Diversity and Legacy Admissions in Ivy League Universities
Recently, I saw a video on Facebook where a professor at Harvard discusses affirmative action with his students. Affirmative action is a set of procedures which seeks to eliminate unlawful discrimination in applications, whether they be for a job or an educational program.
This video mentioned the concept of diversity and legacy admissions in Ivy League universities, and I want us all to understand this as a way of making better decisions.
Diversity means: Considering people from different backgrounds and ethnicities in schools…
Legacy admissions: Admitting people based on having a parent as an alumnus of the school.
“Should these factors matter?” They argued. “Or should admissions be based solely on grades?”
You see, backgrounds are different. You can’t compare the education and exposure a child in Lekki British School will get to that of Ojodu Grammar School.
Inherently, the latter is at a disadvantage — poorly-motivated teachers, environmental influence, and other factors.
So, if both meet the minimum criteria to gain admission into Harvard, and we’re forced to shortlist, should we give the Ojodu student a chance at the expense of the other to create a more equal environment?
Now concerning legacy admissions, having parents who are scholars and alumni means, they’ll raise you well.
They’ll expose you early to the things you should know and there’s a great chance you will be scholarly too — like pick up from where they left off.
This benefits the school and probably advances science and the society. But should it matter? Should it add to your overall point for better consideration during admissions?
This discussion is really important.
It transcends university admissions to grant opportunities, job opportunities, and other opportunities.
Should we give preference to some people because they come from disadvantaged backgrounds? (For a more equal environment…because one opportunity has a ripple effect)
And should having parents/relatives working in the company count as a point for you?
Or are you doomed to fail, fighting an uphill battle just because you’re born in some area, forced to listen to the only dumb teacher you can get?
This is a topic I’m very passionate about.
Before you answer yes or no to the questions here, take a moment to think.
I, for one, was already done with the university before I know how to leverage that part of my life to win in life…
…and I would spend YEARS before I actually know what a proper job entails; how to get one, and how to win at it.
Unfortunately, NOTHING is changing about the system that creates our graduates.
Just a bunch of innocent students, following instructions, only to receive the shocker of their lives upon graduation wondering where they missed it when they struggle.
Thankfully, organizations and schools are increasingly more diverse to accommodate the differences in our society.
But if you’re in-between jobs or relentlessly pursuing an opportunity right now, understanding these conditions helps you know two things:
1. Sometimes it’s not your fault — you’re just a victim of a system or a sacrifice that must be made. (E.g. if you’re dropped for someone else whose parent is an alumnus or sacrificed for diversity).
2. You have a different level of responsibility to break into some realms. Everyone works hard to get to the top— work ethic is the price of admission — but some hard work(s) are more pronounced than others.
This is why I have a vested interest in education.
It is important that many young people understand what they are up against in society today, and build the specific knowledge to break through or create solutions for some of these problems.
We all clamour for a better, more effective society, yeah?
Proper education (one that’s transparent and gives the leverage it should) is the bedrock of that!
And we are coming.
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P.S.: You may watch the video reference HERE.
Thank you for reading and I hope to read your thoughts.
