Episode 3: How and Why Red-Blooded American Men Disappeared from America's "Top" Colleges 

The entire application process is tailored toward east coast girls infatuated with self help and Virginia Wolf essays. My son wrestles, plays baseball, runs track and loves math and science and is not impressed by much of the college process except for what some southern schools offer. When will this change? It’s been going on for forty years!

This was the best in the series so far. One would think that certain schools would already be starting to fill the void left by the top 30 schools having gleefully taken a big group crap on "red blooded" (your term) American males. But it doesn't yet seem to be happening. SMU and Richmond may be making some attempts, but they have a ways to go, reputation wise. U-FL is trying, but there's so much inertia there. Note that the schools can rightly claim that they are trying to feed in to what corporate America's H.R. Departments are demanding. So, maybe the colleges aren't off base?

Great series Craig! Thank you

I’m really enjoying this series.

I am working the process with my daughter... but I have often thought -- there is no way my sporty son (few years behind) would put up with the current day admissions game... starting a non-profit isn't even on his radar.

“Speak softly and carry a big stick” references Teddy Roosevelt, a red blooded American man for sure. “Strong silent type” works too 😊

These questionable "essays" are likely designed to "weed" out certain undesirables from the application process. We need to recognize that these same institutions require job applicants (e.g., Professors of all levels) to submit DEI Essays whereby they attest and submit to a world view that is agreeable with these institution's DEI Office. My understanding is that a compelled oath is also required for these individuals. My advice is to refrain from sending your students, boys or girls to these universities.

I can only speak from my experience, and this is from someone who is currently a PhD student, there are a lot of problems with academia. I didn't start college until I was 39, so for most of my adult life I was not a college graduate, and I earn really good money, when I say really good I earn within the top 10% of Americans, and did it with zero college education. In fact at this point I've made almost nothing from my college education, I went to college for something new, and it was 100% paid for. I've never taken an entrance exam, ACT, SAT, or GRE. It just wasn't necessary. A lot of younger men I know are just not seeing college as necessary, and again from my experience, just a few weeks ago I sat in my lab at my university and listened to three women speak very poorly of men, right in front of me, I've only experienced this attitude towards men at college, and it is everywhere. I work full time as well, my boss is a woman, half my co-workers are women, and none of them talk about men the way I have heard women in academia speak about men. I also think that going to college doesn't equal intelligence. My dad is one of the most intelligent men I have ever known, and he has never sat in a college classroom. For the money you pay, the return in many cases is just not worth it now.

Although males in general are not as strong as females with expressive language, self-reflection at this age for both boys and girls is not well developed. Experiential learning experiences are important across applicants. Curious if you have looked at the definition of 'red-blooded American men?' The Cambridge Dictionary defines them as '... someone who seems full of confidence or sexual energy.' There are various parts of the application process that are more advantageous to one group over another. This is why a holistic review of applications is important.

I love you Craig but the top 5 list is so red-blooded American man. I cannot count how many times my friends ask each other to name their top 5. Whether it is basketball players, quarterbacks, rappers, movies & etc. I get your beef with DEI questions but as a New Yorker this is not a hard question for us but maybe for a rural student. Maybe these questions should not be on the supplement prompt but I do not think a red blooded American man from major cities would have a problem answering them. Also, I do not have a problem with boys being nicer. I grew up in NYC when most boys had to have, at least, a couple of fights because that was how boys expressed themselves. Fighting used to by a right of passage (even amongst boys in your friend group). I am glad that is not the norm now for my sons.