Ignoring the race of applicants does not improve student achievement

Ignoring race in college admissions reduces diversity outcomes but does not affect the academic standards of the incoming class, according to new research from Cornell researchers.

The study, published Thursday, used data from an unnamed university to create an artificial intelligence-based ranking algorithm that could model the impact of affirmative action bans on racial diversity and academic merit. It found that when race was taken out of the equation, the number of underrepresented minority students in the top-ranked applicant pool fell 62 percent, from 53 percent to 20 percent. At the same time, the average test scores of the best applicants did not change significantly.

“We see no evidence to support the narrative that black and Hispanic applicants are accepted even though there are more qualified applicants in the pool,” said Rene Kizilcek, an assistant professor of computer science at Cornell and co-author of the report. statement.

At most selective colleges that have published class demographic profiles, the percentage of incoming minority students fell this fallalthough these results vary by institution and the data are still mostly to no avail.

The researchers also said the study was an important test using artificial intelligence to review college applicationswhich they predict will normalize over the next few years.