美国精英高校申请者“背景考察”的内涵、维度与途径

The Connation, Dimensions and Approaches of Considering Applicants' Context in American Elite Colleges and Universities

采用质性取向下的案例研究策略,选取美国不同类型的8所精英高校为个案,对8校招办25位录取决策者进行半开放式访谈,发现美国精英高校将申请者取得的学业和个人成就置于其高中教育背景和个人成长背景中考虑,并基于其如何尽力利用提供的资源和机会发展自己作出评价。背景考察的路径包括中学报告、与高中咨询师沟通、申请材料揭示的信息、高中数据系统、与在校大学生互动等。这对"新时代"我国一流大学促进入学机会公平具有借鉴意义。

By using the strategy of case study under the qualitative approach, selecting eight American elite universities with different types as cases, conducting semi-structure interview with eighteen decision-makers in their admission offices, it is found that American elite universities review applicants＇ academic and personal achievement in the context of high school educational environment and personal life, and moreover make admission decisions based on how applicants try best to use the given resources and opportunities to develop themselves. The approaches of understanding context by the admission offices include secondary school report,contacting with high school counselor, information indicated by application materials, high school data system,interact with college students on campus and so on. The first-class universities in China can learn from the American experience to promote equity of access in the time of ＂New Era＂.