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We know what top universities would look like if they selected purely for academics. They would look like CalTech. Again, this isn't true. Caltech considers ra

We know what top universities would look like if they selected purely for academics. They would look like CalTech. Again, this isn't true. Caltech considers race, legacies (this is recent), work experience and volunteer experience (although they hold less weight than academics). See section C7 of CalTech's CDS filings: http://finance.caltech.edu/Resources/cds http://finance.caltech.edu/Resources/cds

jessriedel 12y ago
You're splitting hairs. First, as you say, this is recent, so it doesn't affect my points. Second, CalTech clearly makes race a much smaller factor than the Ivies, and in fact many folks who support giving racial preferences consider CalTech's stated admission policies to be mere lip service. CalTech's class is just 1% black.
- Anechoic 12y ago
  Only the legacy consideration is recent, everything else (including racial consideration) has been happening for at least 20 years. But I was responding to the quote that Caltech selects "purely" for academics. They don't, they look at a number of factors. CalTech's stated admission policies to be mere lip service As I noted in another response to this thread, as a black high-schooler I was highly recruited by CalTech despite showing no interest in attending. They also have an outreach program. It's more than lip service. They put in less emphasize than other institutions, but it's not zero.
  - jessriedel 12y ago
    > Only the legacy consideration is recent, everything else (including racial consideration) has been happening for at least 20 years. But I was responding to the quote that Caltech selects "purely" for academics. They don't, they look at a number of factors. Fair enough. Thanks for the correction. However, I still don't think their official statements are very meaningful unless backed up by actual results. >> CalTech's stated admission policies to be mere lip service > They also have an outreach program. Oh sure, but these aren't admissions policies. Sorry, I'm not trying to start a fight on semantics, but I do think (especially in the context of this article) that having outreach programs is importantly different than changing the admissions procedure.

jessriedel 12y ago

You're splitting hairs. First, as you say, this is recent, so it doesn't affect my points. Second, CalTech clearly makes race a much smaller factor than the Ivies, and in fact many folks who support giving racial preferences consider CalTech's stated admission policies to be mere lip service. CalTech's class is just 1% black.

Anechoic 12y ago
Only the legacy consideration is recent, everything else (including racial consideration) has been happening for at least 20 years. But I was responding to the quote that Caltech selects "purely" for academics. They don't, they look at a number of factors. CalTech's stated admission policies to be mere lip service As I noted in another response to this thread, as a black high-schooler I was highly recruited by CalTech despite showing no interest in attending. They also have an outreach program. It's more than lip service. They put in less emphasize than other institutions, but it's not zero.
- jessriedel 12y ago
  > Only the legacy consideration is recent, everything else (including racial consideration) has been happening for at least 20 years. But I was responding to the quote that Caltech selects "purely" for academics. They don't, they look at a number of factors. Fair enough. Thanks for the correction. However, I still don't think their official statements are very meaningful unless backed up by actual results. >> CalTech's stated admission policies to be mere lip service > They also have an outreach program. Oh sure, but these aren't admissions policies. Sorry, I'm not trying to start a fight on semantics, but I do think (especially in the context of this article) that having outreach programs is importantly different than changing the admissions procedure.