Want to Be a Doctor? A Scientist? An Engineer? An Affirmative Action Leg Up May Hurt Your Chances

Abstract

The assumption behind the fierce competition for admission to elite colleges and universities is clear: The more elite the school one attends, the brighter one’s future. That assumption, however, may well be flawed. The research examined recently by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights provides strong reason to believe that attending the most competitive school is not always best — at least for students who aspire to a degree in science or engineering.

Keywords: affirmative action, race, STEM, higher education, race-preferential admissions, race discrimination, science, engineering, medical school, mismatch, college major choice, diversity

JEL Classification: A00, A10, K10