Clarifying Qualifying for UC Admission

Re “UC Regents Inject Race Into Admissions,” Commentary, Nov. 21: Edwin Locke asks the question, “How does a struggle against poverty . . . qualify one for college admission?” The response should be that it contributes to one’s ability to multitask. (It’s about the only nice thing you could say about poverty.)

Can every student who must work compete effectively against students who have no work responsibilities? The UC and CSU systems are public schools, which have an obligation to provide access and opportunity for all our children. Certain tasks that take away from a student’s study time could be viewed as things that develop other positive attributes that an admissions committee would value in a well-rounded student.

Steve Underwood

Huntington Beach

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In regard to the new admission criteria being considered by the UC, has it not occurred to the policymakers there that the best and most objective evidence that a poor student has overcome adversity is excellent grades and high test scores?

Also, some lament that the system in place would have bypassed an Abraham Lincoln, Oprah Winfrey or Whoopi Goldberg. They seem to have done quite well for themselves without a UC education.

Howard Safier

Los Angeles