College Applications Post Affirmative Action
On June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court issued two rulings stating that race-based university admissions policies are unconstitutional. The majority opinion of the Court held that these policies violate the Equal Protection Clause under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Rather than offer any opinion on the ruling, I would prefer to address the “what now” questions that students and their families might have. These cases have been working their way through the lower courts for several years, which means that universities and colleges have had time to think through the implications and how to move forward without too much disruption for applicants.
How Will the College Admissions Process Adapt?
The college admissions process has always been somewhat subjective. Real people read the applications and evaluate them based on their opinion of how those students meet the school’s stated criteria. That’s not going to change. The big difference is that now those admissions officers will evaluate different data points.
The New York Times predicted 5 changes to the admissions process. None of them are drastic. One change we can expect is that the temporary pause on standardized tests will be made permanent. Some schools have already permanently waived these tests, but we may see this on a larger scale.
We may also see a combination of fewer guaranteed admissions for children of certain alumni (called legacy admissions), more questions about socioeconomic information, and targeted recruiting in underserved areas. These factors could begin to skew admissions to favor students with economic disadvantages.
The final expected change is in the essay portion of college applications. Schools will most likely reword essay questions to have students write about challenges they’ve overcome, adversity they have faced, or how they have been affected by race. Justice Roberts specifically stated in his opinion that requesting background information in the essays is not a problem. But he qualified that with the warning that the goal should not be to use the essays to discriminate based on race.
Ultimately, colleges need to evaluate their entire admissions policies and standards. But now they have an opportunity to bring those policies and standards into alignment with the culture of today’s rising college prospects.
How Should College Hopeful Students and Their Families Adapt?
High school students and their families can work with these new standards by continuing to focus on building a great college candidacy profile. Teens should be doing most of the same things they were doing before these rulings:
Search for colleges that are a good fit for your desired career path
Take your academics seriously
Pursue extra-curricular activities that develop character, leadership skills, and experience
Build your network connections to leverage relationships and references
Practice your interview skills and request meetings with the admissions officers at your preferred schools
Brainstorm topics for your personal essay that will tell your true story
Before you celebrate the elimination of standardized test scores, consider that there still may be benefits to taking them. Schools that are test optional will still review submitted test scores. If you believe your scores will enhance your overall application, they are a worthwhile investment.
Just as before the Court made their decision, college admissions officers are looking to accept applicants who are likely to be successful in their institution and beyond. Your job is to show them that you have that potential because of all the elements that make you who you are.
Plan Your College Application Strategy
The full effects of this Supreme Court Ruling are going to be revealed over time. Students who are getting ready to apply to college need to adapt their strategy now in order to work within the new framework. If you feel like this has changed your prospects, contact me for a free strategy session. We can look at everything you have done so far and devise the next best steps to achieving your college acceptance.