<p>Let's pretend that there is a Caucasian student and a Hispanic student at the same high school. We shall call this High School XYZ. High School XYZ is highly competitive, and the surrounding neighborhood is wealthy. All the students that go there are of upper class. Now, both students decide to apply to, Prestige University. The Caucasian student has a slightly higher GPA and rank than the Hispanic student. Both of them show great essays, teacher recommendations, and EC's, however the Caucasian student also has a higher SAT score by about 200 points. </p>
<p>In today's college admissions process, assuming everything was equal besides the test scores, the Hispanic student would get in. Why? Because he is underrepresented and not because of his stats. He isn't poor, since they go to the same upper class school, so why does he get in? Underrepresentation. I do not believe that your race should be a sole basis of your acceptance, but that your socio-economic status (wealth/school status) should be.</p>
<p>Scenario 2:</p>
<p>The Hispanic student at High school XYZ still applies to Prestige University. Another student from High School ABC applies to Prestige University as well. This student is a poor Caucasian student at High School ABC, which is miserable in academic opportunities and in wealth status. Many of the opportunities that the Caucasian student could receive at a better high school, such as High School XYZ, do not exist. Yet, the Caucasian student at High School ABC has the same applicant profile (test scores, GPA, EC's, etc.) as the Caucasian from High School XYZ.</p>
<p>In reality, who gets in? Still it is the Hispanic student because of his underrepresentation, though the Caucasian student at High School ABC used more of his resources and is at a disadvantage. </p>
<p>Conclusion:</p>
<p>Neither of these scenarios end fairly. Scenario 1 turns down a more qualified applicant for another applicant because of race. Scenario 2 turns down a more qualified student with less opportunities (poor+ bad high school) for another student because of race.</p>
<p>Solution:
Here is how it should work, IMO. In the context of one's high school and one's socio-economic (wealth) status. If there is a poor Hispanic student and a poor Caucasian student, the better qualified applicant (whomever so) should get in. If there are two rich students at great high schools, the same process applies. However, if there is a rich student who is equally qualified as a poor student, the poor student should get in, regardless of race. This process will ensure that more disadvantaged students get into college on the basis of their wealth and opportunities rather than their race. A rich minority student should not have any greater chance into college than a rich Caucasian student. </p>
<p>This system solves two problems:
1. For all the kids who say, "At MY high school (Prestige University) accepted only the URM's," there would be an equality spread throughout the school so that all the applicants from THAT particular school were looked at in context of the school and not the nation. This will raise the importance of class rank (which I believe to be a good thing). Now, all the students at High School XYZ would not be looked at by race, but by stats and opportunities (wealth). Even if a minority at High School XYZ is not as rich as many of the other students at High School XYZ, this would not hold enough weight to push that minority student above the other applicants, because their opportunities are nearly equal. The only real difference in wealth may reflect in test scores because the poorer student could not hire a tutor (though all wealthy students don't hire tutors, this is hypothetical). </p>
<ol>
<li> The "best of the best" in every environment get in. Race will not be a factor, but socio-economic status and high school context will be. This would put more weight on the class rank and grades than test scores, which would give an advantage to the more qualified students at a particular high school.<br></li>
</ol>
<p>Short version:
1. Put more weight on grades and class rank (in context of the individual high school), and less weight on test scores (-100-200 SAT points).
2. Put more weight on the high school's opportunities.
3. Put slightly more weight on an applicant's wealth.</p>
<p>I know I said a lot, sorry about that. Say what you must, I want to hear other peoples' opinions on this issue and if they think it is a good idea. Or, give suggestions on how it could be made better.</p>