NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=7945858

Mr Golden shows that elite universities do everything in their power to admit the children of privilege. If they cannot get them in through the front door by relaxing their standards, then they smuggle them in through the back. No less than 60% of the places in elite universities are given to candidates who have some sort of extra “hook”, from rich or alumni parents to “sporting prowess”. The number of whites who benefit from this affirmative action is far greater than the number of blacks.

Did anyone miss out this year on getting into an Ivy League School? Well, perhaps now you know why.

I was absolutely disgusted by this when I read it a few days ago. How is the tertiary education system organised in the States? Is there anything that can be done about this sort of thing?

I'm myself thinking about looking at some of the Ivy League business schools for my postgrad education. Is it even worth bothering, seeing as I'm not only not American, but I don't have a "hook" either?

http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=7945858



Did anyone miss out this year on getting into an Ivy League School? Well, perhaps now you know why.

I was absolutely disgusted by this when I read it a few days ago. How is the tertiary education system organised in the States? Is there anything that can be done about this sort of thing?

I'm myself thinking about looking at some of the Ivy League business schools for my postgrad education. Is it even worth bothering, seeing as I'm not only not American, but I don't have a "hook" either?You're foreign, right? Isn't that a hook?

To be fair, a number of Ivy League schools have done away with early admissions in order to make it more likely they'll get a wider range of students, but in the end, money begets money.

Can't really say I'm suprised.

The nice thing is, you don't have to go to a top school to get a good education. Getting in to an Ivy league school is extremely hard. It takes almost god-like powers to get in. However, prestige isn't everything and you can get just as good as an education at lesser known colleges.

You're foreign, right? Isn't that a hook?
So they have a given quota of foreign students they accept? And I won't have to compete with dumb kids with rich parents?

The nice thing is, you don't have to go to a top school to get a good education. Getting in to an Ivy league school is extremely hard. It takes almost god-like powers to get in. However, prestige isn't everything and you can get just as good as an education at lesser known colleges.
You can get just as good an education, but the fact is that Harvard transcripts will get you way more job interviews than Florida State ones will. Prestige counts for a lot among the elite.

So they have a given quota of foreign students they accept? And I won't have to compete with dumb kids with rich parents?
I wouldn't say a quota, really, but it's a plus for you. And as far as those dumb rich kids are concerned, most universities will always find room for a potential donor.

I wouldn't say a quota, really, but it's a plus for you. And as far as those dumb rich kids are concerned, most universities will always find room for a potential donor.
Hmm. Because my parents aren't exactly rich right now. Most of my income as a pizza delivery driver goes to them so we won't get kicked out of this house.

So I guess I'll need a scholarship of some sort, won't I.

You can get just as good an education, but the fact is that Harvard transcripts will get you way more job interviews than Florida State ones will. Prestige counts for a lot among the elite.

Not as much as it used to. Plus, after your first job, your school won't matter as much as your work experiance.

Hmm. Because my parents aren't exactly rich right now. Most of my income as a pizza delivery driver goes to them so we won't get kicked out of this house.

So I guess I'll need a scholarship of some sort, won't I.For grad school, you'll probably wind up doing some sort of assistantship that'll pay for it at least in part.

Hmm. Because my parents aren't exactly rich right now. Most of my income as a pizza delivery driver goes to them so we won't get kicked out of this house.

So I guess I'll need a scholarship of some sort, won't I.

IIRC, most Ivy League schools will provide you with the financial aid you need, if you get into the school. You may have to work, or take student loans, but they will not turn you away for money reasons.