Colleges Treat Asians Like Whites
False Assumption: Asian American students face no additional barriers relative to white students when applying to selective colleges.
Written by FARAgent on February 10, 2026
Elite colleges long promoted admissions as merit-based and equitable. Debates arose over whether affirmative action disadvantaged Asians to boost blacks and Hispanics. The 2023 Supreme Court case against Harvard revealed data on racial preferences only through subpoena.
A 2024 study analyzed 685,709 applications from Asian and white students to 11 highly selective Ivy-11 colleges over five cycles. It found Asian applicants had 28% lower odds of attendance than comparable whites. South Asians faced 49% lower odds. High yield rates suggested admissions drove the gap.
Legacy preferences favored whites, who were more likely to have alumni parents. Geographic policies disadvantaged certain U.S. regions with many Asian applicants. Critics question if equity holds post-affirmative action bans, with evidence mounting on these disparities.
People Involved
- In the world of college admissions, a few researchers stepped forward to challenge the status quo.
- Joshua Grossman, Sabina Tomkins, Lindsay Page, and Sharad Goel published data that highlighted disadvantages for Asian applicants at elite schools. They analyzed vast numbers of applications and pointed out the gaps. Their work came at a time when many still held to the old assumptions. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
“Joshua Grossman, Sabina Tomkins, Lindsay Page & Sharad Goel”— Whom Do Colleges Discriminate Against Most?
Organizations Involved
The Ivy-11 colleges stood at the center of this admissions puzzle. These selective institutions enforced policies that left Asian applicants with lower odds of attendance than whites with matching qualifications. They also funneled their alumni into powerful roles, which magnified the effects of those policies. Harvard's case went to the Supreme Court, where a subpoena finally forced the release of full racial data, revealing a reluctance to share such details openly. Growing evidence suggests these practices disadvantaged certain groups, though the full picture remains under debate. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (3)
“We estimate that Asian American applicants had 28% lower odds of ultimately attending an Ivy-11 school than white applicants with similar academic and extracurricular qualifications.”— Whom Do Colleges Discriminate Against Most?
“Identifying potential disparate impacts of “Ivy-Plus” admissions policies is of particular importance, as alumni of “Ivy-Plus” schools are disproportionately represented in positions of power.”— Whom Do Colleges Discriminate Against Most?
“as in the 2023 Harvard Supreme Court case.”— Whom Do Colleges Discriminate Against Most?
The Foundation
For years, experts assumed Asian American students encountered no extra hurdles compared to whites in selective college applications. This view supported broader claims of fair admissions processes. But a study began to undermine that notion, showing Asians had 28 percent lower odds of attendance despite similar qualifications; South Asians faced 49 percent lower odds. High yield rates at these schools, from 54 to 82 percent, and low acceptance rates of 4.2 to 10.6 percent, pointed to admissions decisions as the likely culprit, not applicant preferences. Increasingly, this assumption is recognized as flawed. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (2)
“There is debate over whether Asian American students face additional barriers, relative to white students, when applying to selective colleges.”— Whom Do Colleges Discriminate Against Most?
“Given the high yield rates and competitive financial aid policies of the schools we consider, the disparity in attendance rates is likely driven, at least in part, by admissions decisions.”— Whom Do Colleges Discriminate Against Most?
How It Spread
The debate over whether Asians faced barriers beyond those of whites simmered in academic circles for some time. It gained traction through discussions and analyses, yet data on black and Hispanic applicants often stayed locked away without legal intervention. The Harvard Supreme Court case marked a turning point, compelling the release of restricted information. Growing evidence suggests the old assumption hid real disparities, though consensus on the matter is still building. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
“it would seem that if you got your hands of data for 685,709 college applications submitted by Asian and white high school students to elite colleges, you could also get your hands on data for applications by black, Hispanic, and American Indian students. But, apparently, that’s such a hot potato that that’s only available by a court-ordered subpoena”— Whom Do Colleges Discriminate Against Most?
Resulting Policies
Selective colleges built their admissions around certain preferences that shaped outcomes. They favored children of alumni, and whites held legacy status far more often than Asians. Geographic policies added another layer, disadvantaging applicants from regions with dense Asian populations. These rules operated quietly in the background of elite education. Growing evidence indicates they contributed to unequal treatment, even as the debate continues. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (2)
“many selective colleges give preference to the children of alumni in admissions. We find that white applicants were substantially more likely to have such legacy status than Asian applicants.”— Whom Do Colleges Discriminate Against Most?
“we identify geographic disparities potentially reflective of admissions policies that disadvantage students from certain regions of the United States.”— Whom Do Colleges Discriminate Against Most?
Harm Caused
The consequences fell hardest on specific groups. South Asian applicants ended up with 49 percent lower odds of attending Ivy-11 schools than comparable whites, cutting off access to influential networks. Asian Americans overall saw 28 percent lower odds, which narrowed their paths to positions of power. These disparities persisted amid claims of equity. Increasingly, evidence points to the assumption's flaws in allowing such harms, though full agreement remains elusive. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (2)
“The gap was particularly pronounced for students of South Asian descent (49% lower odds).”— Whom Do Colleges Discriminate Against Most?
“Asian American applicants had 28% lower odds of ultimately attending an Ivy-11 school than white applicants with similar academic and extracurricular qualifications.”— Whom Do Colleges Discriminate Against Most?
Downfall
The assumption started to crack under scrutiny from a massive dataset. Researchers examined 685,709 applications across five cycles to Ivy-11 colleges. They used statistical comparisons to reveal the odds disparities. This analysis brought the inequalities into sharp focus. Growing evidence suggests the long-held belief was mistaken, but the conversation is far from over. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
“Here we present the results from analyzing 685,709 applications submitted over five application cycles to 11 highly selective colleges (the “Ivy-11”).”— Whom Do Colleges Discriminate Against Most?
Sources
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[1]
Whom Do Colleges Discriminate Against Most?reputable_journalism