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I think its clear that Harvard's selection process is more about predicting (and admitting) those who will be successful than those who are most deserving (by s

I think its clear that Harvard's selection process is more about predicting (and admitting) those who will be successful than those who are most deserving (by some definition of deserving). This is how they increase their brand's value. I'm not sure how you realign an institutions incentive's to change this priority.

oarabbus_ 7y ago
It's pretty clear that Harvard's selection process is more about letting in wealthy and legacy students. This population tends to be more successful in life.
- opportune 7y ago
  Elite institutions need to juggle a few responsibilities: They need to let in the children of the ultra wealthy for the status symbol, money, and networking for students. They need to let in the children of high paying donors (not always the same group as above) for the money. They need to let in a lot of smart students to give legitimacy to the above groups and create new families of donors. They need to have a demographic profile that roughly approximates the US demographic profile to not appear racist. They also need to have a balanced gender ratio, not overly favor a single region, etc. They want to have a balanced class, i.e. not everyone studying computer science and economics, people who can play trombone, people for the Fencing team. You can argue that it's basically all about giving legitimacy and prestige to the ultra donors and wealthy, but it's also about introducing high-achieving people from less privileged backgrounds to those from more privileged backgrounds in the hope that you will get new generations of wealthy donors.
  - oarabbus_ 7y ago
    >They need to have a demographic profile that roughly approximates the US demographic profile to not appear racist. They also need to have a balanced gender ratio, not overly favor a single region, etc. I don't think this is true of any Ivy League institution (that the racial demographics mirrors that of the nation). The gender ratio and "regionality" are well-balanced, however.
deleted 7y ago
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oarabbus_ 7y ago

It's pretty clear that Harvard's selection process is more about letting in wealthy and legacy students. This population tends to be more successful in life.

opportune 7y ago
Elite institutions need to juggle a few responsibilities: They need to let in the children of the ultra wealthy for the status symbol, money, and networking for students. They need to let in the children of high paying donors (not always the same group as above) for the money. They need to let in a lot of smart students to give legitimacy to the above groups and create new families of donors. They need to have a demographic profile that roughly approximates the US demographic profile to not appear racist. They also need to have a balanced gender ratio, not overly favor a single region, etc. They want to have a balanced class, i.e. not everyone studying computer science and economics, people who can play trombone, people for the Fencing team. You can argue that it's basically all about giving legitimacy and prestige to the ultra donors and wealthy, but it's also about introducing high-achieving people from less privileged backgrounds to those from more privileged backgrounds in the hope that you will get new generations of wealthy donors.
- oarabbus_ 7y ago
  >They need to have a demographic profile that roughly approximates the US demographic profile to not appear racist. They also need to have a balanced gender ratio, not overly favor a single region, etc. I don't think this is true of any Ivy League institution (that the racial demographics mirrors that of the nation). The gender ratio and "regionality" are well-balanced, however.

deleted 7y ago

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