Asian Americans file complaint alleging discrimination in Harvard admissions

[Kaleidoscope]

 

 

By Valerie Strauss

More than 60 Asian American organizations filed a complaint (see below) with the federal government on Friday alleging that Harvard University discriminates against Asian Americans in the admissions process and calling for an investigation.

The Harvard Crimson, a student newspaper on campus, wrote in this storythat 64 groups filed the complaint with the U.S. Education and Justice departments, arguing that the university makes an “unlawful use of race†in its decisions that hurts Asian Americans.

More than 21 percent of the admitted students for the current school year were Asian American, according to Harvard data. Asian Americans comprised the largest minority group accepted, the data shows. In the Class of 2017, admitted four years earlier, Asian Americans comprised 19.9 percent.

 

The complaint, in part, says:

The Crimson story said that Robert W. Iuliano, the university’s general counsel, issued a statement in response to Friday’s complaint denying that Harvard admissions uses unlawful methods of selecting students:

Over the last two decades, Asian-American applicants to Harvard University and other Ivy League colleges have increasingly experienced discrimination in the admissions process. Many Asian-American students who have almost perfect SAT scores, top 1% GPAs, plus significant awards or leadership positions in various extracurricular activities have been rejected by Harvard University and other Ivy League Colleges while similarly situated applicants of other races have been admitted. Because of this discrimination, it has become especially difficult for high-performing male Asian-American students to gain admission to Harvard University and other Ivy League colleges. In recently years these trends have become more and more severe. They are widely reported by various Asian-American web bloggers and other media.

 

The complaint, the Crimson said, draws on the work of a number of admissions researchers, including Thomas J. Espenshade, a sociologist at Princeton who has written extensively about the subject. He told the Crimson that his research suggests that Asian Americans are disadvantaged in college admissions, but it is not clear because all parts of a student’s application are not available to researchers. He was quoted as saying:

“[W]ithin its holistic admissions process, and as part of its effort to build a diverse class, Harvard College has demonstrated a strong record of recruiting and admitting Asian American students,†Iuliano wrote, citing recent increases in the percentage of admitted Asian American students at Harvard College.

 

“I stop short of saying that Asian-American students are being discriminated against in the college application process because we don’t have sufficient empirical evidence to support that claim.â€

 

 

 

 

Asian Americans have for years argued that they are being discriminated against in college admissions. A recent Los Angeles Times story about how college admissions is changing for Asian Americans says in part:

College admission season ignites deep anxieties for Asian American families, who spend more than any other demographic on education. At elite universities across the U.S., Asian Americans form a larger share of the student body than they do of the population as a whole. And increasingly they have turned against affirmative action policies that could alter those ratios, and accuse admissions committees of discriminating against Asian American applicants.

That perspective has pitted them against advocates for diversity: More college berths for Asian American students mean fewer for black and Latino students, who are statistically underrepresented at top universities.

 

 

 

 

That story tells of a college prep business called HS2 Academy which “assumes that racial bias is a fact of college admissions and counsels students accordingly†with a goal of helping Asian American applicants “avoid coming off like another ‘cookie-cutter Asian.'â€

This is the second complaint against Harvard admissions  practices on behalf of Asian Americans in a month. A legal defense group called Project on Fair Representation filed a lawsuit against Harvard about a month ago on behalf of a group called Students for Fair Admissions. It accuses Harvard of “employing racially and ethnically discriminatory policies†in its admissions practices. You can read that suit here.

 

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/05/16/asian-americans-file-complaint-alleging-discrimination-in-harvard-admissions/?hpid=z4

 

[hyoyeon's lines in check]

This is what happens when you factor in race into the admissions system. Some benefit at the expense of others.

[dopamine]

As long as they're accepting students with equally good resumes then I don't see the problem with the school wanting to keep a diverse student body. 

I get that it's annoying to think your place was taken by someone equally as smart but the only difference was that you weren't what they were looking for ethnic-wise, but it's not like that makes the other person less deserving. 

The real problem is students getting in based on connections without having any of the effort and work to show for it.

[cago]

21% Asian is already too much comparing to the percentage of Asians living in the US which is merely 3%. Harvard is right to do that to make sure other ethnicities also have the chance to study there.

[Ron Swanson]

Sigh I doubt this would get better. Hasn't Harvard been accused of it many times before?

 

Since I'm applying to colleges next year it makes me wonder if I should try and see what happens lol

 

[Kaleidoscope]

My question is why aren't they mad at the alumni's children, athletes, big donor's offspring, and other individuals who get into Harvard, not based on merit, but based on who their parents are and/or how much money their family has donated to Harvard? I find it very interesting that these types of complaints always blame other minorities (Blacks and Hispanics) as the problem; why don't they focus their efforts on the majority of those who occupy the most space at Harvard And plus the group that Affirmative Action has benefited the most has been White women. Asians are 4.8% of the United States population yet account for 20% of the spots at Harvard. African Americans are 12.6% of the population and hold 12% of the spots at Harvard. Hispanics are 16.3% of the population and only hold 13% of the spots at Harvard.

 

Just because you were the top 1% of your class, had a perfect SAT score, and had a butt load of 5's from your AP tests does not mean that you are entitled to a spot at Harvard. Harvard does holistic reviews (for all of its non athlete, non alumni, non legacy, non big money applicants lol), and does not just look at number to determine who gets in. Plus with a 5.9% admissions rate, its already a crap shoot!

[hallah]

i feel like this is one of those situations that sits firmly in the grey area. while i understand that it's not fair to refuse students who excel well beyond the average and have shown exemplary performance throughout their academic career, on the other hand you can't ignore the fact that there are students who, more than likely, would have been every bit as successful had they had the same opportunities. meritocracy sounds good at first until you realize the level of social and economic imbalances that inevitably occur in a society that exclusively elevates those who look the best "on paper."

 

it's also understandable that universities want to create a student body that's as diverse as possible, not just to ensure an enriching experience for students that exposes them to other cultures and backgrounds, but also because it's the best environment for discovering new and unique talents and ideas -- and that benefits society, as a whole.

[Anjel]

I think this is a bit ridiculous?? Admissions takes more into account than just your SAT scores and extra currics. There's your interview, personal essay(s), your grade history, what kind of school you went to, what special classes you took, etc. to consider as well.

[Exovaries]

It's completely okay that they want diversity. It's not okay if they reject applicants that are Asian American and admit applicants of a lesser caliber but of a different ethnicity. That's pretty much it.

 

I feel so bad for the Asian males that apply there 

 

Can't wait to apply there tbh I'm going to get creamed bc I'm Asian lol

[PikaPikachu]

I'm tired of people using affirmative action against Blacks and Latinos when white women are the main beneficiary of the system.

[Manic]

the two kids in my graduating class who got into harvard are asians 

but they were just amazing people in general

[SAYAKA]

My question is why aren't they mad at the alumni's children, athletes, big donor's offspring, and other individuals who get into Harvard, not based on merit, but based on who their parents are and/or how much money their family has donated to Harvard? I find it very interesting that these types of complaints always blame other minorities (Blacks and Hispanics) as the problem; why don't they focus their efforts on the majority of those who occupy the most space at Harvard   And plus the group that Affirmative Action has benefited the most has been White women. Asians are 4.8% of the United States population yet account for 20% of the spots at Harvard. African Americans are 12.6% of the population and hold 12% of the spots at Harvard. Hispanics are 16.3% of the population and only hold 13% of the spots at Harvard.   

 

Just because you were the top 1% of your class, had a perfect SAT score, and had a butt load of 5's from your AP tests does not mean that you are entitled to a spot at Harvard. Harvard does holistic reviews (for all of its non athlete, non alumni, non legacy, non big money applicants lol), and does not just look at number to determine who gets. Plus with a 5.9% admissions rate, its already a crap shoot! 

 

i really don't think you could have said it any better. 

[xharuharux]

My question is why aren't they mad at the alumni's children, athletes, big donor's offspring, and other individuals who get into Harvard, not based on merit, but based on who their parents are and/or how much money their family has donated to Harvard? I find it very interesting that these types of complaints always blame other minorities (Blacks and Hispanics) as the problem; why don't they focus their efforts on the majority of those who occupy the most space at Harvard And plus the group that Affirmative Action has benefited the most has been White women. Asians are 4.8% of the United States population yet account for 20% of the spots at Harvard. African Americans are 12.6% of the population and hold 12% of the spots at Harvard. Hispanics are 16.3% of the population and only hold 13% of the spots at Harvard.

 

Just because you were the top 1% of your class, had a perfect SAT score, and had a butt load of 5's from your AP tests does not mean that you are entitled to a spot at Harvard. Harvard does holistic reviews (for all of its non athlete, non alumni, non legacy, non big money applicants lol), and does not just look at number to determine who gets in. Plus with a 5.9% admissions rate, its already a crap shoot!

yassss sister preach/ 

this is why I'm afraid of applying for my masters in the US 

[Junkrat]

lol asians when will they learn?

 

i hope the asians on here learn from the mistakes of those asians that are complaining

[Seulo]

 

 

My question is why aren't they mad at the alumni's children, athletes, big donor's offspring, and other individuals who get into Harvard, not based on merit, but based on who their parents are and/or how much money their family has donated to Harvard? I find it very interesting that these types of complaints always blame other minorities (Blacks and Hispanics) as the problem; why don't they focus their efforts on the majority of those who occupy the most space at Harvard And plus the group that Affirmative Action has benefited the most has been White women. Asians are 4.8% of the United States population yet account for 20% of the spots at Harvard. African Americans are 12.6% of the population and hold 12% of the spots at Harvard. Hispanics are 16.3% of the population and only hold 13% of the spots at Harvard.

Just because you were the top 1% of your class, had a perfect SAT score, and had a butt load of 5's from your AP tests does not mean that you are entitled to a spot at Harvard. Harvard does holistic reviews (for all of its non athlete, non alumni, non legacy, non big money applicants lol), and does not just look at number to determine who gets in. Plus with a 5.9% admissions rate, its already a crap shoot!

 

 

[DocumentaLy]

My question is why aren't they mad at the alumni's children, athletes, big donor's offspring, and other individuals who get into Harvard, not based on merit, but based on who their parents are and/or how much money their family has donated to Harvard? I find it very interesting that these types of complaints always blame other minorities (Blacks and Hispanics) as the problem; why don't they focus their efforts on the majority of those who occupy the most space at Harvard And plus the group that Affirmative Action has benefited the most has been White women. Asians are 4.8% of the United States population yet account for 20% of the spots at Harvard. African Americans are 12.6% of the population and hold 12% of the spots at Harvard. Hispanics are 16.3% of the population and only hold 13% of the spots at Harvard.

 

Just because you were the top 1% of your class, had a perfect SAT score, and had a butt load of 5's from your AP tests does not mean that you are entitled to a spot at Harvard. Harvard does holistic reviews (for all of its non athlete, non alumni, non legacy, non big money applicants lol), and does not just look at number to determine who gets in. Plus with a 5.9% admissions rate, its already a crap shoot!

 

Best post in this thread...

[TAEDDY]

They are already 20% of the student body and yet they still moan? Bye.

[aris]

My question is why aren't they mad at the alumni's children, athletes, big donor's offspring, and other individuals who get into Harvard, not based on merit, but based on who their parents are and/or how much money their family has donated to Harvard? I find it very interesting that these types of complaints always blame other minorities (Blacks and Hispanics) as the problem; why don't they focus their efforts on the majority of those who occupy the most space at Harvard And plus the group that Affirmative Action has benefited the most has been White women. Asians are 4.8% of the United States population yet account for 20% of the spots at Harvard. African Americans are 12.6% of the population and hold 12% of the spots at Harvard. Hispanics are 16.3% of the population and only hold 13% of the spots at Harvard.

 

Just because you were the top 1% of your class, had a perfect SAT score, and had a butt load of 5's from your AP tests does not mean that you are entitled to a spot at Harvard. Harvard does holistic reviews (for all of its non athlete, non alumni, non legacy, non big money applicants lol), and does not just look at number to determine who gets in. Plus with a 5.9% admissions rate, its already a crap shoot!

 

Actually even though this specific article doesn't focus on it, the lawsuit does speak out against legacy admissions as well (and for that reason it's prolly going to fail too since some schools are super dependent on prestige and connections...). It suggests for admissions accounting for SES rather than race, which in theory would still cover most of students that affirmative action allegedly wanted to help. Although realistically if AA is removed, then Asian American enrollment would increase much like the UC's did when it was repealed then, so people that aren't fond of asians being overrepresented would stll be displeased. Anyhow, I doubt it'll succeed since Asian Americans wield even less political clout than the Jews in the 20s so no one really cares.

[Vanilla21]

Lol. There are many other good colleges to go to, not just Harvard. If they wanna blame it on black/Hispanics, then they should blame it on rich kids that got into colleges easier. In the end, colleges looking for diversity. If a college rejected you, you go for different school. Life is always unfair.