ABSTRACT
American higher education had come a long way since the beginnings of the university movement some forty years before. From their former status as peripheral institutions, the colleges and universities had taken on great social importance as the training ground for entrance into the upper middle and upper classes. Many other American colleges and universities for various reasons could not or would not be as selective. What especially distressed many college officials was the increased emphasis in many high schools on vocational education. In face of the increased demand for higher education, Nicholas Murray Butler remained committed to his vision of True Democracy. Selective admissions would permit the discovery of the best material from among all applicants and the University would prepare them for positions of responsibility. Many private colleges did adopt policies of selective admissions, and these institutions admitted on a variety of criteria.
