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1/Let's talk about college admissions, why they're unfair, and why they're probably about to get more unfair unless things change. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-08-19/college-admissions-are-about-to-get-even-more-unfair
2/When we talk about fairness in college admissions, we usually talk about affirmative action. The typical debate is "meritocracy vs. diversity". https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-14/why-u-s-is-threatening-yale-over-race-and-admissions-quicktake?sref=R8NfLgwS
3/The supporters of "diversity" in admissions often argue that it makes little sense to shower our best educational resources on the people who are already good at school. ( @OsitaNwanevu, for example, makes this argument.)
4/In addition, people like @tylercowen and @RichardvReeves have noted that ability-based admissions end up helping to create a class society, because all the people who are good at school end up marrying and becoming friends mostly with each other.
5/Supporters of "meritocracy", in contrast, argue that higher-ability people -- be they smarter, more driven, etc. -- will be much better able to handle the classes at elite schools, and that trying to make lower-ability people do this coursework would fail.
6/So we go back and forth, arguing "meritocracy" vs. "diversity".
But in fact, colleges' true incentive is not to admit high-ability people OR underprivileged people.
It's to admit RICH PEOPLE.
But in fact, colleges' true incentive is not to admit high-ability people OR underprivileged people.
It's to admit RICH PEOPLE.
7/So as you may have noticed, government funding for colleges has been on the decline.
This means they have to rely more and more on their two other sources of funding:
1. Tuition and fees, and
2. Donations https://twitter.com/BretDevereaux/status/1295909933049958401
This means they have to rely more and more on their two other sources of funding:
1. Tuition and fees, and
2. Donations https://twitter.com/BretDevereaux/status/1295909933049958401
8/First, let's talk about tuition.
Most people think tuition has been on the rise. But at private 4-year schools, NET tuition has remained constant.
This means rich students are getting charged more, and poor students less.
Most people think tuition has been on the rise. But at private 4-year schools, NET tuition has remained constant.
This means rich students are getting charged more, and poor students less.
9/But this provides a huge incentive to admit more rich students and fewer poor students!
RICH STUDENTS ARE A PROFIT CENTER, POOR STUDENTS ARE A COST CENTER.
The more rich students and fewer poor students you admit under the need-based financial aid system, the more $$ you get!
RICH STUDENTS ARE A PROFIT CENTER, POOR STUDENTS ARE A COST CENTER.
The more rich students and fewer poor students you admit under the need-based financial aid system, the more $$ you get!
10/Now let's talk about donations, which are especially important for elite schools like Yale.
Most donations come either from alumni or from (often-alumni-owned) philanthropic organizations. https://www.case.org/resources/voluntary-support-education-trends-alumni-giving
Most donations come either from alumni or from (often-alumni-owned) philanthropic organizations. https://www.case.org/resources/voluntary-support-education-trends-alumni-giving
11/Rich alumni give much more money than poor alumni, obviously.
So which students are most likely to become rich and donate lots of money in the future?
Smart kids, you say??
HAHAHAHAHAHA.
Nope. It's RICH KIDS. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/06/11/is-it-better-be-born-smart-or-rich-you-probably-wont-like-answer/
So which students are most likely to become rich and donate lots of money in the future?
Smart kids, you say??
HAHAHAHAHAHA.
Nope. It's RICH KIDS. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/06/11/is-it-better-be-born-smart-or-rich-you-probably-wont-like-answer/
12/In case you haven't noticed, economic mobility has been on the decline in America.
If colleges want rich alumns, they need to let in kids of rich parents. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/social-mobility-memos/2018/01/11/raj-chetty-in-14-charts-big-findings-on-opportunity-and-mobility-we-should-know/
If colleges want rich alumns, they need to let in kids of rich parents. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/social-mobility-memos/2018/01/11/raj-chetty-in-14-charts-big-findings-on-opportunity-and-mobility-we-should-know/
13/So both tuition and donations depend on admitting rich kids, especially at elite schools.
Colleges are financially hurting, and the only way for them to relieve that pain is to bet big on OLIGARCHY.
Colleges are financially hurting, and the only way for them to relieve that pain is to bet big on OLIGARCHY.
14/So they do bet on oligarchy.
One way they do this is by admitting lots of legacy students.
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/07/harvards-freshman-class-is-more-than-one-third-legacy.html
One way they do this is by admitting lots of legacy students.
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/07/harvards-freshman-class-is-more-than-one-third-legacy.html
15/Another way they do this is by admitting students based on sports that only rich kids play. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/10/harvard-university-and-scandal-sports-recruitment/599248/
16/Whether you care about meritocracy or diversity (or both, as I do), the massive preferences for rich kids should bother you!!
The main source of unfairness in elite college admissions isn't affirmative action or the SATs. It's stuff like legacy admissions and rich-kid sports!
The main source of unfairness in elite college admissions isn't affirmative action or the SATs. It's stuff like legacy admissions and rich-kid sports!
17/But even elite colleges are under heavy financial pressure, so what else can they do?
The only thing that could realistically change this unhappy situation is a big influx of money from the federal government. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-05-16/coronavirus-will-end-the-golden-age-for-college-towns?sref=R8NfLgwS
The only thing that could realistically change this unhappy situation is a big influx of money from the federal government. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-05-16/coronavirus-will-end-the-golden-age-for-college-towns?sref=R8NfLgwS
18/So unless there's a big influx of money from the federal government, expect college admissions to get even less fair going forward.
(end) https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-08-19/college-admissions-are-about-to-get-even-more-unfair?sref=R8NfLgwS
(end) https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-08-19/college-admissions-are-about-to-get-even-more-unfair?sref=R8NfLgwS
