[mochomocha]

As a counter-example, I have gone through a relatable experience though not in India but France (our "preparatory classes" system also has similar high competitiveness/high pressure characteristics, to prepare for a few deciding exams). It only lasts for 2 years, but the stakes are somewhat similar from what I understand from the article.

Having lived in the US for a decade now, one of the biggest culture gap I keep and that probably won't ever go away is how it's somewhat accepted here that "letting rich kids cheat/buy their way into Ivy League is not that bad, and look it pays for a new cafeteria".

[ghgdynb1]

I get it, and I actually agree that the culture you describe isn't a good look.

What I'm going for is more the idea that if you consider the best alternative I can think of to the "holistic" approach, you get selecting applicants purely based on entrance exam scores. In such a world you'd be punishing a kid who plays with Arduino out of interest. Any energy devoted towards something other than test prep is energy wasted.

In the American system, as I'm coming to see it, the kid who plays with Arduino is punished less. The test won't take you all the way anyways, and you even get a little "refund" on attention sunk into some types of activity which qualify as extracurricular.

[908B64B197]

> In such a world you'd be punishing a kid who plays with Arduino out of interest. Any energy devoted towards something other than test prep is energy wasted.

For course selection too. You'll have students picking out classes because they are known to be easy and not because they are curious about it. Because they have to keep their GPA at a certain level.

[mochomocha]

Yes... It's a balance. I don't think tests-only admissions are the panacea either to be clear. The key problem is how to introduce some level of subjectivity in the admission process without creating doors wide open for corruption or cottage industries to "prep your application" with semi-fake accomplishments demonstrating your "soft skills".

[dkdk8283]

All gatekeepers are subject to corruption. This is a human issue.

[drstewart]

I just looked up some of French's richest people and where their kids went to school -- amazing how ALL of them were smart enough to go to the best schools in France, Switzerland, and the UK (École Polytechnique, ETH, LSE) considering how egalitarian it is!

What a truly stunning coincidence indeed.

[908B64B197]

> the biggest culture gap I keep and that probably won't ever go away is how it's somewhat accepted here that "letting rich kids cheat/buy their way into Ivy League is not that bad, and look it pays for a new cafeteria".

There's a percentage of admitted students at which it's interesting to admit based on donations. Especially if one large donation can make need-blind admission possible for N students. But do it too much and you'll become a school that's known as "pay to win".

> (our "preparatory classes" system also has similar high competitiveness/high pressure characteristics, to prepare for a few deciding exams

There's also a third hidden option. The Polytechnique in Montreal is notorious for this: admit too much, collect tuition and then have students transfer out when they can't handle the workload.

[smhost]

yeah, one of my professors would openly talk about how rich kids in grad school just pay other people to do their research for them. i don't think he meant to be demoralizing, but i remember thinking to myself 'so what the fuck am i doing here, then?'

[hnick]

> so what the fuck am i doing here, then?

Learning how the world works, apparently :(