The Daily – Affirmative Action for the 1 Percent

Intro

In this episode of “The Daily,” the host discusses a major new study that reveals how elite college admissions in the US systematically favor the rich and super rich. The study combines admissions records with tax returns to provide a clear picture of who is getting admitted and who is not. The findings shed light on the advantages that affluent students have over their less privileged counterparts, even when they have similar academic qualifications. The episode also explores other factors, such as legacy admissions, private school attendance, and athletic recruitment, that contribute to the inequality in college admissions.

Main Takeaways

Admissions Advantage for Affluent Students

• Elite college admissions in the US systematically favor the rich and super rich, according to a major new study.
• Affluent kids are on average much more qualified than less affluent kids, with better academic qualifications.
• Colleges give large advantages in admissions to privileged kids over similarly qualified middle and low-income kids.
• Even when looking at two kids with similar grades, test scores, and academic qualifications, the affluent kid, particularly the very affluent kid, is more likely to get in.

Affirmative Action for the Wealthiest Families

• 9% of students at Ivy League and other elite colleges come from families earning over $600,000 a year.
• Applicants from families in the top 0.1% income bracket are more than twice as likely to be admitted than those from average income families with the same academic qualifications.
• There is a form of affirmative action for the nation’s wealthiest families in college admissions.
• Legacy admissions give applicants with a parent who attended the same school a leg up.

Privileges of Private School Attendance

• Private school students have a “polish” that makes them appear more attractive to admissions committees.
• Admissions officers try to compensate for this polish but are not as effective as they think.
• Teacher recommendations and guidance counselor recommendations are stronger for private school students.

Athletic Recruitment and Economic Privilege

• Athletics is a big factor in college admissions and interacts with economic privilege.
• Almost every sport today has kids from affluent backgrounds due to expensive high-level travel sports.
• Sports and athletic recruitment play a big role in reinforcing privileges of the privileged in college admissions.
• Money creates better athletes, leading to a skew towards white affluent kids in sports.

Legacy Admissions and Future Changes

• Legacy admissions disproportionately benefit white applicants, but with each passing year, it benefits them less.
• The future of legacy admissions is uncertain, with rising political pressure against it and some colleges already getting rid of it.
• Legacy admissions are the norm in American society, not just in colleges.

Summary

Elite College Admissions and Wealth Privilege

A major study reveals that elite college admissions in the US favor the rich and super rich. Affluent students have a significant advantage, even when compared to similarly qualified middle and low-income students. Legacy admissions, private school attendance, and athletic recruitment further contribute to the inequality in college admissions. While colleges claim to be need-blind in admissions, the reality is that wealthy applicants still have an advantage.

The Affirmative Action for the Wealthiest Families

The study shows that admissions to Ivy League and other elite colleges heavily favor students from families earning over $600,000 a year. Even when comparing academic qualifications, applicants from the top 0.1% income bracket are more than twice as likely to be admitted. This reveals a form of affirmative action for the nation’s wealthiest families in college admissions. Legacy admissions, where applicants with a parent who attended the same school have an advantage, further perpetuate the privilege of the wealthy.

The Privileges of Private School Attendance

Private school students have a distinct advantage in college admissions due to their “polish” and stronger teacher and guidance counselor recommendations. Admissions officers try to compensate for this advantage, but their efforts are not as effective as they believe. This further widens the gap between privileged students and those from less affluent backgrounds.

Athletic Recruitment and Economic Privilege

Athletics play a significant role in college admissions and interact with economic privilege. Kids from affluent backgrounds dominate almost every sport due to the expenses associated with high-level travel sports. This leads to a skew towards white affluent kids in sports, as money creates better athletes. Athletic recruitment further reinforces the privileges of the privileged in college admissions.

Legacy Admissions and Future Changes

Legacy admissions, where applicants with a parent who attended the same school have an advantage, disproportionately benefit white applicants. However, with increasing political pressure against legacy admissions and some colleges already eliminating them, their future is uncertain. It is important to recognize that legacy admissions are not just a financial transaction but also cultural and institutional. While they may create a long-term investment in an institution, they perpetuate inequality in college admissions.

Conclusion

The study’s findings highlight the systematic advantages that wealthy students have in elite college admissions. The privileges enjoyed by the top 1% and 0.1% income brackets are deeply ingrained in the admissions process, affecting not only academic qualifications but also factors like legacy, private school attendance, and athletic recruitment. While the future of legacy admissions remains uncertain, there is a growing push to level the playing field and create a fairer admissions process that prioritizes merit and diversity.