“被选中的”个人品质:教育理念与政治博弈

The Chosen Personal Quality:Educational Philosophy and Political Gambling

个人品质是美国名校招生中独立且重要的评价维度,指向申请者的一系列品格与素质,其中领导力与公民素质占据核心地位。基于哈佛大学等八校的分析,发现个人品质之所以被选中,成为被广泛接受的选拔和排斥某些学生的"合法"基础,与美国名校追求成功和注重贡献的教育理念相关,可以有效预测申请者入校后的成功可能性和贡献能力,也与美国社会势力的政治博弈有关,是不同族群政治地位差异的产物。亚裔学生擅长的勤奋好学、守规矩等品质未被招生官普遍看好,既是因为与教育理念不够契合,更是根源于亚裔族群的政治弱势地位。

Personal quality is an independent and important evaluation dimension in the undergraduate admissions at famous colleges and universities in the United States,which points to a series of character and qualities of applicants,among which leadership and civic quality occupy the core position.Based on the analysis of eight famous institutions,such as Harvard University,it is found that personal quality is chosen to be a widely accepted"legal"basis for selecting and excluding some students.On one hand,the phenomenon is related to the educational philosophy of pursuing success and emphasizing on contribution at American famous colleges and universities.Personal quality effective to predict applican’s likelihood of succeed in college as well as contribution ability.On the other hand,it is a product of the differences in the political status of different race and ethnic groups,which correlates with the political game of American social forces.Therefore,some personal qualities that Asian American students are good at,such as diligence,studiousness and discipline,are not generally valued by admission officers,not only because they do not conform to the educational philosophy,but also because of the political vulnerable position of the Asian ethnic group.