Crazy idea of the day– what if we created an admissions process based on “grit”?
If you haven’t read the book, “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” by Angela Duckworth, I could not recommend it enough. Dr. Duckworth defines grit as ‘the ability to sustain and work toward long-term goals, despite setbacks, and self-control as the regulation of one’s behavior through concentration and effort. These—more than intelligence, quality of instruction, family life, or income—determine a child’s educational achievement.’
The study actually followed a few of my West Point classmates. Researchers said “Cadets who displayed that special quality of “passion and perseverance for long-term goals of personal significance” were more successful during basic training and the four-year military academy that followed.
To quote Scott Galloway “State-sponsored education is who I am, and how I got here.” There is no doubt in my mind that I was a product of Affirmative Action. Being a kid who grew up in Harlem in the 80s, the product of a single-mother household, on WIC–these "setbacks" shaped me to be the man that I am today. Army Ranger School was easy compared to growing up in Section-8 housing.
So my question is, how can we build an admissions process that looks at a broader set of factors that are strong predictors of success and create a healthier society reflective of the values that built this great country–hard work, grit, and equal access to opportunity?
If anyone knows Admissions Officers who are looking at impactful ways to expand their talent pool, I’d love to see how Equity Quotient, with our vast access to socioeconomic data, can help invest in future leaders of tomorrow :)
