The landscape of leadership in the United States is heavily influenced by a small number of highly selective private colleges. Despite being home to less than half of one percent of the American population, these Ivy-Plus institutions have a significant presence in top positions across various sectors. They account for over 10% of Fortune 500 CEOs, a quarter of U.S. Senators, half of all Rhodes scholars, and the majority of Supreme Court justices appointed in the past 50 years. Additionally, Ivy-Plus colleges tend to enroll a disproportionate number of students from high-income families, which raises questions about the perpetuation of privilege across generations. In this blog post, we will explore the determinants and causal effects of admission to highly selective private colleges and discuss the implications for diversifying society's leaders.

Determinants of Admission:

Legacy and Athletics: The study reveals that a substantial portion of the admissions advantage enjoyed by students from the top 1% income bracket can be attributed to the recruitment of athletes and the legacy preference. Athletes and legacy students are approximately four times more likely to be admitted to these institutions.

Non-Academic Credentials: Furthermore, students with high non-academic ratings are more likely to secure admission. Interestingly, when comparing non-legacy applicants with similar test scores, demographics, and parental income, those who attend non-religious private high schools are twice as likely to be admitted compared to those from public high schools in affluent neighborhoods.

Socioeconomic Diversity:

The study explores whether admitting more low- and middle-income students to Ivy-Plus colleges could increase their chances of reaching the upper echelons of society. The findings indicate that attending these prestigious colleges significantly improves a stu The landscape of leadership in the United States is heavily influenced by a small number of highly selective private colleges. Despite being home to less than half of one percent of the American population, these Ivy-Plus institutions have a significant presence in top positions across various sectors. They account for over 10% of Fortune 500 CEOs, a quarter of U.S. Senators, half of all Rhodes scholars, and the majority of Supreme Court justices appointed in the past 50 years. Additionally, Ivy-Plus colleges tend to enroll a disproportionate number of students from high-income families, which raises questions about the perpetuation of privilege across generations. In this blog post, we will explore the determinants and causal effects of admission to highly selective private colleges and discuss the implications for diversifying society's leaders.

Post-College Success:

Interestingly, the factors contributing to the admissions advantage for students from high-income families, such as legacy status and non-academic ratings, do not predict better post-college outcomes. Instead, academic ratings and standardized test scores play a more significant role in determining success after graduation.

Diversifying Leadership:

The study concludes that eliminating admissions practices favoring students from high-income families could diversify leadership positions to a comparable extent as racial preferences. This diversification wouldn't come at the cost of reducing class quality, as the factors leading to admissions advantages for high-income families do not predict better post-college outcomes.

In summary, this study sheds light on the admissions policies of highly selective private colleges and their impact on socioeconomic diversity in leadership positions. By addressing admissions advantages for high-income families, these institutions have the potential to significantly increase socioeconomic diversity among society's leaders. The findings suggest that class-based affirmative action, favoring students from more disadvantaged backgrounds, may not be necessary to achieve this goal.

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