All articles tagged with #elite universities
The Trump administration's aggressive tactics to influence higher education, including criticizing elite universities and proposing policy changes, have alienated many schools, complicating efforts to build broad support for its agenda, especially regarding research funding and campus policies.
A lawsuit alleges that elite colleges conspire through early decision policies to inflate tuition prices and reduce competition, primarily benefiting wealthy students and potentially exacerbating inequality. The case targets 32 selective schools, claiming their practices hinder fair financial aid distribution and violate antitrust laws, while also raising concerns about the fairness and transparency of the college admissions process.
Donald Trump criticized a federal judge and threatened to cut Harvard's federal funding amid ongoing legal battles over the university's funding and alleged discrimination issues, as part of his broader crackdown on elite higher education institutions.
A study conducted by Opportunity Insights, a group of Harvard researchers, found that children from the top 1% financially are more than twice as likely to attend elite universities compared to middle-class families with similar SAT and ACT scores. The study analyzed admissions data, income tax records, and test scores from 1999 to 2015. The research revealed that legacy admissions, nonacademic credentials, and athletic recruitment contribute to this advantage, but do not affect post-university outcomes. Attending elite institutions increases students' chances of reaching the top 1% of income, attending elite graduate schools, and getting employed at prestigious firms. The study suggests that diversifying admissions policies could help address income disparity and promote social mobility.
The Supreme Court's decision to strike down affirmative action will likely have significant consequences for elite college admissions, potentially limiting the pool of Black and Hispanic students and affecting future diversity in leadership positions. However, race-conscious admissions have always benefited only a small fraction of students, with the majority facing obstacles such as financial struggles and limited access to academically selective universities. Many students opt for community colleges or enter the workforce directly after high school. Rising college costs, inadequate financial aid, and family obligations further hinder college attendance. The decision may also send a message to minority students that they are not wanted on college campuses and could lead to a rollback of programs centered on race.
A federal appeals court overturned all fraud convictions of two parents who were found guilty of paying bribes to get their kids into elite universities as part of a sprawling college admissions scandal. The Boston-based appeals court upheld one conviction of another parent, John Wilson, on a charge of filing a false tax return. The ruling is a blow for prosecutors, who netted more than 50 convictions in the scandal that ensnared prominent businesspeople, celebrities, and other wealthy parents across the country.