Member-only story
Human Bias and the Problem with Race-Neutral Alternatives to College Admissions
By Emely Oviedo and Dr. Benjamin M. Drury
Human bias is commonly cited as an interference in a variety of human interactions. People bring biases with them everywhere they go. More frequently than not, we try to fool ourselves into thinking that we are not biased relative to other people…or more specifically people who are other than us. In college admissions is important to understand the nuanced and complex needs and services required to serve Black and Latino students because they are historically the most likely to experience discrimination on college campuses. Especially in the context of admitting Black and Latino college students, human bias in determining the future of a potential student can be a dangerous thing…and for some we can be unaware of it. Human bias refers to the unconscious or conscious preferences, stereotypes, or prejudices that individuals may have based on someone’s race or ethnicity. In college admissions, bias can affect how applicants are evaluated and can lead to unequal treatment and disparities in access and opportunities.
Bias can take different forms. One form is stereotyping, where admissions officers may rely on generalizations or assumptions about certain racial or ethnic groups rather than evaluating an applicant’s unique qualities. Bias can also…
