ronburgundy
Contributor
Rather than derail the other related threads, I'm starting a new one focused specifically on the implications for AA policies of the fact that blacks, regardless of objective qualifications, tend to apply to fewer colleges and are especially less likely to apply to more competitive colleges (even when qualified and would get accepted).
Blacks often do not consider schools that are not near home, or that do not have large minority populations, and often choose black-only colleges.
To understand the implications of this (or of just AA policies in general), it is critical to keep in mind that 15% of enrolled college students are black, despite blacks only being 13% of the population and 10% of those who graduate high school. IOW, blacks are over-represented among college students.
They are under-represented at the more competitive (i.e., "elite) Universities. However, even there they are usually over-represented relative to their % of the actual applicant pool. IOW, they are more likely to be admitted if they do apply.
So, the fact that they apply fewer places and choose not to apply to more competitive schools, is a major reason for their population-relative under-representation at top schools. They cannot be accepted, if they don't apply. This effect is independent of any lower qualifications.
The thread title refers to the fact, that this means that elimination of admission standards would still mean that under-representation of blacks would still exist at most schools were it currently does, because blacks are choosing not to go there for other reasons.
Thus, when AA policies are being used at these more competitive schools, one reason they need to use race to lower the academic standards (which is objectively what such policies entail) is that many of the more qualified black applicants choose not to apply. This results in AA policies amounting to picking less qualified applicants that are far more likely to fail and would have gotten into other schools, just because other students of their race who were more qualified didn't bother applying. This makes sense only if our sole concern is being able to report that the % of blacks at every school is representative, rather than caring about whether blacks are going to college in general, going where they choose to go, or going where they are most likely to succeed.
Let's put aside the issue of racist immorality and undermining of any principle of fairness that such policies reflect. It is a policy that shows little sincere regard for either what is most beneficial for these black students, or what the want in their college education.
If there is an argument that they are making bad long-term choices in where they apply, then the solution is outreach to high school students to encourage them to apply more broadly, more ambitiously, less based on race of other students, and to choose more ambitiously among their acceptance options.
Blacks often do not consider schools that are not near home, or that do not have large minority populations, and often choose black-only colleges.
To understand the implications of this (or of just AA policies in general), it is critical to keep in mind that 15% of enrolled college students are black, despite blacks only being 13% of the population and 10% of those who graduate high school. IOW, blacks are over-represented among college students.
They are under-represented at the more competitive (i.e., "elite) Universities. However, even there they are usually over-represented relative to their % of the actual applicant pool. IOW, they are more likely to be admitted if they do apply.
So, the fact that they apply fewer places and choose not to apply to more competitive schools, is a major reason for their population-relative under-representation at top schools. They cannot be accepted, if they don't apply. This effect is independent of any lower qualifications.
The thread title refers to the fact, that this means that elimination of admission standards would still mean that under-representation of blacks would still exist at most schools were it currently does, because blacks are choosing not to go there for other reasons.
Thus, when AA policies are being used at these more competitive schools, one reason they need to use race to lower the academic standards (which is objectively what such policies entail) is that many of the more qualified black applicants choose not to apply. This results in AA policies amounting to picking less qualified applicants that are far more likely to fail and would have gotten into other schools, just because other students of their race who were more qualified didn't bother applying. This makes sense only if our sole concern is being able to report that the % of blacks at every school is representative, rather than caring about whether blacks are going to college in general, going where they choose to go, or going where they are most likely to succeed.
Let's put aside the issue of racist immorality and undermining of any principle of fairness that such policies reflect. It is a policy that shows little sincere regard for either what is most beneficial for these black students, or what the want in their college education.
If there is an argument that they are making bad long-term choices in where they apply, then the solution is outreach to high school students to encourage them to apply more broadly, more ambitiously, less based on race of other students, and to choose more ambitiously among their acceptance options.
