Should colleges give preferential treatment to kids coming out of certain high schools?

Question

In Michigan, Affirmative Action in college admissions was overturned so I was wondering if colleges were able rate kids based on grades but grades from different school systems would carry different rates. For example a 3.8 GPA from a wealthy school district doesn't mean as much as say a 3.5 GPA from a poor school district.

Answer 1

Sure. However, I think the socio-economic status of the kid is the most important factor.

A magnet school should of course be weighted a little more than a regular school. Classes offered are usually tougher, as is the competition to get good grades.

However, within either the magnet school or the regular school, a kid from a really poor background who gets an A should be given more weight than a rich kid who gets an A. They both got A's, so they'll be given preference over someone who got a B. However, that poor kid likely had it a lot tougher than the rich kid in getting that A. A kid from a single family home, having to help out with the rent after school, no tutors or parents to ask for help, likely no one to give advice on anything, etc. has it worse than a rich kid who has a stable family, no need to worry about safety or if he'll have a roof over his head or something to eat, can afford tutoring, etc.

If that smart poor kid comes from a school in a notoriously rough high school, yeah the fact that kid succeeded in that high school should be noted.

Answer 2

Yes. Not so much as poor vs wealthy as a good school can be in a poor district as a not so good school can be in a wealthy district.

Colleges should however, note that some schools are by application only. A student who excels in a magnet school accepting only students who passed exams to enter the school, with a certain GPA ought to be more highly regarded than a similar student in that area at another school.

Of course not all areas have schools like this, and thus not all students have this opportunity.

This should not be the main factor, but a factor in college acceptance.

Answer 3

Most colleges will offer admission or scholarships based upon the students ability to attend at the full price. The school may offer a scholarship of 1500 dollars against a 10 grand tution, but only because they expect the student will attend their school for the next few years and they can make money from the student.

Answer 4

I don't think it has anything to do with rich or not for most schools. However, most higher education schools partner with high schools of Jr colleges and part of the deal is the lower level school promotes the higher ed one and the higher ed school selects more canidates from that school on average.

As far as I can tell that's pretty standard accepted practice.

Answer 5

I don't! Because I have seen the discrimination when cute people are treated better than the rest, so I always keep it in mind and treat people equally (Obviously I'm not categorized in the "Cute people's" group, although I would love to be). But still, I'm a normal looking guy, treating people equally, unless someone who does not deserve my good treatment [like a disrespectful person].

Answer 6

i dont think thats such a big problem. look at us! until a month ago any kid whose parent/s fought in the war (98˙per cent of them are total fakers) could get into ANY college, without any entrence tests, examinations... in the whole country! so you had 800 those kids and a 100 of those who really earned it. i dont think you should worry about the difference between 3.6 and 3.8 - you should have come to croatia!!!!!!

Answer 7

i think what matters more is the academic ranking of the high school that you are coming from. a tougher curriculum might be put into consideration when sifting through the applicants.