Too long have Asian Americans been neglected by the affirmative action process. While the benefits reap for African Americans and Hispanic Americans while applying to universities, the exact opposite occurs to a different kind of minority. Similar to that of Caucasians in the process, Asian Americans are denied the opportunity to higher education to less qualified applicants. Empirical evidence is difficult to find, since the admissions process is subjective- based entirely on a group of peoples decision. One can study individuals’ criteria compared to other students and then look to their race. The case of Garret, an Asian American is one of these cases, where the admissions process simply appears to be unjust. Garret had a 3.5 GPA in his undergraduate studies and an above average MCAT score, yet in his applications to 20 different medical schools he got denied to all of them. These credentials are typical of a student who would be admitted to medical school. This implies that Asian Americans while applying to certain schools- if not all public schools- lose credentials merely due to their race. At earlier points in history, when Asians were under represented in universities, affirmative action gave way for an abundance of qualified Asians to receive a higher education. However, affirmative action has run its course, producing opposite effects of its original motive. Asians now represent one fifth of the students in medical school and medical schools are turning their heads to different minorities. This prioritizes African Americans over Asians similar to how it would put females over males when applying to engineering school.
I never truly know where I stand on the subject of affirmative action. It seems like a good idea, to allow a certain class of people into an area they are not common, but once you remind me of the people that get excluded because spots are being taken; it makes me question the process. The affirmative action concept never truly made sense to me since in order to stop discrimination against one group of people; you have to discriminate against another. The thought seems very contradictory. It also seems as if it’s a never ending process since no matter how much you fill the minority spaces with different people and cultures there is always going to be a group that is left out. What’s sad is I think I know people that were left out of Chapel Hill due to something like this. Everyone in my school thought that these students would have surely gotten accepted to attend UNC last year; however, despite being stellar academic students, they were denied entry. I can’t help but wonder if they were denied entirely because of their application, or because some form of affirmative action occurred.
ReplyDeletelazed,
ReplyDeleteYou are certainly not alone. Affirmative action does seem confusing because it is in fact contradictory. It clearly does not make sense to discriminate against some so as to not discriminate against others. This is the basis of my whole argument. It does not seem fair that whites and Asians often get treated unfairly, just so other minorities do not. Clearly this is a negation of the sole purpose of affirmative action. The research I found discussing Asians and affirmative action led me further to the conclusion that affirmative action, though helpful at one, is no longer needed. It has begun to have the opposite effects of what it set out to do. The situation you describe with students from your school, happens frequently as potential students do not make the cut, for reasons such as race. This is in fact "sad," as no group should be left out due to something that cannot be helped. My belief of a solution is obviously to end affirmative action where admittance is based soley on academic and extra curricular qualifications rather than on race or ethnicity.
Iazed,
ReplyDeleteIt is time people like you take a side when it comes to affirmative action. There are currently students being admitted merely because they are half hispanic and lazy, and spend all day sleeping in a fraternity house and not doing the work they are supposed to be doing. These students are the kind that graduate college with little to no future and fail at life. Why should we admit them to higher educational opportunities?
-Half Mexican drinking Natty on a Thursday night
I really enjoy the writing style on this post. It sounds very educated and well thought out.
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