Cultural Capital and Opportunities for Exceptionalism: Bias in University Admissions. (10th November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jayakumar, Uma Mazyck; Page, Scott E.
• Is Part Of: Journal of higher education. Volume 92:Number 7(2021)
• Page Start: 1109
• Page End: 1139
• Publication Date: 2021-11-10
• Subjects: Selective admissions -- college access -- holistic review -- socioeconomic disparities -- athletics; Education -- Periodicals; Education, Higher -- Periodicals; 378
• DOI: 10.1080/00221546.2021.1912554
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1546

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study illuminates how common holistic admissions practices at so-called "elite" colleges and universities favor high-SES, high wealth applicants through the ways they define and consider "exceptional" performance in extracurricular activities. While many studies have established advantages to high-income applicants based on school resources, standardized testing, and myriad other factors, few have examined the consideration of exceptional performance in extracurriculars. Drawing on higher education literature and Bourdieu's theory of cultural capital, and utilizing high school and college athletics data, the authors introduce and corroborate a mathematical model that illuminates the accumulated advantages to wealthy students on three fronts: opportunity, specialization (i.e., breadth of options available), and support. While this paper focuses on elite athletics as one example of exceptional performance, it also explores the usefulness of the model for understanding how "race-neutral" admissions systematically advantage high-income—and white—students.