"Exploring Alternative Paths to College Diversity: Beyond Affirmative Action"
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The New York Times
In response to the Supreme Court's ruling against race-conscious admissions, colleges and universities are exploring alternative ways to achieve diversity. The medical school at the University of California, Davis, has developed a socioeconomic disadvantage scale (S.E.D.) to evaluate applicants, which has helped make it one of the most diverse medical schools in the country. Other schools have also expressed interest in this approach, as well as other socioeconomic measurements like Landscape from the College Board. However, skeptics question whether these rankings can fully replace race-conscious affirmative action, and legal challenges may arise. Increasing diversity in medical schools is seen as crucial for bridging healthcare disparities, and socioeconomic-based admissions policies may play a role in achieving this goal.