Let me put your concerns to rest…

There are no elite schools that systematically discriminate against Asians.

Zero.

None.

Let me add a few points that counter some folks who think that schools do discriminate against Asians:

- Some schools do give preferential treatment to Black and Latino/an applicants. This is not a particularly good look for the schools, imho, but it’s the reality. This is not the same as discrimination against Asians. Not declaring a race or declaring white does not help with this. Note that schools give preferential treatment to many groups (e.g., recruited athletes), and race is just one of them.

- I see many folks arguing a case for discrimination based on differences in test scores and grades between different races. If those were the only criteria for admission, then I would agree with them. Like it or not, those are not the only admissions criteria that are used at elite schools. Just because the system isn’t what these folks think it is (or possibly should be), that doesn’t make it racist.

- The cases of Stuyvesant and Berkeley having an increase in Asian admissions once rules/laws were changed are accurate. The part that they leave out is that the systems changed (almost) purely to some combination of grades and test scores. So I wouldn’t call this necessarily an improvement in fairness, but it definitely was in increase in transparency and move to a system that seems to be (at least currently) more favorable for Asian applicants.

- Note that the lawsuit against Harvard was sponsored by a folks who are anti-affirmative action. This wasn’t some charity move towards Asians. Imho, it was an attempt to use one minority group as a weapon to strike against other minority groups. Note that I think that affirmative action has its flaws, but it’s not the villain many folks make it out to be.

- Imho, and this is just my opinion based on many anecdotes, I think that the narrative of “elite schools discriminate against Asians” is often used in Asian American communities by folks who don’t understand or just can’t accept that their kids are not strong applicants in the elite school applicant pool. The argument I most often hear is “… but perfect grades and SAT scores”, and this shows me that they really don’t understand what makes for a strong elite school applicant (e.g., recruited athlete, having done something of impact at a national or international level, etc.). I strongly encourage you not to feed this narrative, especially to your children. There is enough real discrimination against Asians in the US — we don’t need to make up additional sources that aren’t real. Note that this phenomenon is not unique to Asian-Americans — I’ve heard equally incorrect narratives from White folks in the NE corridor that (imho) serve an equivalent function.

- To help your kids, familiarize yourself and them with what is evaluated in admissions at the schools they are interested in. As a simple example, Harvard rates applicants on athletics even if they are not a recruited athlete. Also note that 15% of Harvard undergrads are varsity athletes; and something like 35% of white undergrads are varsity athletes (not all recruited, but probably rate 1 or 2 in athletics). Not to push athletics, but I think that a lot of people are surprised by these numbers, and it provides some insight into why some seemingly less qualified students are accepted over “perfect grades and SAT” folks.

- The article below provides some good insights into Harvard admissions. I honestly don’t think that they go far enough in explaining how impressive the folks who get 1s in any category actually are. That said, these types it things are good for college applicants and their parents to know, and many don’t.

https://veritasessays.org/college-admissions-blog/posts/type...

- Lastly, note that some schools actually don’t get enough high quality Asian applicants, and they not only get favorable admissions treatment as an underrepresented minority group, but these schools will also throw scholarship money at them like there is no tomorrow. I know of one specific very good (R1) large state school in the Midwest that does this, and I imagine that there are many more.

Best of luck to you and your kids. I’m sure they will be fine.

Don’t stress about the race issue. Focus on things that actually matter (e.g., location, access to desired major, social fit, etc.).