ONCE AGAIN I OVERHEARD A DISCUSSION (this time on a flight from San Diego to Chicago) about how to encourage more minority students into STEM fields. This seems to be everywhere these days. Once again the answer can be found in Want to Be a Doctor? A Scientist? An Engineer? An Affirmative Action Leg Up May Hurt Your Chances. Note that the logic applies not just to affirmative action beneficiaries, but to legacy beneficiaries, athletes or anyone who is admitted to a competitive school on the basis of a special preference.