Seniors face end of affirmative action

This year’s Seniors are the first to apply to college since the Supreme Court ended affirmative action in college admissions. 

Throughout many years in the US, as calls for increased diversity became important, affirmative action was the key to pulling that off. The most well known implementation of this act was regarding college admissions aiming to make race conscious decisions when admitting students.

  In June of 2023, the Supreme Court decided to end race-conscious admission programs at colleges and universities across the country. It eliminated an important feat that colleges vowed to do: consider race one of many factors in deciding which qualified applicants are to be admitted. 

Longtime critics such as Chief Justice John Roberts, of the university's policies have stated that the nation’s colleges and universities must use colorblind criteria in admissions.

Students have felt conflicted about what to include and what not to include in their college essays regarding their race. Sean Manley, a high school senior from Maryland stated in a CNN article about the ambiguity presented in college applications now. He’s not sure whether his discussion of his racial experiences in applications will benefit him or not. 

“I don't know if writing it in my essay is good or bad, because we’re kind of like the experiment class,” stated Manley, “It’s kind of unfair. I don’t have any basis to go off. Everybody that’s giving me advice is just trying to guess, just like me.”

Many students need to decide whether they should disclose their race in a bid to make it to whatever college they wish to. Previously this was a chance to disclose and share identity and newfound interest with others. 

The court did not entirely close the door to racial considerations in college admissions. Racial discussions or experiences of diversity while growing up are still accepted in college essays.

Past cases of affirmative action bans in Berkeley and UCLA have raised concerns as the enrollment of Black and Latino students fell as much as 40%. In response to the ruling of the Supreme Court this past summer, colleges have scrambled to find ways to foster diversity at their institutions without affirmative action. This will prove to be a challenge as applications of the college class of 2028 roll into various universities.