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The Supreme Court’s Ruling on Race Conscious Decisions

Written:
June 30, 2023
Updated:
March 26, 2026
Amy Herzog
Debbie Kanter
Expertise You Can Trust
Amy & Debbie
Board-Certified Educational Planners (CEP®)

Every strategy and guide published by North Shore is backed by the board-certified expertise of our Co-Founders. With decades of combined experience in holistic admissions, Amy and Debbie ensure our guidance is objective, unbiased, and focused exclusively on your student's best fit.

The Supreme Court ruled that colleges cannot use race as a specific factor in admissions decisions. However, students can still discuss how their race or background has shaped their lives, character, and goals through their personal essays and extracurricular activities.

Understanding the Supreme Court Decision

In a historic ruling, the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action, prohibiting colleges from using race as a standalone factor in admissions. This shifts the focus entirely to a student's individual experiences and merits.

How to Tell Your Story

While a checkbox for race can no longer influence decisions, the Chief Justice explicitly noted that colleges can still consider a student's discussion of how race affected their life. Your essays are now the most powerful tool you have to communicate your unique cultural perspective and lived experiences.

Did the Supreme Court ban affirmative action?

Yes, the Court ruled that universities cannot use race as a specific metric or factor when making admissions decisions.

Can I still talk about my race in my college essay?

Absolutely. You are encouraged to write about how your background, culture, or race has shaped your character, challenges, and goals.

Will diversity disappear from college campuses?

Colleges remain deeply committed to building diverse classes and are now relying more heavily on socioeconomic factors, geography, and holistic essay reviews to achieve that.

Immediate Actions

  • Review your personal statement to ensure it highlights your unique background and character.
  • Utilize the Common App supplemental essays to discuss your cultural or community impact.
  • Focus on demonstrating resilience, leadership, and intellectual curiosity.
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