Fair Admission

College admissions aren’t fair. Could they ever be? Fair Admission is a nine-episode series hosted by Edward Sturm that explores equity in the college admissions process. From systemic racism to standardized testing to the way we make subjective decisions, who gets into college affects all of us—whether we like it or not. From the Daily Free Press.

In pursuit of a working definition of fair college admissions, the American ideal of meritocracy is called into question. Host Edward Sturm explores what fairness is (and is not) when we talk about merit and higher education. Featuring guests Kevin Kruger and Natasha Warikoo.Creator, Writer and Host: Edward SturmProducer and Editor: Justin TangResearch Assistants: Sahika Aydinol, Leila Caplan, and Lily KepnerOriginal Music: Izzy AmorusoGraphic Design and Marketing: Alice Wang and Ally MigdolSection Editor: Jackson Machesky

What does diversity really mean? The battle over affirmative action happening in court and on college campuses across the country leads us to question the way that we talk about race and college admissions. Inclusion might be an important goal, but there is a lot more to justice than diversity. Featuring guests Raul Fernandez, Zoe Yao, Dan Golden, and Natasha Warikoo.Creator, Writer and Host: Edward Sturm.Producer and Editor: Justin TangResearch Assistants: Sahika Aydinol, Leila Caplan, and Lily KepnerOriginal Music: Izzy AmorusoGraphic Design and Marketing: Alice Wang and Ally MigdolSection Editor: Jackson Machesky

To understand standardized testing, we have to go back in time. Tracing the history of the SAT from its racist origins to its discriminatory impacts today, the imperative for a test-free future becomes clear. Featuring guests Jay Rosner and Gidget Watson. Creator, writer and host: Edward Sturm Producer and Editor: Justin TangResearch Assistants: Sahika Aydinol, Leila Caplan, and Lily KepnerOriginal Music: Izzy AmorusoGraphic Design and Marketing: Alice Wang and Ally MigdolSection Editor: Jackson Machesky

The college admissions scandal of 2019 caught CEOs and famous actors in egregious fraud, but maybe the real scandal is a system that you don’t need to break the law to rig. Preference given to legacy students, development candidates, and other beneficiaries of privilege show us just how far money permeates into the college admissions process. Featuring guests Dan Golden and Mira Elzanaty.Creator, writer and host: Edward Sturm Producer and Editor: Justin TangResearch Assistants: Sahika Aydinol, Leila Caplan, and Lily KepnerOriginal Music: Izzy AmorusoGraphic Design and Marketing: Alice Wang and Ally MigdolSection Editor: Jackson Machesky

U.S. colleges and universities recruit the global elite, but they often ignore foreign-origin students already in the country. Undocumented students, first-generation Americans, and international applicants all face unique challenges on the path to college. What stands in their way? Additional reporting by Sahika Aydinol and featuring guests Christina Gomez, Daniel Golden and others. Creator, writer and host: Edward Sturm Producer and Editor: Justin TangResearch Assistants: Sahika Aydinol, Leila Caplan, and Lily KepnerOriginal Music: Izzy AmorusoGraphic Design and Marketing: Alice Wang and Ally MigdolSection Editor: Jackson Machesky

Auditioning for college seems like the height of subjectivity. Maybe it is. But admissions are subjective at every level. From essay writing to questions of race and self-worth, understanding subjectivity can change the way we think about fairness and success. Featuring guests Harvey Young, Gidget Watson, Brian Mitchell and others.Creator, writer and host: Edward Sturm Producer and Editor: Justin TangResearch Assistants: Sahika Aydinol, Leila Caplan, and Lily KepnerOriginal Music: Izzy AmorusoGraphic Design and Marketing: Alice Wang and Ally MigdolSection Editor: Jackson Machesky

College sports and ROTC programs are uniquely competitive and often discussed staples of the college admissions process. When these pathways to college go too far, however, they have the potential to cause real harm. Featuring guests Sarah Finlay, Lucas Scharankov, Avery Webb, and Kayla Spellenberg.Creator, writer and host: Edward Sturm Producer and Editor: Justin TangResearch Assistants: Sahika Aydinol, Leila Caplan, and Lily KepnerOriginal Music: Izzy AmorusoGraphic Design and Marketing: Alice Wang and Ally MigdolSection Editor: Jackson Machesky

After the acceptance letter arrives, questions of access persist. Paying for college is one of the most difficult (and contentious) barriers to higher education. Our exploration of a college’s price tag leads us to community colleges, for-profit schools, and universities with endowments in the billions. Featuring guests Mitchell Williams and Oliver McGhee.Creator, writer and host: Edward Sturm Producer and Editor: Justin TangResearch Assistants: Sahika Aydinol, Leila Caplan, and Lily KepnerOriginal Music: Izzy AmorusoGraphic Design and Marketing: Alice Wang and Ally MigdolSection Editor: Jackson Machesky

In the final episode of Fair Admission, we ask: what’s next for college admissions? With a full view of the inequities on the path to college, it’s time to hear the answers of experts as they weigh in on what reforms can lead us toward truly fair admission. Featuring guests Daniel Golden, Jay Rosner, Natasha Warikoo, and Raul Fernandez.Creator, writer and host: Edward Sturm Producer and Editor: Justin TangResearch Assistants: Sahika Aydinol, Leila Caplan, and Lily KepnerOriginal Music: Izzy AmorusoGraphic Design and Marketing: Alice Wang and Ally MigdolSection Editor: Jackson Machesky