To whom does affirmative action actually apply?

I've been hearing a lot lately about affirmative action and its role in college admissions. But I'm still not sure exactly who it applies to – does anyone have a clear answer?

Affirmative Action in college admissions was a policy that allowed universities to factor in race when considering students for admission. However, this policy was struck down by the Supreme Court in June 2023. As such, colleges and universities in the U.S. are no longer allowed to practice race-conscious admissions.

However, colleges may still consider the effect of race on an individual's experiences and achievements. For example, if a student discusses race in their college application—say, in their admissions essay—colleges may take into account how the student's racial identity has influenced their experiences and shaped who they are. This consideration is part of a holistic admissions approach, where colleges consider an applicant in the context of their individual experiences and background, rather than just looking at quantifiable metrics like grades and test scores.

In other words, while colleges can no longer use race as an explicit factor in admissions decisions, they can still acknowledge the impact race may have had on a student's life.