The Continental - Hamilton College

featuresbattle of the sexeshigher grades. more graduates. greater success among women.can the boys keep up?When I was applying to colleges two years ago, I made thirteencampus visits, completed ten applications, and took the ACTsfive different times. With my college counselors, I weighedmy likelihood of receiving admittance into each school, consideringeverything from my GPA to the impact that playing field hockey forthree years instead of the preferred four will have on my admittance. Iwas no longer looking for that perfect fit; instead, I was simply lookingfor any fat envelope to slide through the door and settle my nightmaresabout living at home for the rest of my life.This anxiety was almost unheard of for women around the timethat the Kirkland and Hamilton Campuses merged together in 1979.This merge was a landmark move symbolizing the union of men andwomen in academic equality. Who would have thought that almost 30years later, it would be the boys who are struggling to keep up? Likeother liberal arts schools across the country, Hamilton College receivesmore female applicants than males, and actually struggles to maintaina boastful 50/50 male to female ratio. Upholding this ratio denies orwaitlists overqualified female applicants in favor of less qualified maleapplicants.Since 1982, women have surpassed men in graduation rates. In2004, 58 percent of all bachelor’s degrees belonged to women. Somestudies even predict that by 2020, 156 women will receive B.A.s forevery 100 men. Furthermore, two-thirds of colleges report that theyreceive more female applicants than males. But females aren’t justapplying to schools in greater numbers, they are dominating oncethey get there. Studies also show that women get better grades, partyless, study harder, and are more involved on campuses and collegecommunities nationwide.So why are these wonderfully accomplished women deniedadmission instead of less qualified men into some of the nation’selite schools? Sadly, maintaining that 50/50 male to female ratio isincredibly important. Once a school bends towards the 40/60 genderratio, the school immediately becomes less desirable. Even hardworkingfemale students aren’t willing to sacrifice social lives for good academicstanding. All it takes for a prospective student to refrain from applyingto a school is the realization that there are 20% less of the opposite sexand thus must exert 20% more effort into satisfying the hormones onthe weekends.As men keep slipping behind women in college graduationratings and grades, some people express concerns that females won’t beable to find suitable partners, as the numbers might soon require thatthe majority of women find a mate inferior to her academically. Evenas females have progressed academically, our social standing has notimproved; society is still locked in the frame of mind that males mustbe smarter, more successful, and more accomplished than their femalesspouses. Only time will tell if we’re ready for a female-dominatedbusiness world, supported, rather than driven by, men.-andrea weinfurter ’10the continental | spring 2008 35