Over the next decades, elite college admissions redefined "merit" to include subjective
personal qualities.
Karabel says that throughout the '20s, "An entirely new system of admissions was invented, with
emphasis ... athletic ability,
geographical diversity. They started,for thefirst time, to do interviews." According to Karabel, the
purpose of these policies was to subtly reduce the number of minority students.
Over ... qualities like being well-
dressed, well-spoken and generally likable. In his book, Karabel describes how these standards
favored wealthy students. These standards for applicants maintained college as a place