The Shape of the River: Long-Term Consequences of Considering Race in College and University Admissions

Across the United States, in courts, classrooms and the media, Americans are divided over the use of race in admitting students to universities. This book is intended to change that. It brings a wealth of empirical evidence to bear on how race-sensitive admissions policies actually work and what effects they have had on students of different races. The heart of the book is an analysis of the academic, employment and personal histories of more than 60,000 white and African-American students who attended academically selective universities between the 1970s and the early 1990s. The authors argue that only by examining the college careers and the subsequent lives of these students - or, to use a metaphor they take from Mark Twain, by learning the shape of the entire river - can we pass an informed judgement on the wisdom of university admissions policies.