UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #1101

Overall Research Project Description Do the rich receive preferential treatment in college admissions? Is there still a back door that the affluent can use to get their foot into higher education? This project will audit college athletics departments to test whether families perceived as high-income receive preferential treatment in admissions-related communications compared to low-income families. Inspired by the revelations of Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal, this study will take stock of where we stand 5 years post scandal and the reforms that followed and examine whether access to higher education officials varies based on socio-economic status. EPA students will help collect data on athletic departments, design correspondence treatments, manage outreach to athletics departments, and analyze responses. This research speaks to ongoing concerns about equity and fairness in college admissions, especially in domains where athletic recruitment plays a gatekeeping role. Students will gain experience in experimental design, ethical research protocols, and data analysis.