Privilege: Havergal and Post-Secondary Education
With the year coming to a close, many Havergal grads are accepting and have accepted their university offers, and many grade elevens are gearing up to do the same thing a year from now by exploring their options and preparing their grades. So it makes sense that the college admissions scandal is on the mind of many members of the Havergal community. In the following interview of a group of anonymous grade eleven students, we can determine the attitudes of some members of our community and explore how the scandal has impacted us here at HC.
Interviewer Zara Salman: Let’s get right in it - do you feel like you have a better chance of getting into the school you want to go because you attend Havergal?
Interviewee A: Yes, Havergal is such a recognizable school.
Interviewee B: Definitely. Yes.
Interviewee C: For sure.
Salman: Ok. Generally, what are your thoughts on the college admissions scandal?
A: I think that it was out of the children’s control. They said that they didn’t know - it was all the parents. There must be a fault in the system for something like this to happen though, there should be fair entry for everyone. Money shouldn’t play a role. *Laughs* That’s a little ironic, I just said that I think attending Havergal gives me an advantage.
B: I agree, everyone should have the same opportunity. We need to level the playing field. But I think that the kids knew if they were capable of making it into that school or not - they’re not entirely blameless.
C: I don’t think that it’s right in any way, but it was blown out of proportion, and those involved are getting a harsher punishment because they’re famous.
Salman: Thank you. Moving on, what do you think Havergal’s reaction would be if an old girl was part of the scandal?
A: I don’t know if they would publicize it - if it wasn’t blasted on the news, there would probably just be some gossip about it and not much more.
B: I think the school would hide it purposefully, and try to bury it. They would be like, “What scandal?” *Laughs.*
C: Havergal would definitely deny anything to do with it. Plus, most of these cases go unknown - someone’s parents at Havergal could be doing this unknown right now. Again, I think it only gets blown up if you’re a celebrity.
Salman: With that said, if you had the means to do so, would you pay someone to help you get into the school of your choice?
A: Yes! If I thought I wouldn’t fail out while I was there, but I wouldn’t be able to get in without help, I so would.
B: Definitely. I feel like people at our school have done it already.
C: Yep, if I had the money.
Salman: Interesting! Next question: do you believe that the admissions scandal is on par with legacy policies and donations in terms of inequitable opportunity?
A: Yeah. Specific to Havergal, what if people think that I got into Havergal because my mom went here, or because my sister goes here?
C: Yes, they’re all on the same level. Again, that’s why I think that it’s so blown out of proportion. Why is legacy okay? It’s so frustrating that this has so much attention on it, compared to how we accept that parents can donate a building to get their kid in.
Salman: Okay, final question - do you think that you are privileged?
A: Yes. I can ask my mom for anything, money isn’t an issue. Also, I get a really good education at Havergal in comparison to public schools. Like if I didn’t go to Havergal, my teachers wouldn’t know me and I wouldn’t be able to get extra help.
B: Yes, to be at such a good school and getting this education is a privilege I feel like we take for granted. Although I do think that it was harder for me to attend Havergal based on my race - I felt like I had to be the perfect student to get here, versus girls who aren’t of colour, and who might not be considered at the same super high standard.
C: Yes, money isn’t an issue. However, I don’t think I am fully privileged, but I couldn’t tell you how.
I conducted this interview because I wanted to explore our view of the college admissions scandal at Havergal, and I had predicted that I would need to address how that view is shaped by our privilege. However, the answers given by my peers has given me pause. In these answers, I see the complexity of both having privileges like class and education privilege, and realizing that one has these advantages. These introspective students are doing their best to understand how their privilege informs their answers. Being able to address how your identity shapes your opinion and opportunities is an important skill, especially when you attend a school like Havergal. The college admissions scandal is especially pertinent to us here at HC because we need to understand the flaws in the higher education system many of us want to enter, and how those flaws can aid us but harm others - and understanding how privileged we are to go to school here is just the first step in unpacking the tough realities of the inequalities in both education and broader society.