The Social Logic of Ivy League Admissions

Applying to College
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<p>"Getting In" by Malcolm Gladwell in the Oct 10, 2005 New Yorker Magazine discusses the basis for admission to Ivy League Schools.
Link to article: <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/critics/atlarge/?051010crat_atlarge%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.newyorker.com/critics/atlarge/?051010crat_atlarge&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Interesting Observations including:
"Ivy League Admissions Directors.. are in the luxury-brand-management business."
"Elite schools, like any luxury brand, are an aesthetic experience - an exquisitely constructed fantasy of what it means to belong to an elite. . ."</p>

<p>In explaining the boost given athletes in admissions Gladwell refers to the 2001 book "The Game of Life", by James L. Schulman and William Bowen:
"Male athletes despite their lower SAT scores and grades, despite the fact that many of them are members of minorities and come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds than other students, turn out to earn a lot more than their peers. Apparently, athletes are far more likely to go into the high-paying financial-services sector. . . . . . The Ivy League is perfectly happy to accept, amoung others, the kind of student that makes a lot of money after graduation."</p>

<p>Gladwell notes: "The Ivy League Schools justified their emphasis on character and personality, . . , by arguing that they were searching for the students that would have the most success AFTER college. . . . If you let in only the brilliant, then you produced book worms and bench scientists. . . "</p>

<p>Guess that explains some of the importance placed on EC's</p>

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<p>I have already heard all these speculations before. It is really nothing new.</p>

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<p>I think the emphasis on character and personality makes perfect sense. The reasons given for admitting athletes at higher rates aren't really sufficient though. I think athletes are admitted at higher rates because they play on the sports teams, its that simple. It's not because they settle into standard, upper-middle class jobs at higher rates than others. Most schools care about what contributions their graduates make to society not how much money they make (unless it's enough to bild a new library). At least that's how it should be/how I think it is...</p>

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<p>Most schools care more about money.</p>

<p>The Asian valedictorian from my school had a 1600, 36 and was an Intel Semifinalist....He got in and he deserved it. He was probably middle-upper class.</p>

<p>Natalie Portman got in....she has money and she is a celebrity.</p>

<p>Endowment funds matter, and although this is cynical, you can get into any school you want if you have enough money.</p>

<p>It is stupid, but it is the truth.</p>