(Last Updated: August 4th, 2025)

 

The United States is a melting pot of cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds. While this diversity enriches the nation, it also brings complex challenges—especially in college admissions, where fairness, race, and privilege continue to spark national debate.

 

For students applying to U.S. universities, especially those from overseas, understanding this evolving landscape is essential—not just to strengthen their applications, but to approach the process with clarity and informed perspective.

 

How U.S. Admissions Work

 

Unlike the exam-driven systems common in many parts of Asia, U.S. colleges typically use a holistic review process that may include:

 

• High school academic performance
• Standardized test scores (SAT, ACT)
• Extracurricular activities and special talents
• Personal background (e.g., family income, first-generation status, unique challenges)

 

While academically strong students—particularly many Asian applicants—tend to excel in the first three areas, even top performers have sometimes been rejected by elite schools like Harvard or Stanford. This raises broader questions about what other, less visible factors influence final decisions.

 

The Role (and End) of Affirmative Action

 

For decades, race-conscious admissions—commonly called affirmative action—sought to increase diversity on U.S. campuses by considering race as one factor among many. Critics, however, argued that these policies sometimes disadvantaged Asian American applicants.

 

In June 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that explicitly using race as a factor in admissions violates the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause. This landmark decision ended affirmative action as it had been practiced for decades.

 

Still, students can discuss how their racial or cultural background shaped their identity and experiences in their application essays. This nuance keeps the door open for colleges to consider personal context, even if race cannot be used as a formal criterion.

 

New Findings (June–July 2024): What’s Actually Changed?

 

Despite fears of major disruptions, new data from Common App—the centralized application platform used by hundreds of U.S. colleges—suggests application trends have remained largely stable since the Supreme Court’s decision:

 

• According to a June 2024 report by The Washington Post, there was only a slight decrease in applications from White and Asian students to selective schools.
• Students of color mentioned race slightly more often in essays than their peers, but overall, the use of race-related language in personal statements actually decreased slightly compared to the previous year.
• The report emphasized that application behaviors in 2023–24 did not show any significant deviation from historical trends. In fact, researchers found that more substantial shifts had occurred earlier, around 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic and widespread test-optional policies began reshaping the admissions landscape.

 

MIT Example: A Shift in Racial Makeup

 

Recent data from MIT’s incoming class further reflects subtle demographic shifts:

 

• Asian American students increased to 47%, up from 41% in recent years
• Black students decreased to 5%, from a previous average of 13%
• Hispanic students dropped to 11%, from 15%
• White student representation remained steady at around 37%

 

While these numbers are institution-specific and may not reflect national trends, they highlight how race-neutral policies can shift student demographics—sometimes unintentionally.

 

How Colleges Are Adapting: New Strategies to Maintain Diversity

 

Without affirmative action, many universities are exploring race-neutral alternatives to maintain diverse campuses, such as:

 

• Prioritizing applicants from under-resourced high schools
• Offering greater support to first-generation college students
• Factoring in socioeconomic background and personal adversity more heavily

 

These approaches may indirectly impact both domestic and international applicants, especially those from Asia, by shifting the emphasis away from just academic metrics to broader indicators of potential.

 

Standing Out in a Post-Affirmative Action Era

 

In today’s competitive admissions environment, strong grades and test scores are essential—but no longer enough on their own. What truly differentiates applicants is:

 

• Leadership in meaningful, student-driven projects
• Innovation (e.g., building an app, starting a social venture)
• Resilience in the face of adversity
• Compelling personal essays that reveal character, insight, and growth

 

Too many students list the same activities—music, tutoring, volunteering—without showing what sets them apart. Admissions officers are seeking authentic voices, not perfect résumés.

 

Controversies Beyond Race: Legacy and Special Admissions

 

The Supreme Court’s ruling also reignited scrutiny of non-merit-based admissions, as seen between 2014 and 2018, including:

 

• The “Z-list” which admits 50–60 students annually to Harvard who defer enrollment for a year—often the children of donors or alumni
• The “dean’s interest list” and “director’s list”, both of which may favor applicants from wealthy or well-connected families.

 

While these practices were not addressed directly by the Court, they are increasingly criticized as inconsistent with values of fairness and equal opportunity. Legal and federal reviews of such legacy preferences are ongoing.

 

Final Thoughts

 

Understanding how U.S. college admissions work—especially amid legal changes and ongoing scrutiny—is more important than ever. Academic strength remains foundational, but elite schools are ultimately looking for:

 

• Students with a compelling sense of self
• A track record of initiative and impact
• An ability to contribute meaningfully to a diverse campus community

 

As you prepare your application, don’t just list achievements—tell your story. Show who you are, what matters to you, and how you’ve grown. These qualities leave a lasting impression—regardless of changing policies.

 

閱讀中文版文章：面對美國大學招生政策的爭議，你該知道的事

 

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