When I Dropped Out At 20, My Sister Told Everyone: “She’s The One Who Didn’t Finish.” Twelve Years Later, I’m Yale’s Dean Of Admissions. One Essay Read: “My Family Moved Past My Aunt’s Setback.” The Name? Amanda Chen. My Niece. I Picked Up My Red Pen And…

up my red pen, made no note, and set it down again. I could not touch that file as if it were ordinary. It was not ordinary. It was the first time anyone from that family had seen me clearly and put that seeing into words.

I called Marcus Washington, my assistant dean, and asked him to come back up to my office if he was still in the building. He arrived continue reading …