Overview

• Following the Supreme Court's decision to end affirmative action in higher education, students of color face new pressures in writing college essays.
• Many students feel compelled to share personal stories of hardship and race to stand out in the admissions process.
• Colleges have introduced new essay prompts focusing on students' backgrounds and experiences shaped by their racial identity.
• Students express concerns about the potential loss of racial diversity in colleges and the impact of the ruling on their personal narratives.
• The decision allows for race to play an indirect role in admissions, focusing on character and unique abilities shaped by racial experiences.