| I was an instructor in an early incarnation of the FSI and I agree with these comments. This was a disturbing departure from Caltech's usual policy of indifference to race/minority status.
Having said that, I considered the original idea to be a better than normal compromise. Accept only students who were suited for Tech (without the usual AA standard lowering) but who were not necessarily well prepared because of their backgrounds, then give them extra tutoring before school begins. Several of the students whom I taught were at that level. However, this business with FSI kids from TJ! Ouch. From everything I hear there is plenty of pressure on Caltech to adjust its procedures (for the worse) in this and on other margins. |