Harvard Class of 2020

[Anonymous]

Whatever happened to MLK's "content of their character..." when it comes to College Admission? Why can't race be blind on a resume, just like it is on job applications?

[Anonymous]

Here's the good news: Harvard is a private institution. So unless you are a graduate, a current student, a *paying* parent, a faculty or staff member, or a donor, you aren't entitled to an opinion on admissions or anything else related to Harvard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whatever happened to MLK's "content of their character..." when it comes to College Admission? Why can't race be blind on a resume, just like it is on job applications?

Many companies have hiring targets for URM and females. Race and gender are absolutely part of employment decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whatever happened to MLK's "content of their character..." when it comes to College Admission? Why can't race be blind on a resume, just like it is on job applications?

Haha that you think job applications are race-blind.

[Anonymous]

Elite schools have figured out that the White privileged class is not always the best source of genius, talent, creativity and innovation. These things come in many forms and from may places. Holistic admission policies are just better at identifying folks with these factors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is bizarre. The question is asking why Harvard is 51% minority while the country is only 37% minority. Harvard admits 22% Asians, more than 4x or 17% higher than the national fraction of Asian-Americans (4.8%)...a margin that is more than sufficient to explain the different between 37% vs 51% minority.

Any y'all are fixated on the 2% over-representation of black Americans?

No wonder your kids won't get into Harvard. You lack basic reasoning skills.

-- Harvard PhD

Do I really need to break this out to you

We are talking about one of the best schools in the country which should have the best students in the country attending not proportional representation

Bet you are a liberal

I don't know where you are getting that I'm suggesting that Harvard should have proportional representation. But, the entire premise of this thread is that Harvard's minority fraction is larger than the US minority fraction. I'm responding to that premise and offering a more nuanced perspective.

What I tried to do is assess how anomalous Harvard's student demographics are. The largest anomalous population is Asian...which makes sense based on overall HS performance. Black Americans are only slightly over-represented, though ultimately we're talking about 15% of about 2000 people. In other words, 300 students. You're telling me you don't believe that there are 300 black students in the entire country who are qualified to go to Harvard? You're really going to argue that? And you're talking down to me?

I'm sorry that your kid didn't get into Harvard, I truly am since it seems like you will never get over it. But if you are so concerned about their future, maybe start by learning some basic reasoning skills and passing them along to your kid instead of just reacting emotionally to things you think are unfair.

I think there are 3000 white and Asian students that are better than 250 of the 300 black students

ps f you

[Anonymous]

let me add so you can understand

There are easily 3000 white and Asian students across the country who are better than 250 of the 300 black students at Harvard and deserve a spot over them

[Anonymous]

This post should read Harvard class of 2021, not 2020.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:let me add so you can understand

There are easily 3000 white and Asian students across the country who are better than 250 of the 300 black students at Harvard and deserve a spot over them

This is likely true but it's also because of the discrepancy in numbers. Also, I think we would all agree that there are significant advantages to having a diverse student body.

[Anonymous]

There are easily 3000 white and Asian students across the country who are better than 250 of the 300 black students at Harvard and deserve a spot over them

On what basis?

Grade inflation? SAT/ACT prep with more than a dozen bites at the exam? admission consultants?

Did these 3000 folk you identified even apply to Harvard?

[Anonymous]

Whose A is really an A or equal to the C at another high school across town?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whatever happened to MLK's "content of their character..." when it comes to College Admission? Why can't race be blind on a resume, just like it is on job applications?

I don't think he was ever in charge of college admissions, so there's that. Also, lol to race blind job applications. I'm so done listening to white people whine about efforts to level the playing field in a system that they rigged for centuries, and expect us to think you've done your due diligence in a single generation. Done. My mother couldn't drink at the same water fountains as some of you fools. I'm under 30. It hasn't been long enough for you to pat your selves on the back and called it square.

There is still a massive discrepancy in the quality of education and enrichment that many minority children have access to compared to your lily white snowflakes. So sorry to break it to you, but the black kid you think stole your kid's seat because he scored 100 points lower? That kid is a fighter. He ran the same race as your kid, except he had a handicap, and your kid had wheels, and in the end your kid barely beat him. Yes he deserves the spot. That black kid has the abilities coupled with a drive to change the world. He'll give back to his community and to the university. Your kid may do that same things, but white men have always had their chance. It's time for everyone else to have theirs too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whatever happened to MLK's "content of their character..." when it comes to College Admission? Why can't race be blind on a resume, just like it is on job applications?

I don't think he was ever in charge of college admissions, so there's that. Also, lol to race blind job applications. I'm so done listening to white people whine about efforts to level the playing field in a system that they rigged for centuries, and expect us to think you've done your due diligence in a single generation. Done. My mother couldn't drink at the same water fountains as some of you fools. I'm under 30. It hasn't been long enough for you to pat your selves on the back and called it square.

There is still a massive discrepancy in the quality of education and enrichment that many minority children have access to compared to your lily white snowflakes. So sorry to break it to you, but the black kid you think stole your kid's seat because he scored 100 points lower? That kid is a fighter. He ran the same race as your kid, except he had a handicap, and your kid had wheels, and in the end your kid barely beat him. Yes he deserves the spot. That black kid has the abilities coupled with a drive to change the world. He'll give back to his community and to the university. Your kid may do that same things, but white men have always had their chance. It's time for everyone else to have theirs too.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:let me add so you can understand

There are easily 3000 white and Asian students across the country who are better than 250 of the 300 black students at Harvard and deserve a spot over them

Better is a subjective term. Stats are not a measure of a person's quality as a student or human being.

I'm a Stanford and Harvard alum who understands her kids will have a harder time than I did getting into those schools, and I'm okay with that. My kids will have great lives no matter what.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whatever happened to MLK's "content of their character..." when it comes to College Admission? Why can't race be blind on a resume, just like it is on job applications?

I don't think he was ever in charge of college admissions, so there's that. Also, lol to race blind job applications. I'm so done listening to white people whine about efforts to level the playing field in a system that they rigged for centuries, and expect us to think you've done your due diligence in a single generation. Done. My mother couldn't drink at the same water fountains as some of you fools. I'm under 30. It hasn't been long enough for you to pat your selves on the back and called it square.

There is still a massive discrepancy in the quality of education and enrichment that many minority children have access to compared to your lily white snowflakes. So sorry to break it to you, but the black kid you think stole your kid's seat because he scored 100 points lower? That kid is a fighter. He ran the same race as your kid, except he had a handicap, and your kid had wheels, and in the end your kid barely beat him. Yes he deserves the spot. That black kid has the abilities coupled with a drive to change the world. He'll give back to his community and to the university. Your kid may do that same things, but white men have always had their chance. It's time for everyone else to have theirs too.

Well said.

Signed,

Parent of a White suburban kid.