Can someone explain Affirmative Action and its implications for college admissions?

Hey guys, I've heard the term 'Affirmative Action' thrown around quite a bit, but I'm still not sure what it's all about. Can someone provide a brief explanation and how it might affect the college admissions process?

Affirmative Action was a policy implemented by many universities in the United States to increase the representation of historically underrepresented groups, particularly in terms of race and ethnicity. The goal was to promote diversity and create equal opportunities for students from various backgrounds.

However, in June 2023, the Supreme Court made a landmark decision striking down Affirmative Action. As a result, colleges are no longer allowed to practice race-conscious admissions. This decision has shifted the focus in admissions to considering each student's individual experiences and achievements.

While colleges can no longer use race as a factor in their admissions decisions, they can still take into account how an applicant's racial background may have influenced their experiences and opportunities. For example, if a student discusses how their racial or ethnic background has led to certain challenges or formed their identity in their application essays, colleges can still consider those aspects in a holistic evaluation of the applicant.

Ultimately, this means that race itself can't be a deciding factor in admission, but colleges can still acknowledge and respect the diverse experiences and perspectives that students from different backgrounds bring to their campus communities. Keep in mind that despite the change in Affirmative Action policies, colleges still value diversity and fostering an inclusive campus environment, so showcasing your unique experiences and viewpoints in your application can still be advantageous.

For more on the policy changes and what they mean for students, check out this CollegeVine article: https://blog.collegevine.com/end-of-affirmative-action