An important article by Betsey Stevenson at the University of Michigan and Justin Wolfers at the University of Pennsylvania discusses possible reasons why elite universities are not attracting low-income, high-achieving students.
Substantial resources have been devoted to making tuition at top-tier universities affordable - or even free - for low-income students. Despite these efforts, research has shown that many high-achieving, low-income students choose to go to a school below their potential even when that school may be more expensive than a more highly ranked school which the student may also be eligible to attend. What factors explain this choice?
In addition, research is presented showing that the proportion of low-income, high-achieving students in the general population far exceed the proportion of those students who actually attend a top-tier university. According to the article, "Among applicants to selective colleges, high-achieving, high-income students outnumber their low-income peers by 15 to 1, leading colleges to perceive the latter as a rare species. But this is wrong. The true ratio of high-income to low-income high achievers is roughly 2.5 to 1, according to Hoxby and Avery."
It is imperative for the future vitality of the United States that all students are encouraged to reach their potential. If there are societal or cultural barriers limiting their ambitions or success, we must identify them and tear them down.
The article can be accessed via the following link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-18/why-top-colleges-miss-some-great-students.html?wpisrc=nl_wonk