In his December Atlantic cover story, David Brooks argues that Ivy League admission policies fuel various societal problems by promoting a narrow social ideal based on meritocracy. He identifies issues such as overbearing parenting, diminished civic engagement, and economic disparities for those without college education as consequences of this focus on Ivy League values. Historically, the Ivy League social ideal has evolved from an elite persona to a meritocratic framework that, he claims, has inadvertently exacerbated contemporary American issues, influencing everything from educational priorities to career trajectories of graduates.
One hundred years ago, the Ivy League social ideal was what Brooks terms the 'Well-Bred Man'-white, male, aristocratic and preppy, athletic, good-looking, and personable.
Brooks argues that America's social ideals reflect and are determined by the qualities that Ivy League universities value in admission, rather than academic prowess.
He believes that the overreach of meritocracy has led to societal ills like overbearing parenting, loss of civic organization participation, and reduced opportunities for non-college graduates.
The focus has shifted from social qualities to intelligence in admissions since the 1930s, which Brooks contends has seeded current social problems.
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