<p>ParentOfIvyHope: I can understand the sentiments that lie behind your unhappiness with the system but I think your solution is misguided, to be honest. But the frenzy of ultra selective admissions is IMHO mostly due to the purchasers (applicants and their families) much more than the sellers (HYPS, etc.). Is it Yale's fault that about 8 out of 10 Presidential candidates graduated there? It's not as if they and the others have gone on overdrive these last five years in advertising and recruiting. But the "college as upward mobility commodity" mentality has taken hold and isn't going away soon (see the College Rankings Revolt). Like lemmings over the cliff, everyone is applying to HYPS as their "reach" school -- further making the admit rate infintessimal. But whose fault is that? It's not as if the schools can arbitrarily decide to open up an extra 100 slots. (Yale is looking to seriously at expansion however, I know).</p>
<p>You mention quotas about URMs, legacies and atheletes. Well they tacitly already exist. </p>
<p>Take your pick:</p>
<p>URMs/caucasians
ORMs/caucasians
Athletes
legacy
musicians
urban/rural/suburban
artists
theatre/film
Private schools/public schools
NE, Midwest, West, South
International, Canadian, domestic
Men/women/ gay, lesbian, transgender
Devout/secular
Jew/christian/Muslim/atheist
writers/editors
math whizzes/humanities powerhouses</p>
<p>Given that it's a zero sum game, which ever you wish to increase, there's another voice telling the admissions director that the category should decrease.</p>
<p>YOu think they enjoy this? Many of them are the leading voices in striking down this rankings obsession because they are in the uneviable situation of declining many 1000s of great kids. In the past, their student bodies were just as great but there was less blood on the floor the day after decisions were mailed. I personally hate it. I recruit for Yale. I tell college night audiences that I'm honored to be speaking to kids that I'm relatively confident will have four great years ahead of them -- that it's 99% likely that whatever college they will attend, that it will challenge them and mature them.. The looks I get back form the audience? "Yeah, yeah. Hurry up and tell me how my S/D can get the upper hand at applying to your doggone school!"</p>