<p>ariesathena, I failed to specify 46% at a specific school like Olin and MIT. That’s what I meant. Here is a simple illustration of what I said before. Example: Asians. Asians score higher than others and do disproportionately well. Assume (even though this isn’t the case) that their current proportion in the ivies is a result of their being admitted under standards similar to other groups, their merits and their numbers. They comprise say, 20% of the students. To raise that to 30, 40 or 50 percent, you would have to either lower the standards for Asians, or start a massive recruiting drive (which I doubt the efficacy of, especially when other colleges do the same). This point alone does not at all demonstrate whether women recieve preference or not. I am just trying to demonstrate a how higher average score among women may still translate into preference with below 50% representation.</p>