Sunday, July 12, 2009

Education

On Education by U.S. News Staff

Princeton's Admissions Policies Investigated

June 16, 2008 04:04 PM ET | Steven Yaccino | Permanent Link | Print

Do elite universities hold Asian-Americans to higher standards than other applicants? Do Ivy League schools set caps on the number of high-achieving minority students admitted, comparing Asian-American applicants against one another instead of the rest of the applicant pool? These questions were recently recharged by word that the Education Department will broaden its investigation of Princeton University's admissions process, a probe that began after an applicant filed a federal civil rights complaint saying the school spurned him because of his race.

Jian Li, 19, was rejected from Princeton and four other elite institutions in 2006 even though he had perfect SAT scores and graduated in the top 1 percent of his high school class. Li, who was enrolled at Yale and now studies at Harvard, cited a white classmate from his high school who was admitted to Princeton with lower test scores and grades as alleged proof of racial discrimination.

Princeton says it did not discriminate against Li, stating that for the year he applied, 14 percent of enrolled students were of Asian descent and that the school admitted only half of the applicants with perfect SAT scores. The Education Department initially rejected Li's claim because of lack of evidence, but has just announced it will launch a broader "compliance review" to see if Princeton complies with federal civil rights regulations in its policies. A spokesman for the Education Department told the Wall Street Journal the inquiry "in no way implies" the agency has made up its mind on the complaint's legitimacy. Similar investigations were conducted in the early 1990s at University of California-Berkeley, which dropped a policy that limited enrollment of students with Asian ethnicities, and Harvard University, which wasn't charged with any violations.

Tags: college admissions | race | Princeton

Tools: Share | | Comments (24) | Print

Reader Comments

Racist Princeton

Asian Li was rejected for a less-qualified white applicant with lower scores and achievement. Based on merit, Li should have been admitted, and the less-qualified white student should have been rejected.

When a white female, Gratz (University of Michigan), files a complaint about racism, many whites applaud and abet her. When an Asian complains about racism, most whites laugh. This is a racist double standard.

The racist article relentlessly attacks Asians. They didn't make a racist article assailing whites because whites would WHINE and cry racism.

A student with a perfect SAT score doesn't communicate in broken English. So whites are jealous because a well-qualified Asian dared to request equal treatment. Less-qualified whites are favored over more-qualified Asians. This amounts to affirmative action for underqualified whites.

Hm... this article makes it seem like he sued because of his perfect SAT scores. Why not mention the Princeton study that shows that African Americans benefit from affirmative action at the expense of Asian Americans?

http://opr.princeton.edu/faculty/tje/espenshadessqptii.pdf

bottom line !

basing your arguments on subjective factors and extra-curricular activities to justify discrimination really misses the point.

let's say an asian student scored 2300 sat score & a 4.0 gpa and a black student scored an sat score of 2100 and a 3.8 gpa (on the same subjects), and let's say they both have virtually identical backgrounds and extracurricular achievements - who do you think will be accepted first? do you have any doubt?

Add your thoughts

Your comment will be posted immediately, unless it is spam or contains profanity. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.

advertisement

About On Education

Report cards may come out only twice a year, but education news happens every day. Here is where U.S. News writers grade the latest developments, from school districts banning the game of tag to congressional debates that affect college affordability. Check regularly for the most recent updates.

advertisement

NEWSLETTER

Sign up today for the latest headlines from U.S. News & World Report delivered to you free.

RSS FEEDS

Personalize your U.S. News with our feeds of blogs and breaking news headlines.

U.S. NEWS MOBILE

U.S. News daily briefings are also available on your mobile device.

Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our Terms and Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy.
Make USNews.com your home page.