| Most of you are crediting race too much as a factor in admissions. It helps in a sense; however, is does not deny or guarantee admission by any means.
Ultimately, universities and colleges look for well-rounded students, specifically those who show they can multi-task, being involved in various extra curricular activities while maintaining a good GPA.
Secondary schools look to admit students who will succeed at their institutions. Colleges and universities look to prepare us for the successful future, which is full of tasks. As such, those who show the aforementioned criteria are more likely to gain admission, regardless of race.
Are there exceptions? Certainly, especially with the holistic system in place. Due to this system, human error/bias is eminent. Sometimes these errors occur with noticeable idiosyncrasies, such as race.
These cases marred with unique discrepancies such as race, athleticism, and so forth, stand out from the rest of the admissions due to their uniqueness among other admissions. It is important to realize, however, that these admissions are the minority of admissions among a majority of admissions fueled by students who are involved, take a rigorous course load, perform well on standardized tests, and do well in high school.
While I admit that there are certain problems with affirmative action and other race-based programs, and the college admissions as a whole, one has to admit that college admissions is fair as a whole.
Furthermore, you cannot lambaste this schools for attempting to diversify their student bodies. No program is perfect by any means, nor should any program be perfect, but the schools are nonetheless working to further the environmental facet of education.
As a whole, I am ambivalent in many ways of the matter of usage of race in determining admissions, but am nonetheless slightly leaning towards advocation of the matter, seeing it as just a step to a better program, diversifying schools and society as a whole. |