A new report suggests that we’re on the cusp of important, necessary changes in the way colleges evaluate applicants.
Source: Rethinking College Admissions – The New York Times
Above it the link to his recent column. Here is what I wrote. (I will add another comment soon.)
I’m a former math professor who has seen colleges make what appear like legitimate promises that are no more than just clever marketing strategies.
Colleges get away with this for many reasons, one of which is the ability to take in even astute observers like Mr. Bruni. Others include: the fact that their “customers” are, by definition, naïve and uneducated; and, the fact that colleges have the financial and political clout to keep themselves unaccountable.
I have a blog, inside-higher-ed, where I have posted documented examples of what these schools do, and how they do it; but, without even going there, listen to David Riesman (from 1980) on “customers”, and then Bill Gross on power.
“…advantage can…be taken of [students] by unscrupulous instructors and institutions…the “wants” of students to which competing institutions, departments, and individual faculty members cater are quite different from the “needs” of students…” – David Riesman
“…Universities are run for the benefit of the adult establishment, both politically and financially, not students. To radically change the system and to question the sanctity of a college education would be to jeopardize trillions of misdirected investment dollars and financial obligations…” – Bill Gross
So, let’s not get “thrilled”, or, sadly, even hopeful, until we see real change in the PEOPLE running this scam.
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