How the Ivy League Broke America
The meritocracy isn’t working. We need something new.
TL;DR
- From the late 19th century to the mid-20th century, the American social ideal was the 'Well-Bred Man' from established WASP families, favored for social connections and background over academic brilliance.
- James Conant, president of Harvard, initiated a shift in admissions away from lineage and breeding towards intelligence and academic achievement, aiming to dismantle a 'hereditary aristocracy of wealth' and create a 'natural aristocracy of talent'.
- This change transformed American society by prioritizing academic merit and intelligence, leading to the rise of a 'cognitive elite' and influencing parenting practices towards 'concerted cultivation' to prepare children for competitive college admissions.