I am very aware of the details of the accusations. My personal belief, backed with some actual detailed real life knowledge, is that most people who think that discrimination is going on don’t understand one of two related things:
1. How elite school applicants are rated. Most folks seem to think it’s just test scores and maybe grades. It’s not.
2. What successful applicants at elite schools look like on paper. Most people think that elite school student bodies are just a bunch of brainiacs with near perfect grades and scores. While grades and scores are certainly high, the defining characteristic of the core admits are that they have done something of note at the regional, national, or international level (not always true of fringe admits, but that’s a different story). Sometimes these people don’t even have near perfect test scores or grades (frankly, some come across as not terribly smart at all), but they are able to get compelling things done.
I recommend reading Cal Newport’s book on elite school admissions to get a better idea of how to get in.
Also, it seems like two courts have said that Harvard in particular did not discriminate against Asians.
I think you’re making a lot of assumptions of the average readers’ views on the admissions policies of elite schools.
I’d say I have a pretty solid view of how the admissions process works.
1. How elite school applicants are rated. Most folks seem to think it’s just test scores and maybe grades. It’s not.
2. What successful applicants at elite schools look like on paper. Most people think that elite school student bodies are just a bunch of brainiacs with near perfect grades and scores. While grades and scores are certainly high, the defining characteristic of the core admits are that they have done something of note at the regional, national, or international level (not always true of fringe admits, but that’s a different story). Sometimes these people don’t even have near perfect test scores or grades (frankly, some come across as not terribly smart at all), but they are able to get compelling things done.
I recommend reading Cal Newport’s book on elite school admissions to get a better idea of how to get in.
Also, it seems like two courts have said that Harvard in particular did not discriminate against Asians.
https://www.npr.org/2020/11/12/934122462/appeals-court-rules...