What are affirmative action schools?

I've heard the term 'affirmative action schools' a lot recently, and I'm not entirely sure about what it means. Can someone please clarify this for me and explain how it might affect my college applications?

Affirmative action was a term used to describe policies adopted by colleges and universities in the United States to ensure that traditionally underrepresented groups had fair and equal opportunities to access higher education. These policies typically involved considering the race, ethnicity, and economic background of applicants during the admissions process in order to create a diverse and balanced student population.

However, affirmative action was struck down by the Supreme Court in June 2023. This means that colleges can no longer practice race-conscious admissions. Despite this ruling, colleges can still consider how race may have impacted a student as an individual. For example, if a student writes about race in an essay and how it led to hardship, the college can take that into account.

In terms of how this affects your college applications, it is essential to keep in mind that colleges still value diversity and are committed to creating a campus community that includes students from different backgrounds. The main way in which this can impact your application is that you may want to demonstrate (and maybe write about) how your unique background or experiences have shaped your life, your academic and extracurricular pursuits, and your perspectives. Colleges will still look at your experiences, achievements, and other factors holistically to make their decisions.

In sum, while race-conscious admissions (formerly known as affirmative action) are no longer legally allowed, it is still important to showcase your individuality and personal experiences in your college applications to help admission officers understand how you can contribute to a diverse and inclusive campus environment.