AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN THE SUPREME COURT AND ITS IMPACT ON COLLEGE ADMISSION IN THE FUTURE

Why is Affirmative Action such a hot topic?

In the US, the topic of affirmative action in college admissions has long been controversial. The program, which tries to improve diversity in higher education by giving underrepresented groups priority consideration, has faced various legal challenges and made multiple journeys to the Supreme Court for many years.

In the historic case Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, which was decided in 1978, the Supreme Court for the first time discussed the topic of affirmative action in college admissions. Race might be taken into account as a "plus factor" in the admissions process even if the Court found that racial quotas in admissions were unlawful.

But in a more recent case, Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin (2013), the Supreme Court upheld the Grutter ruling and decided that colleges can continue to consider a student's race when making admissions decisions as long as doing so is limited and serves a vital public interest. The University of Texas at Austin's admissions policy, which took race into account as just one of several considerations, was affirmed by the court in 2016.

A current issue that could have a substantial effect on affirmative action, especially in the holistic approach toward application, in college admissions is now being considered by the Supreme Court. Asian American candidates are said to be the targets of discrimination in the Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard case. If the plaintiff wins, the use of race in admissions choices may be subject to more stricter restrictions.

To put in simplest terms, since the implementation of affirmative action in the college application process, red flags has been raised. Where universities seem to target a specific demographic to populate the university grounds. An issue of classism that is disguised as racism. Is it true? It depends on the evidence and the outcome of the case. We must wait on the ruling from the Supreme Court.

In summary, the Supreme Court has significantly influenced the legal framework around affirmative action in college admissions. While the Court has supported the use of race as a consideration in admissions decisions, it has also imposed restrictions on how institutions might use race to make sure that the use of race is focused and supports a compelling government interest. Affirmative action in college admissions may be significantly impacted by the decision of the current case before the Court for some time to come.

How would this affect me in the college application process if Affirmative Action is overturned?

A simple answer is we don’t know, but we can speculate that diversity may drop in the future. I must remind you that the college application process is unique for each individual student. A prudent action is to remain passionate towards your future educational goals. Make sure to get creative in the process. Every student has the potential to succeed in extraordinary ways.