Harvard's Secretive Admissions Process Unveiled in Court Documents

Harvard’s admissions process has always been shrouded in secrecy, but a recent lawsuit is allowing the veil to be lifted. The WSJ’s Nicole Hong and Melissa Korn examined court documents to dig into some of the new findings. Photo: Getty Images.

[nmaurok]

A smart guy once told me "the US admissions process is just a glorified personality test" - now add racial bias into the mix, and the picture becomes more accurate

[jojotwice]

It's hard to imagine Harvard using these personality tests, considering how some famous alumnis like Zuckerberg are essentially humanized Androids

[Primiterismm]

The hosts look like they haven't slept in months.

[ReevansElectro]

Harvard seems to be admitting that they only comb through applicants to find those who have already succeeded rather than to bring out the characteristics for success in anybody. This admission of incompetence in educating people or understanding the fundamentals of education is abhorrent and needs to be changed.

[baze]

Stereotyping asians as boring and uninteresting just because they worked hard to get to those grades and extracurricular activities is dangerous. Would you say the same thing about a non-asian person who worked hard and wants to become a doctor? It is almost if you are not asian it is "wow hardworking, dilligent, self-disciplined" and if you are asian it is "meh, hardworking, so what?"
And hardworking=/= uncreative and boring. The problem is when you think of a person who is hardworking and asian, you automatically imagine a nerd who works hard just to please their parents, lacks social skills and is incapable of thinking outside the box. You can be hardworking AND an excellent scholar of the future. The admission officer needs to stop judging applicants by preconceived stereotypes .

[TrapGod_JackofAllTrades]

This isn't just Harvard. I got an alumni interview with an Yale student, and when I tried to explain to her the frustration an Asian feels when their hard work is dismissed just because they are Asian, she looked at me with disgust. As if I had the audacity to complain for being Asian. Beach, I don't get some secret stat boost like a video because I am Asian.

[daviddechamplain]

When an institution views "quiet and hardworking" as a negative trait, maybe it's time to reassess the prestige attached to that institution.

[Evandvh]

Is it not wayyy more interesting that it says "indistuinguisable from other Asian-Americans?" This suggests that the Asian American person in question is being compared solely to other Asian Americans and not the entire applicant pool, suggesting that Asian Americans are being treated differently.

[wheeliewheelie]

So, takeaway is, Asians should start their own Ivy League colleges.

[ascra]

Your judged on what language your neighbors speak... but you cant control who buys the house down the street from

[fdfischer]

So if I want to go to Harvard I need to get straight A' s, have a personality akin to Jesus (at least on paper), and not be reclusive or boring

[hazyMAGPIE]

I don’t understand why US colleges want to know all this information... In Europe no one asks you about your religion or ethnicity, because it is irrelevant - in my opinion, accepting someone with worse academic achievements then other applicants just for the sake of diversity is just as bad as keeping someone out because they do not belong to specific race or religion...

[NOLAMarathon]

Harvard denied the allegations, and they denied the alligator!

[sohamnaik]

What about rich buying their way into Harvard?

[cozettesk]

the doctor one really bothered me because I don't need a doctor with a great personality, I just need a doctor smart enough to save my life and others who are in need

[clince-rxbe]

give huge donation you will get admission

[heesingsia]

Does it mean then, that Asian Americans who graduated from Harvard will be first in line to land a job ? Since they're supposed to be so good that even Harvard can't find any faults with them?

[chile]

Why is race in the picture of college admission? Shouldn’t the process be based on everything else besides race?

[pam]

A boring or indistinguishable personality should not be a factor. Most 18-year olds have no idea who they are. Their personalities aren’t fully formed; they haven’t yet found their voice or calling in life. A good college experience helps them to blossom.

[theniii]

The two reporters appear to be smart and hardworking yet uninteresting and indistinguishable from other reporters. sorry i had to.