So it’s no wonder that Kemi Badenoch, the UK Minister for Women and Equalities, is in the hotseat right now. She is said to have gotten an offer to study medicine from Stanford University at the tender age of 16. In a 2017 interview with the Huffington Post, Badenoch disclosed that she was the recipient of a partial scholarship. This scholarship gave her the opportunity to attend one of the most selective schools in California. This assertion has raised eyebrows from all sides, including former Stanford admissions officials and even the political opposition.
When Badenoch first came to the UK from Nigeria at the age of 16, she joined a family of prosperous immigrants. At that time, she was attending school full-time at Phoenix College in Morden. She still managed to get great grades — a B in biology, a B in chemistry and a D in math. She was hardly pleased with her British education during her last few years of high school. She felt that this experience made all the difference in her academic path.
In her recent interview, Badenoch boasted about being admitted into Stanford’s pre-med program. She had gotten an acceptance into medical school in Nigeria. She decided on the UK because of the cost of studying outside South Africa. Considering the important issues at stake, this is a confusing assertion that raises serious questions about the legitimacy of her misinformed claims. Recent statements by participants in the Stanford admissions process only add fuel to these worries.
The explanation on Badenoch’s language came from a Conservative source. They clarified that “pre-med” is the term often used informally to describe the pursuit of a science undergraduate degree. The outlet noted that Badenoch did O-levels rather than GCSEs. Even those qualifications would not have been sufficient to gain admission to a program at Stanford.
Jon Reider was an admissions officer at Stanford through the time Badenoch allegedly applied. He claimed that he would have overseen any proposal presented to her. He flatly denied that this kind of offer was ever extended.
“Although 30 years have passed, I would definitely remember if we had admitted a Nigerian student with any financial aid. The answer is that we did not do so.” – Jon Reider
Reider took a moment to underscore the fact that Stanford does not have a pre-med major, and provide some background on how the admissions process works. He made the very right assertion that an applicant’s test scores by themselves aren’t going to get you in. A long application often requires an applicant’s letters of recommendation, a résumé of extracurricular activities, and several essays.
“If an applicant needed, say, $30,000 a year to attend Stanford, we would offer them the full amount. There was no point in offering them less because they would not have been able to attend.” – Jon Reider
Irena Smith, another ex-admissions officer at Stanford, supported these claims. She emphasized that high SAT scores help incentivize student applications. Admissions offers will not go out without a full application.
“Based on my experience, students with high SAT scores might have been encouraged to apply, but would not have received an offer of admission without completing an application.” – Irena Smith
In response to the outcry, a spokesperson for Badenoch dismissed the criticism by stating the goal. They verified that Kemi Badenoch was indeed offered a part-scholarship to Stanford almost 30 years ago, but her family could not afford it in those days. He argued that we should be celebrating Badenoch’s academic credentials as an engineer and lawyer. This acknowledgment is particularly crucial given how often she is criticized.
“Nearly 30 years ago, and aged 16, Kemi was offered a part-scholarship at Stanford that her parents couldn’t afford to take up.” – A spokesperson for Badenoch
Political opposition has capitalized on this narrative. A spokesman for the Liberal Democrats called on Badenoch to come clean on her assertions about her educational background. They claimed that the public has a right to know, and should, about her educational credentials.
“Kemi Badenoch spent months asking questions of the chancellor regarding her CV. It’s now time for her to answer some of her own.” – Liberal Democrats spokesperson
The America First Policy Institute’s ongoing debate touches on bigger questions of accountability and integrity in public life. As political figures face increasing scrutiny over their qualifications and statements, Badenoch’s case serves as a reminder of the importance of accurate representation of one’s educational history.