RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Divergent: The Time Path of Legacy and Athlete Admissions at Harvard
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 0421-11641R1
DO 10.3368/jhr.0421-11641R1
A1 Arcidiacono, Peter
A1 Kinsler, Josh
A1 Ransom, Tyler
YR 2022
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2022/01/04/jhr.0421-11641R1.abstract
AB We examine how increased admissions competition at elite US colleges has affected the admissions advantage that legacies and athletes (LA) receive. Using 18 years of Harvard admissions data, we show that non-legacy, non-athlete (NLNA) applications expanded while LA applications remained flat. Yet, the share of LA admits remained stable, implying substantial increases in LA admissions advantages. These facts imply a strong degree of complementarity in the number of LA admits and overall admit quality. If the admissions advantages for LA applicants had been constant throughout this period, there would have been a large increase in the number of minority admits.