Who's Your Daddy?

Who’s Your Daddy?

Why Are Droves of Unqualified, Unprepared Kids Getting into Our Top Colleges? Because Their Dads Are Alumni

John Larew

Retell

This piece speaks about how college alumni are getting their children into Ivy league schools even though their children are far less qualified.

When questioned why this was occurring, Ivy League schools said that children of alumni were just better. This, it turns out, is just not true.

“ . . . after two years of study, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) found that, far from being more qualified or even equally qualified, the average admitted legacy at Harvard between 1981 and 1988 was significantly less qualified than the average admitted non legacy. “(Rosenblum and Travis, 2012, p.305)

Why would this happen when these schools are getting plenty of capable and deserving applicants? “When 20 percent of Harvard’s student body gets a legacy preference, aristocracy is the word that comes to mind.” (Rosenblum and Travis, 2012, p.306) Larew asks why no one is doing anything about this unfair practice. Again, one word answers the question: money. These top schools, even though they claim to be needs blind, are accepting students who have the money to pay full price.

Derek Bok, is one person who has spoken out about this topic. Bok warns “.. . that the modern university is slowly turning from a truth-seeking enterprise into a money–grubbing corporation. . .” (Rosenblum and Travis, 2012, p.309)

John Larew believes colleges need to get away from the legacy birthright. Colleges and Universities need to be looking at accepting capable and deserving students even if they are poor and disadvantaged. 

Recall/React

I have a son looking at colleges right now. He has done well academically and is a pretty good wrestler. He works very hard in both areas. Because Ben will have to pay for college on his own, we are looking to find a place he will fit in, be able to do some wrestling, and will hopefully get a really good financial aid package. We have been looking at the different needs blind schools. When you read about needs blind admissions it sounds wonderful. They are seemingly, considering merit before finances. However, when you look closely the facts don’t line up.

Two books that also speak of this issue are Crazy U by Andrew Ferguson and B+ Grade, A+ College Application by Joie Jager-Hyman. 

My husband wishes each College and University would put out base criteria. Any applicant that meets those base requirements would then be put in a lottery system. I envision a big BINGO ball where the admissions department chair would turn the handle and a little ball with someone’s name comes out. When all the spots have been filled in with a name, that class is filled. No one’s race, class, gender, disability or lack thereof would be considered. Fair.

Or is it fair? It could be argued that those students who meet the base criteria were had an advantage. They probably had the best education, had a SAT/ACT tutor for years, volunteered in different fields (because they didn’t have to work), played instruments, etc. The list goes on and on.

Rethink

I have learned that nothing is fair. There is no definition of fairness. A Harvard Alumni may feel that it is only fair that their child go to Harvard too. A national champion wrestle may think it is only fair that they attend Penn State were Cael Sanderson coaches, a students who has worked hard on their own in high school and earned all A’s in AP classes may feel it is only fair they get into a top school.

I have also learned that things really aren’t much different than they were in the Downton Abby series. The huge castles with servants living in the basements may not be around, but we still understand our place in society. It is very hard to break out of our social roles.