“The University values diversity, broadly defined to include diversity of experiences, perspectives, backgrounds, and talents.”
The University of Minnesota’s required question about diversity is just one of many added to college applications this year following the Supreme Court ruling in June, which banned the use of affirmative action in college admissions. Affirmative action is defined as the active effort to improve employment, educational, and other opportunities for discriminated groups; this can be on the grounds of race, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and age.
Additionally, the new ruling has led to increasing calls to end legacy admissions, in which a student has a greater chance of admission because of their relation to an alumnus. Often considered a form of affirmative action for wealthier students, many colleges have already taken steps to change their legacy admission policies.
For example, legacy admits fell from 11% to 6% in Amherst College’s incoming class after the college ended preferences for legacy students in October 2021.
As a junior, college choices haven’t been at the forefront of Deling Chen’s mind, but the new ruling prompted deeper thinking about activities she is involved in that might highlight her race.
“I was really shocked when I heard the Supreme Court decision, because it really made me reconsider how I want to shape my application,” she said. “Would it be beneficial if I did it around my race? Or would it be better for me to conceal that and try to highlight other parts of my application?”

College Counselor Mary Hill described that as the new ruling changes what students can share in their applications; she believes diversity is still an important aspect that colleges consider.
“We want all students to really know and believe that as far as what is it that colleges value, … while this one piece, sort of like the checkbox of identity, can’t in and of itself be used, that the goal of still having a diverse learning community is still in place,” she said.
After the ban on affirmative action in Michigan in 2006, Black enrollments decreased from 8% of undergraduates in 2006 to the current 4%. However, many colleges have issued statements about their commitments to diversity regardless of the court’s decision. As Chief Justice John Roberts explained, universities can still consider an applicant’s discussion of how race has affected their life, leading to an increase in supplemental questions about identity.
Along with college counseling’s role in helping students represent themselves through their applications, senior Rishi Bhargava felt that discussion of national changes would also be helpful.
“If college counselors had a few sessions or if they’re willing to answer questions about how to write about your identity and essays effectively, I think that’d be helpful,” he said.
On the other hand, other students such as senior Declan Monahan feel that the ruling’s impact is minimal because colleges have already adjusted to the ruling accordingly with supplemental essays.
“…that’s the problem, [the ruling] doesn’t change anything because colleges are so on top of getting around it already,” he said.
While college counseling works to adjust to the new affirmative action ruling, the first college application deadlines for this year’s seniors will be impacted in November.