Bill Gates: White kids not eligible for my scholarships

Morlar wrote: »

There was a programme on last night about 'Race and intelligence' on ch4 showing that in 1997 when Berkely ca. changed their admissions policy to a colour-blind SAT score based system white admissions dropped, asian admissions increased to 40% of all students, black admissions also dropped to 3% (13% of americans are black).

I'm curious what the SAT test had to do with a show on race and intelligence? The SAT is purely based on what you've learned and how well you test, it's in no way a test of actual intelligence, just how much you've learned and studied.

It's not racist. It's his money. He can do what he wants with it. He's distributing it to minorities who have less higher level education than their white counterparts. It's intent is probably to even out the playing field.

Are there white americans who are disadvantaged? Yes.

Does it make Bill Gates a racist for only reaching out to minorities? No.

Non-issue.

Mike 1972 wrote: »

The quality/funding of the school went to probably has a big influence too

Oh it does, hugely. Test scores are considerably lower in poorer districts.

SubrbanOblivion wrote: »

I'm curious what the SAT test had to do with a show on race and intelligence? The SAT is purely based on what you've learned and how well you test, it's in no way a test of actual intelligence, just how much you've learned and studied.

You might be able to catch it on the 4od online player.

That segment of the programme (3-5 mins out of 1 hr) used berkely as an example of how a colour blind SAT Scores-based admissions system dropped the black admission level - but that the drop was not based to a policy of discrimination against black people.

It also dropped the white admission level.

Unless you feel that black people should take different tests to bump their scores ? How about white people who also score lower in comparison to asians ? Is that also due to some mythical inherent bias ?

Nodin wrote: »

Aren't you leaving out where they highlighted that it was in fact societal factors that kept minority scores down, and not any racially linked physical element?

That was the assertion of the programme yes. Though you will remember that the journalist was at pains to point out repeatedly that the majority of academia/researchers would not comment on this issue as it was too dangerous for them to do so. I did not include the parts at the beginning either, nor the parts in the middle. I referenced one 5 minute segment as that was the part which relates to this thread regarding admission levels in american academia when they are colour blind. ie they drop the white level, drop the black level and increase the asian level dramatically.

Morlar wrote: »

Is that also due to some mythical inherent bias ?

Not at all, I was just curious why they used that particular type of testing example in a show about race and intelligence, when it is a test of education quality and advantages, not intelligence.

Morlar wrote: »

I do not agree with your assessment of that.

5 candidates take the same exam 2 fail.

One is white and fails due to not meeting the required standard the black one fails due to 'education quality and advantages' ?

Or do they both fail due to 'education quality and advantages' ?

I am talking about the appropriateness of using the SAT test as a measure of intelligence.

I'm not sure where you are getting all this.

WeeBushy wrote: »

I'm I the only one who takes this:



to mean that white (or any race for that matter) Americans are eligible?

I read it as being if you meet ALL of the following requirements (including the non-white requirement);

Students are eligible to be considered for a GMS scholarship if they:

a)
* Are African American, American Indian/Alaska Native*, Asian Pacific Islander American** or Hispanic American

b)
* Are a citizen, national or legal permanent resident of the United States

c)
* Have attained a cumulative high school GPA of 3.3 on an unweighted 4.0 scale or have earned a GED

d)
* Will be enrolling for the first time at a U.S. accredited*** college or university as a full-time, degree-seeking, first-year student in the fall 2010

e)
* Have demonstrated leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular, or other activities

f)
* Meet the Federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria

g)
* Have completed and submitted all three required forms (Nominee Personal Information Form, Nominator Form, and Recommender Form) by the deadline

ie if you are only a citizen (b )you do not qualify on that basis.