[quote=flu][quote=ltsdd]I am a little torn on this issue. I don’t think the UC schools have ever been merit-based only wrt their admission policy.
I believe the UC schools still deploying the 60:40 ratio for freshman admissions. That is, 60% of the available spots are to be used to admit incoming freshmen based strictly on academics only. And the other 40% is when the schools would take into account the student’s extra-curricula activities, economic background, etc. If this is still the case then it begs the question – is it fair if, all things being equal, a student got admitted because they came from a “poor” family over a student that came from a “wealthy” family? If the schools have been using the financial background and one of the metrics for admission then how different is it if they were to add race to category? I guess in this case if you’re rich and Asian/White then you’re doubly screwed.

That said, I’ve always told my kids to make sure that just make sure that they make the grades to ensure that they are the 60 percenter and take the decision making out of the hands of the schools.[/quote]

Classic “if my kid makes the extreme cut”, then injustice doesn’t matter for the rest of them there were otherwise qualified…[/quote]

Bull. Where did I say that injustices does not matter? Unfortunately, the injustices have always been there before and that didn’t bother or matter to you, did it? Right, because the injustice didn’t affect you or your kid one iota. But now the things change a bit and you’re bitching and all this self-righteousness bull.

Back to the point – do you think it is fair that a kid is picked over another just because their economic backgrounds are different? That’s what been going on for years. How is using the social-economic background as a selection criteria different than any other criteria (for those who are not in the top 60%)? You’re trying to paint a picture where the California Univ are doing away with the merit system altogether. I happen to think that’s not the case. If you truly believe it should be based on merit then make sure your kid is a 60 percenter or go fight the system to drop the 60:40 admission policy altogether.