Merit-based college admissions or quotas to ensure diversity?

Merit-based college admissions and diversity quotas represent two distinct philosophies for selecting students. Merit-based admissions focus primarily on academic achievement, standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, and other measurable accomplishments. This approach gained prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as universities adopted entrance exams and more formalized criteria to standardize selection and reduce favoritism tied to wealth or social connections. Diversity quotas, sometimes referred to as affirmative action policies, emerged in the mid-20th century, particularly in the United States, as a response to systemic discrimination and segregation. These policies aim to increase the enrollment of underrepresented racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic groups by setting targets or giving additional consideration to applicants’ backgrounds. In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration formally introduced affirmative action in federal contracting and higher education, arguing that equal opportunity required proactive measures, not just neutrality. Internationally, countries have adopted varied models. India reserves seats in universities for historically marginalized castes and tribes. Brazil has quotas for public school graduates and racial minorities. South Africa uses race-conscious admissions to address apartheid’s legacy.