Reflection 3

Admissions Confidential and Reflection
In the article “Admissions Confidential How the Process Can Make a Fool or Liar Out of Anyone,” author Jason England shares with us his observations during his three-year tenure as a college admissions officer. Coming from an economically disadvantaged background, England was fortunate to have been raised by a single mother that was bright and intelligent and despite their challenging financial circumstances who made it a point to expose him to books and culture as much as possible. England shares a memory of a conversation between him and his mother when they were discussing Monet’s painting series featuring the Rouen Cathedral. In this series of more than thirty paintings, Monet explores changes of an object due to the different light throughout the day. Curious and not understanding why someone would paint multiple pieces depicting the same object, England questions his mother, who explains that Monet was trying “to bring it back, to think of it in a new way.” I believe that England shares this memory in his article on the college admissions process because he is challenging the reader to question the system and the intentions of its policies. By looking at the effects and outcomes of college admissions policies, he guides the reader to look at the admissions process differently and to question what we see so that the truth is exposed. He describes and substantiates a “system of affirmative action in place for wealthy white people.” He outlines an admissions process that “exists chiefly to replicate the elite, privileged class of society” where Early Decision, standardized test scores, Division 3 sports, and private schools all provide advantages against which no affirmative action can compete. If we believe his words, and we have no reason not to, the entire affirmative action process is just an illusion of fairness that does not give a leg up for those that come from less fortunate backgrounds. As such, the cycle will continue, and the haves will continue to have more while the have nots will continue to have even less. Moreover and more alarmingly, many continue to believe the fallacy that affirmative action is helpful when, in fact, it is not and that there is no motivation for colleges to change the system.
Early decision is the binding application program favored by those that know where they would like to attend school and who do not need to wait and see what type of need-based aid offers are available. Because Early Decision is binding, applicants apply to only one college. However, more qualified applicants may not be able to take advantage of what many believe is a program that rewards on the basis of merit and proper fit. In actuality, it favors applicants with the ascribed status of being from wealthier families who are fortunate enough to not worried about need-based aid. More qualified candidates whose families cannot pay the full tuition are disadvantaged by Early Decision programs because they must wait to compare all offers of assistance offered. Because of this, it also means that the Early Decision program is utilized by private college counselors or those at elite private high schools who know that the Early Decision applicant pool may be less competitive. Unfortunately, there is no reason for the colleges to do away with the Early Decision programs because it is advantageous to them by helping to protect their yield and by guaranteeing a certain number of full tuition-paying students. 
England also discusses Early Decision II and Athletics, where under-qualified white males are favored over other more qualified candidates just because they might play sports. More lenient academic standards judge these candidates with high athletic scores. They could also be judged by different admissions committees that would allow coaches to “tip” a play that they need into being accepted. More qualified African American athletic applicants could be deferred to the general decision pool to free up more “tips” spaces for coaches, and in general decision cases could be made for admittance based on diversification. This process at liberal arts colleges served to displace minorities or women that were potentially more qualified applicants over less qualified applicants with higher athletic abilities.
Nevertheless, why does athletics at Division Three liberal arts school matter? It should not, but it does because there is an ugly truth that no one wants to admit or discuss. Accepted because of money, kids believe it was due to merit.
Reading and thinking about the college admissions inequities outlined in England’s article is alarming and uncomfortable. While one would still not condone these practices, they may not be as offensive if limited to private colleges. However, the unfair practices that favor the wealthy are present in our public schools as well, and taxpayer-funded higher education programs should allow equal acceptance opportunities for all residents. Nevertheless, that does not fix the problems that begin in preschool, where those that can afford better preschool programs have children that are more prepared for Kindergarten. There are so many places between birth to college where money provides advantages to those children. The author was so fortunate to have had an intellectually curious mother that did her best to educate him beyond what he learned at school despite their challenging financial circumstances. If not for her many interventions, England may not have been able to overcome the disadvantages of his ascribed status. 
In order to make the admissions process more equitable, there should be full transparency of all criteria upon which applicants are judged. Moving toward a test-optional or not test application process for all colleges would be a positive step to help address these inequalities. Students are burdened in time and money to prepare for these standardized tests. Yet, they provide no useful indicators to colleges of preparedness beyond first-year class success. Athletic teams should be made up of players that are qualified to attend the school to which admitted, or perhaps the programs should end entirely. European colleges do not have this cultural idea that ties collegiate sports to a good college experience. Somehow schools need to address the fact that better-qualified candidates may be losing spaces in highly selective colleges because of the advantages given to athletes. If the purpose of college is education, there is no place for athletic ability to impinge on the admission process. 

Works cited
England, Jason. “Admissions Confidential The Process Can Make a Fool or Liar out of Anyone.” The Chronicle of Higher Education, 3 Dec. 2013