The arHvard Graduate School of Education released a report on Wednesday endorsed by dozens of other schools that proposes radical changes to the way…

The arHvard Graduate School of Education released a report on Wednesday endorsed by dozens of other schools that proposes radical changes to the way colleges evaluate prospective students

The proposal seeks to make college admissions less of a rat race that favors well-off students, and it has three specific recommendations to achieve this goal

1.Promoting more meaningful contributions to others, community service, and engagement with the public good

2.Assessing students’ ethical engagement and contributions to others in ways that reflect varying types of family and community contributions across race, culture, and class

3.Redefining achievement in ways that level the playing field for economically diverse students and reduce excessive achievement pressure

Despite colleges’ efforts to have diverse student bodies, students from poor families are still rare on the campuses of elite colleges in America, as Inside Higher Ed has reported

Admissions departments’ focus on test scores, AP/IB classes, and superficial extracurriculars doesn’t help underprivileged students, according to the Harvard report released on Wednesday. Rather, community involvement — whether that be a service project or caring for your family — should be emphasized in the application process

Giving students clear opportunities to report their contributions to their families on their college applications — whether that involves working outside the house, watching over younger siblings, or taking on major household chores — can help underprivileged students, who may not be able to participate in the expensive sports or international trips that often determine elite-college admissions

The report also noted that community service should be "meaningful" and "sustained" rather than an activity that students participate in to boost their chances of getting accepted into college

While the Harvard report admits that admissions departments are unlikely to take its recommendations wholesale, it does hope to "create a healthier balance in young people between their self-concerns and their investment in others and the larger world."