The reason why this can have such an insidious effect is that college degrees are one of the few tools that grant individuals a pathway out of poverty, and this cycle of accepting wealthy students only serves to reinforce wealth disparity in the country. When Harvard decides to allocate 34% of all seats to legacy preferences, this amounts to a double advantage for already-privileged students. At the same time, all other applicants get admitted at around 6%, so in other words the subset of the applicant pool that least needs an added advantage possess one at a 6x rate over other applicants. Favoring alumni with wealth & influence, sends a message that money is more important than equity. Which explains how Harvard has been able to accrue the largest endowment in the world @ $40 billion, which btw is larger than the entire budget of Colorado.
Not only is everyone not in the game, but many haven't even been taught how to play it. Public education has been systematically undermined in this country for close to 4 decades, and with every passing yr America continues to establish itself as a plutocratic society. Every developed/industrialized nation in the world understands the importance of public education & single payer healthcare except us..why is that? Is this your version of American exceptionalism? No one ever wants to be in a position where they have to ask for handouts, or wealth redistribution, but certain issues can only be addressed at the federal level. This debate goes beyond partisan politics, as most Americans are in agreement on these issues. The main problem is money in politics & special interest groups which prevent legislation from being passed.
