<p>“Maybe you are suggesting we disregard all academic information about a student entirely?” </p>
<p>Not at all. I am suggesting admissions is based on a composite of the achievements of the applicants. EC’s included. </p>
<p>“But to assume that the student who has demonstrated him or herself to be less capable of contribution than a top tier student has will contribute less to society is perfectly logical”. </p>
<p>Then I guess EVERY student that wants to succeed in life better go to a top tier college. There are THOUSANDs of examples of people making great contributions to society with less academic credentials than many around them. Again, it depends on the individual. I am in the workplace, and have run across so many people that have no concept on how to interact as a team because their whole life they performed in a self silo that focused on individual goals. </p>
<p>“Let’s restrict this to the consideration of the case of Middlebury, which does not give merit awards (and actually many merit scholarships are reserved for those students who plan to pursue as a major those fields in which they demonstrate exceptional strength)”.</p>
<p>OK, I don’t claim to be an expert on Middlebury. However, there are merit awards for many EC’s besides athletics at many colleges. </p>
<p>“Consider the average student with athletic talent enough to play varsity in college but not enough to play professionally against the elite student who is involved in cancer research. Which of those would you wager would contribute more to society? And even if the athletic recruit were to play professionally, so what? How is that contributing more to society?”</p>
<p>So who does contribute to society? Do the students who become successful authors or artist contribute? Does the student who goes on to law enforcement and solve complex crimes add value? Does the woman who writes your insurance policy that protects you from catestropic loss? Does the fund manager who picks the stops that help you pay for your children’s education contribute? Of course, you all contribute to society. The comparison is extreme!</p>
<p>The original OP used the word “SHAMEFUL”. I think people should stop belly aching over other people and worry about themselves. Not all students that participate in sports (Especially D3 sports) are dumb jocks.</p>