I agree with the ASA’s conclusion that race must be considered in college admissions because race puts many obstacles in the path of success for minorities, a more diverse campus will help to end segregation and stigma while better preparing students for their field, and that Affirmative Action does not affect admissions as much as athletics and legacy do.
As previously stated, race creates obstacles for minorities trying to achieve their goals. Just as it is more impressive for a flu ridden runner to win a race than a healthy one, it is more impressive for a disadvantaged minority to score highly on a standardized test than a privileged white child. Many critics of Affirmative Action argue that the real obstacle comes from the school attended …show more content…
Opponents to AA believe that the applicants denied to institutions will direct that anger to specific minorities and that prejudice and racism will increase. In fact, there are very few times where the applicant knows who got “their spot” in the institution and rarely is the decision to take one applicant over another simply due to their race. Instead, it is based off of how much the applicant will benefit from and enrich the educational experience at the institution, and someone who worked all their life to overcome obstacles in their path is appealing in the eyes of the admissions office. Additionally, a diverse campus allows students to be immersed in different cultural experience and allows them to see the world from many different perspectives than just the one that they grew up with. This not only helps to reduce prejudice and racism, but can also help prepare them for their future career. In almost any field, from sociology to politics to even chemistry and mathematics, the ability to see problems from different perspectives is crucial in succeeding in the field. A diverse campus, and by extension Affirmative Action, allows students to develop this skill. Therefore, a more diverse campus helps not only minority students learn, but also helps every student to see the world from …show more content…
When applying to Lake Forest College, an applicant does not actually have to submit a standardized test or a common essay. Instead, an interview with the admissions office is required. I remember from my interview that the admissions counselor wanted to know about my life; where I was from, what I do for fun, what I am passionate about, and what obstacles I faced in my life. From this interview, it is easy to see that they are looking to see that an applicant works hard, is passionate about something, and if they had obstacles in their life, they overcame them and kept going. Additionally, the counselor could have a good idea of how the applicant would benefit from the institution, how they would enrich the education of others, and how they would help the community after graduation. Lake Forest College’s admissions process integrates Affirmative Action in a way that gets to know exactly how aspects of their life and the obstacles that came with it affected their education and