Clout goes to college

[Sam_Lee]

<p>Looks like we are no better than China. :D</p>

<p>[Clout</a> goes to college - Chicago Tribune](<a href=“Chicago Tribune: Chicago news, sports, weather, entertainment - Chicago Tribune”>Chicago Tribune: Chicago news, sports, weather, entertainment - Chicago Tribune)

Since 2005, about 800 undergraduate students have landed on the clout list for the Urbana-Champaign campus. It’s unknown how many would qualify for entry on their own, but their acceptance rate is higher than average. For the 2008-09 school year, for example, about 77 percent were accepted, compared with 69 percent of all applicants…</p>

<p>In 2008, for example, freshmen on average ranked in the 88th percentile in their high school class, while clouted students ranked in the 76th percentile…</p>

<p>The investigation found:</p>

<p>–University officials recognized that certain students were underqualified – but admitted them anyway.</p>

<p>–Admissions officers complained in vain as their recommendations were overruled.</p>

<p>–Trustees pushed for preferred students, some of whom were friends, neighbors and relatives.</p>

<p>–Lawmakers delivered admission requests to U. of I. lobbyists, whose jobs depend on pleasing the lawmakers.</p>

<p>–University officials delayed admissions notifications to weak candidates until the end of the school year to minimize the fallout at top feeder high schools.

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<p>

“I do try to work very hard to maintain the integrity of the admissions process,” said Keith Marshall, associate provost for enrollment management. “The whole Category I process is a bit of a challenge to me, but I don’t believe it is unique to this university.”

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