What Color Is an A?

The article examines how colleges and universities in the U.S. are attempting to promote academic achievement among minority college students. According to the article, in seeking to increase their numbers of high-achieving black, Hispanic, and Native American students, colleges face two formidable problems: Such students are underrepresented among applicants with high grades and SAT scores. And even those who perform well in high school tend to do worse in college than white and Asian-American students with comparable SAT scores and grades. The article discusses the achievement gap, Skidmore College, and affirmative action.