Student’s Rescinded Admission Has Nothing To Do With Conservatism

A core objective of our college admissions blog is to correct misconceptions about the highly selective college admissions process — misconceptions perpetuated by the press, by school counselors, by private college counselors, and by the local bodega clerk. In a piece in National Review by Jamil Jivani entitled “How to Help Conservatives Who Are Pushed Out of the Ivy League,” Jivani essentially argues that Kyle Kashuv, the student whose admission to Harvard was recently rescinded after his past racist and anti-Semitic comments were brought to light, had his admission revoked because of his conservative beliefs. That, of course, isn’t the case. In fact, we would argue that Kashuv’s conservative beliefs — and the eloquent way he articulated his beliefs in his admissions essays — are a key reason why he earned admission in the first place.

Student Earned Admission to Harvard in Large Part Because of His Conservative Beliefs, Not In Spite of Them

Jivani writes in National Review, “Genuine concern over anti-conservative bias at Ivy League schools explains the fervor in response to Harvard University’s recent decision to rescind its admissions offer to Parkland-shooting survivor Kyle Kashuv, and it also explains reactions to how universities have responded to Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination and confirmation to the Supreme Court.” Concern over anti-conservative bias in response to Harvard’s decision to revoke Kashuv’s admission may very well be genuine. But people are riled up about lots of things that have no basis in fact. The fact is Kashuv’s conservative beliefs formed the backbone of his Personal Statement (he wrote: “While I support a conservative viewpoint on the Second Amendment, I know that finding common ground is the path to protecting our students. I still believe that from the pits of despair, goodness can and will prevail.”). And his conservative advocacy was surely no secret; it likely formed the foundation of his extracurricular activities.

Uncovered Racist and Anti-Semitic Comments Led to Student’s Rescinded Admission

Make no mistake: Kyle Kashuv’s conservative advocacy was a key reason why he earned admission. Harvard seeks to admit a diverse class — diversity that includes diversity of political thought. And make no mistake: Kyle Kashuv’s admission was revoked because of his racist and anti-Semitic comments, which have no place in liberal or conservative politics. If you’d like to read more about what we have to say about Harvard’s decision to rescind Kashuv’s offer of admission, check out our interview with The Jewish Telegraphic Agency.