Affirmative Action and Asian Americans

Affirmative Action and Asian Americans November 3, 2012 Asian Americans are discriminated against in highly selective college admissions. Theres an article in The New York Times about Affirmative Action and Asian Americans. The article tells the story of the complicated picture for Asian Americans as they apply to college. Many quoted in the article support the idea of diversity at highly selective universities. But many others and many of the same folks believe that race should not be an admissions determinant. After all, weve said it before and well say it again: Asian Americans are discriminated against in highly selective college admissions. Its blatant. Its wrong. And it should end. When college admissions counselors review the application of an Asian American applicant, they compare that Asian American applicant to all of their other Asian American applicants. Its that simple. And, yes, they are human beings and human beings use mental shortcuts as in they stereotype. So when they see that the applicant has a perfect math section on the SAT and decent though not perfect verbal, and they run track and play first chair violin, this applicant doesnt exactly stand out from the pack of other Asian American applicants. Its unfortunate but its a fact of highly selective college admissions. Many argue that Affirmative Action to help African American and Latino applicants gain admission should end. They feel that Affirmative Action doesnt make up for a history of discrimination and only extends this discrimination in this new century. But Asian Americans are being discriminated against in this century in the highly selective college admissions process. And this needs to stop. Now.