<p>Exactly - being a Jew should have no effect on admissions - which is why Jews make up about half of the white student body (despite only making up 1.5% of the college age pop.).</p>
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<p>You mean race, not ethnicity - and how am I “influenced” by my race/ethnicity other than being seen/judged thru stereotypical views like yours?</p>
<p>I grew up w/ no exposure to my Asian/ethnic heritage and other than my facial features, had the “All-American” experience - so why should my race/ethnicity have an impact on admissions?</p>
<p>And again, black immigrant students from Africa are vastly overrepresented in comparison to African-Americans and the admission boards at Ivy schools try to justify such disparity by stating that they want “diversity” - meaning ethnic, religious and cultural diversity.</p>
<p>If we are willing to suspend judgment and simply look at the data to come up with a reasonable hypothesis, I would argue that it is not nebulous at all. From what I can see, these elite institutions exist for the purpose of educating the children of the ruling class. Diversity does not imply accepting a class that is representative of US as a whole, but to diversify the “gene pool” in a way that would perpetuate the existing system. Folks accepted for diversification purposes can be looked at as “lucky sperms”. IOW, what I am saying is that people of outstanding achievement is not likely to get into Harvard, but their children’s chances are much improved.</p>
<p>If somebody can come up with a better explanation, I would love to hear it. My hypothesis is just that, a hypothesis.</p>
<p>By and large, students at Ivy League institutions do NOT come from elite families. In fact, coming from an elite family can be a disadvantage sometimes.</p>
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<p>Wow. Just wow. How are people making less than $60,000 the “ruling class?” Many, many students at Ivy League colleges receive need-based financial aid (including white students). I don’t see how you get from that that they are somehow from the ruling class.</p>
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<p>Wrong. If you truly are of outstanding achievement, you will get into Harvard. Harvard has no bias towards admitting elites; if anything, there’s a bias against them.</p>
<p>That is a pathetic stereotype: most students at Ivy League colleges are NOT from the highest income brackets. Stop spreading bitter misinformation.</p>
<p>That says nothing. Our son received “aid” too from his school in the form of a small amount in loans. We can pay full price at privates easily out of savings but his school can say that we received need-based financial aid. We, of course, declined the “aid”.</p>
<p>The claim: “… most students at Ivy League colleges are NOT from the highest income brackets.”</p>
<p>The response: “60% of students receive some form of need-based financial aid at Harvard.”</p>
<p>Indeed, your response does not prove your claim. Your response only states that most students receive some aid at Harvard, but you don’t know who those students are.</p>
<p>I don’t remember if I’ve asked this before, but if you do things that are atypical of applicants that are the same race as you, does that make you stand out to colleges? For example, would an Asian who has extraordinary achievements in humanities rather than in math/science, stand out more to colleges because many Asian applicants have achievements in math/science?</p>
<p>Even if some (even large) percentage of students make a large income, that most definitely does not prove that Harvard is exlusive to students from elite families. In fact, family income does not play any part in admissions decisions, except maybe to HELP low-income students.</p>
<p>Furthermore, at least 25% of the student body comes from families making less than $80k.
<p>Disclaimer: I am not an American and I do not live in the US. So I guess I have no stake in this issue.</p>
<p>If you disagree with my hypothesis, just show me the data. If you can come up with a better explanation, I welcome it too. Since Harvard is being used as an example, I will continue with the same:</p>
<p>1) For starters, what is the median family income of a Harvard freshman, and what is it for the US as a whole? What %tage of these freshmen are Pell Grant recipients, and does the %tage vary significantly from year to year?</p>
<p>2) What is the %tage of admits that have hooks, vs those without. Do the %tages vary much from year to year? Are there differences in test scores and GPA between the hooked and unhooked? (By hooks, I am talking about legacies, athletes, children of the rich, famous, and powerful, children of faculty and other university staff etc.)</p>
<p>Personally, I think the information provided by the Duke study I posted earlier is helpful, but more information along the line above can easily settle the debate.</p>
<p>(This was written after one year of Harvard’s Financial Aid Initiative, before the announcement of the expansion of “middle class” financial aid. Note carefully where the United States median family income line is in relation to this discussion.)</p>
<p>I just had a quick look at the report. It is dated 2006, so they must be talking about the class of 2009.</p>
<p>The two year average median household income in the US for 04 & 05 was 46 thousand. Looking at the applicants to the class of 09, the 10th %tile range of family income was already over 53 thousand. The 50%tile range was just under 116 and the 75%tile range was 153.</p>
<p>In terms of education level, over 2/3 have parents where at least one has an undergraduate degree and the other with a graduate degree. Just under 9
% with neither parent has college experience.</p>
<p>Canuckguy: No, your hypothesis doesn’t stand.</p>
<p>You’re making a common statistical mistake: confusing correlation with causation.</p>
<p>Students from educated households ARE more likely to try hard academically. The home environment is more conducive to studying. Hence, they will tend to end up as superior applicants.</p>
<p>However, there ARE students from lower income households who are able to work hard and succeed. Those students are probably MORE likely to be accepted.</p>
<p>You originally said that Harvard tried to actively exclude lower income students, wishing only to educate those from elite families. As the financial aid initiatives show, the reverse is actually true. Given an equally qualified candidate, Harvard would probably be MORE likely to accept the candidate from the lower income family.</p>
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I’m not sure you understand what a hook is. The vast majority of hooked students are actually more likely to be low-income: URMs or athletes.</p>
<p>Actually, recruited athletes are likely to be upper-class WASPs–I believe basketball and something else (football?) are the only majority-URM recruitment sports. E.g. Poor people of any race don’t have the money or opportunity to excel at crew.</p>
<p>I am approximately 1/16 Native American and emailed several schools asking whether to write biracial or caucasian on my application. They suggested to write all that apply and that it is entirely option. Would you guys say that I should write Native American and Caucasian to get affirmative action? Also, would the effect of affirmative action and between a 100% Native American and biracial? (It would seem like I’m 50% on the app since I would check both)</p>
<p>Also, what schools seem to have a large Native American population? </p>
<p>1/16 doesn’t seem nearly enough to warrant checking it unless you strongly identify with it. My guidance counselor tried to talk me out of putting Caucasian and Hispanic and I’m almost half Hispanic.</p>