Poison Ivy: How Elite Colleges Divide Us

The Ivy League has long been seen as the pinnacle of higher education, but a new book argues that these elite institutions are actually ng more harm than good.

In "Poison Ivy: How Elite Colleges Divide Us," author Richard Reeves argues that the Ivy League's focus on prestige and exclusivity is creating a class divide in America. He also argues that the Ivy League's admissions process is biased against students from poor and minority backgrounds.

Poison Ivy: How Elite Colleges Divide Us

by Scott Barry Kaufman

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1047 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Print length	:	189 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

Reeves's book is a timely and important contribution to the debate over the role of elite colleges in American society.

The Class Divide

Reeves argues that the Ivy League's focus on prestige and exclusivity is creating a class divide in America. He points to the fact that the Ivy League schools have a very small number of students from poor and minority backgrounds.

For example, at Harvard University, only 15% of the students come from families with incomes below $60,000. And at Yale University, only 12% of the students are black or Hispanic.

This lack of diversity means that Ivy League graduates are not representative of the American population. Instead, they are a small, privileged group who have access to the best jobs and opportunities.

This class divide is not only unfair, it is also harmful to society as a whole. It creates a sense of entitlement and elitism among the Ivy League graduates, and it makes it difficult for people from poor and minority backgrounds to succeed.

The Admissions Process

Reeves also argues that the Ivy League's admissions process is biased against students from poor and minority backgrounds.

He points to the fact that the Ivy League schools rely heavily on standardized test scores, which are known to be biased against students from poor and minority backgrounds.

For example, a study by the College Board found that black students who scored in the top 10% on the SAT were less likely to be admitted to an Ivy League school than white students who scored in the bottom 10%.

This bias in the admissions process means that the Ivy League schools are not admitting the best and brightest students from all backgrounds. Instead, they are admitting the students who are most likely to come from wealthy families and who have access to the best educational resources.

The Way Forward

Reeves argues that the Ivy League needs to do more to address the class divide and the bias in its admissions process.

He suggests several reforms that the Ivy League could adopt, including:

• Increasing the number of students from poor and minority backgrounds
• Eliminating the use of standardized test scores in the admissions process
• Providing more financial aid to students from poor and minority backgrounds

These reforms would help to make the Ivy League more accessible to students from all backgrounds, and they would help to create a more just and equitable society.

Reeves's book is a powerful indictment of the Ivy League. He argues that these elite institutions are ng more harm than good, and he calls for a number of reforms to address the class divide and the bias in the admissions process.

Reeves's book is a must-read for anyone who is concerned about the future of higher education in America.

Poison Ivy: How Elite Colleges Divide Us

by Scott Barry Kaufman

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1047 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Print length	:	189 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE