Family Quote by Fred Turner
““Until the mid-1950s, universities such as Harvard and Yale often admitted students on the basis of family connections. By the mid-1960s, largely due to the rise of educational testing, more merit-based standards had taken hold, and students from a wider range of social backgrounds found themselves on campuses that had been off-limits to their parents.64””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Rise of the Modern University, 2016
Chronicles the shift from nepotistic admissions to merit‑based testing, widening access to elite schools.
In simple terms: Testing opened elite schools to more people.
Key Takeaway
Support equitable access.
Themes
education
meritocracy
social mobility
Mood
analytical
historical
Type
academic
policy
When to use this quote
- college admissions
- scholarships
- education reform
Key Concepts
history
policy analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- How can meritocracy be made fair?
- What alternatives exist to standardized testing?
A Different Perspective
Testing may reinforce other biases.
