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<p>I do believe that some of that exists. There is no quota for any racial group, but having a reasonably large percentage of minority students is very preferable to the school (especially for schools where URMs are indeed underrepresented). According to many, including MITChris from the MIT forum on CC, racial diversity adds different perspectives to the student population that is especially valuable. (Again, like what you said, are people capable of offering different perspectives merely because of the color of their skin, or does there have to be difference in economic background, cultural background, etc? Where do you draw the line?)</p>
<p>Also, we as the public and as students are inherently hypocritical: how many times have we frowned upon a school because we perceived it to be too much dominated by one race (urgh, so many Asian?? All white upperclass??), but then criticized affirmative action?</p>