The overturning of affirmative action in the United States Supreme Court on 29 June 2023, marked a very significant turning point in American universities and social equity. For over six decades, race-based college admissions have played a pivotal role in addressing systemic racism and promoting racial diversity on college campuses. However, the 6-3 Supreme Court decision that declared this practice a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment has raised concerns about future college admissions practices. The case: Fair Admissions, Inc. (SFFA) v. University of North Carolina and SFFA v. President & Fellows of Harvard College, may disproportionately favor students from privileged backgrounds, making it more challenging for students from underrepresented communities to access higher education.
The Common Application asks for the race of students, but that information is not shared with colleges until after the acceptance or denial of the applicant. Although universities cannot see the race of applicants before they are accepted, applicants can answer certain questions about themselves by talking about their own race or by shedding light on their own communities and religious and ethnic groups. A similar change occurred in 1996 when the University of California (UC) system got rid of race-based admissions. Since this decision, UC schools have not been able to see the race of its applicants until after decisions have been released. Undergraduate data collected from the UC system shows that after race-based admissions were outlawed in the state, there was only a small decline in the population of African-American and Latinx-identifying students. This slight decline will most likely appear more generally in the 2024 admissions season, as California is a very socioeconomically and culturally diverse state.
On a local note, the new law may add to the stress of students who are directly affected by the Supreme Court decision. It is important to realize that students can still express to colleges their accomplishments within their community, a decision that could reveal the race of the applicant. Some schools may even have optional or required questions on applications relating to an applicant’s communities and diversity. Universities are still looking for ways to enroll students from diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds, so race can still play a role in admissions, though applicants cannot be asked about it directly. The Friends College counseling office and the school at large will still try their hardest to get students from all backgrounds into the schools they want to attend.
Shortly after the Supreme Court released its decision, Principal Bo Lauder released a statement on behalf of Friends Seminary. Lauder wrote, “We write today to assure you that the School—and the College Counseling team in particular—is committed to helping students and families navigate this new landscape. We will ensure that students and families have the most up-to-date information on all college admissions practices and policies, and we will continue to guide our students as they work to present themselves to prospective colleges in ways that make them feel proud and fully represented.”
As of now, the Supreme Court’s decision is in full effect, and all colleges and universities must comply with it. As things stand, there can still be ways that colleges get around this law, but the main aspect is that they cannot specifically ask for the race of their applicants.