Quick note, as I’m out of town with the family. Forgive any typos.

The Times is reporting about a lawsuit filed against Harvard College Admissions. A podcast here.

I think there is no doubt that race is extremely impactful on college admissions, even if you account for family income, class, etc. As you may know, the Supreme Court has ruled against quotas for admissions. But, a recent study shows that they continue to exist (white paper here).

It “hurts” to apply to college as an Asian-American. The legal complaint against Harvard claims that ethnic Asians must score 140 points higher on the SAT than whites to achieve similar admissions rates. The swing is even higher when compared to URMs, up to 450 points.

The complaint asserts that Harvard has quotas that limit Asians. It states that the intent is similar to the caps on Jews that existed before the 1960s.

It will be interesting to see how all this legally works out. It is a complicated topic. Should your race be used to help you? And, if so, is it ok to be used against you?

This is a zero-sum issue. So, for every winner, there is a loser.

Anyways, back to the business of vacation. Here is a very well-made double espresso amidst the stunning scenery in Bolzano.