Letter and Memo paper - Assignment Example

I, as well as I am sure many other readers like me, would agree with the fact that the socio – economic spectrum has been blown out of proportion just because of the steep competition to help get into one of the top educational institutions. It is rather shocking to find that the affluent are still faced with a persistent and pervasive anxiety, while the middle – class are underrepresented and the poor have absolutely no access to the best educational opportunities. According to me, the most interesting part of the article was about the “amicus briefs submitted to the Supreme Court in the landmark affirmative case concerning the University of Michigan — to give an edge in admissions to disadvantaged students, regardless of race.

” But equally interesting and I must say rather shocking was to read the article further and find that former president of Princeton, William Bowen and his associates found through studies carried out in 19 different colleges, that this was totally untrue because applicants from different disadvantaged backgrounds got “essentially no break in the admissions process.” On behalf of all the other readers of the New York Times, I take this as an opportunity to express my views about this social scar on society and offer a few useful suggestions.

Though I do like the idea of a lottery system when names of those who have achieved a high standard on the academic front are randomly selected for admission, yet I feel that an entrance exam where all are treated equally based solely on merit would be a good idea. Those who do their best must be given a seat irrespective of the background or status they belong to. Another suggestion I like to make in this regard is that it would be good if the top colleges set aside at least 5% of their seats and grant admission to students who specifically come from not very affluent backgrounds but who are really deserving.

Once again, on