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Comment by paxys | Hacker News Reader

Is any remotely "fair" public college admissions system even possible? Race-based quotas are discriminatory. SAT scores are discriminatory. Legacy admissions are discriminatory. Extracurriculars are discriminatory. Judging based on school/school district performance is discriminatory. I say just start picking names out of a hat and be done with it.

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Selecting twice as many candidates as you need and then choosing half of them randomly might actually be a good idea, just so everyone knows that you're there in part because you got lucky.

(Also, tracking what happens to each group might result in some interesting data.)

We can call it the Thanos system.

Yes, the system that gives my kid the best shot of getting admitted. /s

Rich families want legacy admissions. Asian prefer grades and tests because they generally excel in those areas. Under-represented groups want to do away with both because neither legacy or tests benefits them.

I think a low baseline admissions standard should be required and then any applicants that meet that are selected via lottery.

My first thought was that teaches me to do the bear minimum and then sit back.

That doesn't make me feel comfortable. Luck is a factor in life but we want people to work to give them the best chances.

Perhaps a lottery where each positive attribute gives a greater chance of winning.

Parents' income?

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