Mixed-blood applicants must give them fits!

Marian - Actually Rove tried to ‘buy’ a degree. He was
asked to speak at a college and asked it in return to
award him an honorary degree (because he didn’t have a
legitimate one, it seems.)  The college turned him
down. Of course, that was then and this is now when
everything is for sale - for a price.

There should be interviews with no names involved (the interviewer asks questions and fills out forms but no names are used but each person given a number for ID) as well as blind applications where race (or even age) is not a factor - keep it anonymous. That way it is based on merit.  Not unlike scientists testing products and applicants where it is done blind, even to the scientist.

http://public.econ.duke.edu/~psarcidi/grades_4.0.pdf

If affermative action results in minority students at elite schools having much potential but
weak preparation, then we may expect minority students to start off behind their majority
counterparts and then catch up over time. Indeed, at the private university we analyze, the
gap between white and black grade point averages falls by half between the studentsífreshmen
and senior year. However, this convergence masks two e§ects. First, the variance of grades
given falls across time. Hence, shrinkage in the level of the gap may not imply shrinkage in
the class rank gap. Second, grading standards di§er across courses in di§erent majors. We
show that controlling for these two features virtually eliminates any convergence of black/white
grades. In fact, black/white gpa convergence is symptomatic of dramatic shifts by blacks from
initial interest in the natural sciences, engineering, and economics to majors in the humanities
and social sciences. We show that natural science, engineering, and economics courses are
more di¢ cult, associated with higher study times, and have harsher grading standards; all of
which translate into students with weaker academic backgrounds being less likely to choose
these majors. Indeed, we show that accounting for academic background can fully account for
di§erences in switching behaviors across blacks and whites

http://public.econ.duke.edu/~psarcidi/grades_4.0.pdf

If affermative action results in minority students at elite schools having much potential but
weak preparation, then we may expect minority students to start o§ behind their majority
counterparts and then catch up over time. Indeed, at the private university we analyze, the
gap between white and black grade point averages falls by half between the studentsífreshmen
and senior year. However, this convergence masks two e§ects. First, the variance of grades
given falls across time. Hence, shrinkage in the level of the gap may not imply shrinkage in
the class rank gap. Second, grading standards di§er across courses in di§erent majors. We
show that controlling for these two features virtually eliminates any convergence of black/white
grades. In fact, black/white gpa convergence is symptomatic of dramatic shifts by blacks from
initial interest in the natural sciences, engineering, and economics to majors in the humanities
and social sciences. We show that natural science, engineering, and economics courses are
more di¢ cult, associated with higher study times, and have harsher grading standards; all of
which translate into students with weaker academic backgrounds being less likely to choose
these majors. Indeed, we show that accounting for academic background can fully account for
di§erences in switching behaviors across blacks and whites

Given the Citizens United decision, it’s pretty
obvious that the Court will eliminate affirmative
action at colleges.  (By the way, 72% of political ad
spending during the 2010 elections would have been
prohibited before Citizens United.)

Maybe the Court will decide that grades, the SAT,
affirmative action should be eliminated as criteria
for college admittance and replace them with everyone
has a right to BUY his/her admittance into a college. 
Certainly be consistent with the Citizens United
decision.  (If you can buy an election you should
surely be able to buy your way into college.)