Admissions Policies – Page 5

NYU has all new supplemental essay prompt options for 2023-2024

Posted on July 31, 2023 by Craig Meister Leave a Comment

New York University has all new supplemental essay prompt options for first-year applicants to choose from as they decide whether or not to submit an optional 250-word essay as part of their Common Application when applying to the private university, which now has comprehensive campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai.

2023-2024 NYU Supplemental Essay Prompts

We are looking for peacemakers, changemakers, global citizens, boundary breakers, creatives and innovators – Choose one quote from the following and let us know why it inspires you; or share a short quote and person not on our list who inspires you, and include why. (250 words maximum)

“We’re used to people telling us there are no solutions, and then creating our own. So we did what we do best. We reached out to each other, and to our allies, and we mobilized across communities to make change, to benefit and include everyone in society.” Judith Heuman, 2022 NYU Commencement Address
“I encourage your discomfort, that you must contribute, that you must make your voice heard. That is the essence of good citizenship.” Sherilynn Ifill, 2015 NYU Commencement Address
“If you know how to fly but you never knew how to walk, wouldn’t that be sad?” Lang Lang, 2015 NYU Honorary Degree Recipient
“You have the right to want things and to want things to change.” Sanna Marin, Former Prime Minister of Finland, 2023 NYU Commencement Address
“It’s hard to fight when the fight ain’t fair.” Taylor Swift, Change, Released 2008, 2022 NYU Commencement Speaker
Share a short quote and person not on this list, and why the quote inspires you.
Not answering this optional question.

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While having a variety of prompts from which to choose in order to write NYU’s optional 250-word short essay is new, last year’s prompt, like this year’s prompt-quotes, also demonstrated the institution’s emphasis on promoting social change:

NYU 2022-2023 Optional Short Essay Prompt (No Longer in Use)

NYU was founded on the belief that a student’s identity should not dictate the ability for them to access higher education. That sense of opportunity for all students, of all backgrounds, remains a part of who we are today and a critical part of what makes us a world class university. Our community embraces diversity, in all its forms, as a cornerstone of the NYU experience. We would like to better understand how your experiences would help us to shape and grow our diverse community. Please respond in 250 words or less.

Though NYU does allow applicants to submit their applications without completing the optional 250-word short essay, the relative freedom the prompts give applicants should provide enough motivation for any applicant who really wants to differentiate himself or herself for the NYU admissions committee.

High school seniors applying to NYU do so through the Common Application; therefore, NYU applicants will also need to respond – and respond well – to one of the Common App’s main essay prompts in order to be considered for admission at NYU.

NYU also requires each first-year applicant to complete and submit a time-consuming Self Reported Academic Record (SRAR) after submitting his or her Common Application. A first-year applicant is only able to access the SRAR through his or her NYU Applicant Portal, which the student will gain access to after applying to NYU on the Common App. Once the SRAR is submitted, it will take up to forty-eight hours for the SRAR to show as received in an applicant’s Applicant Portal. With that in mind, applicants will have a few days after their decision deadline to submit their SRAR to NYU; yet, around NYU’s application deadline periods, it can take longer than forty-eight hours for SRARs to show as received.

Good luck to all high school seniors about to embark on the application process to become a member of NYU’s Class of 2028.

Stanford University 2023-2024 Supplemental Essay Prompts Released

Posted on July 31, 2023 by Craig Meister Leave a Comment

Stanford University has released its 2023-2024 supplemental short essay prompts for first-year applicants.

All first-year applicants to Stanford will complete three Stanford-specific short essays, one of which is in response to a prompt that makes its debut this year.

2023-2024 Stanford Supplemental Essay Prompts

There is a 100-word minimum and a 250-word maximum for each essay.

The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.
Virtually all of Stanford’s undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—get to know you better.
Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University. *New this year

Stanford also requires applicants to complete several short answer responses (50 words maximum). The prompts for those are as follows:

What is the most significant challenge that society faces today?

How did you spend your last two summers?

What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed?

Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family.

List five things that are important to you.

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A prompt that Stanford retired from last year’s supplement is: “Tell us about something that is meaningful to you and why.

That prompt was replaced by: “Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University.”

The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in June 2023 that colleges can no longer admit students on the on the basis of race. As a result, many selective colleges like Stanford are attempting during the 2023-2024 admissions cycle to balance building racially diverse first-year classes on the one hand with not being able to admit students on the basis of race on the other hand.

Stanford is attempting to thread a very narrow needle with its new essay prompt; its admissions leadership is trying to inspire Stanford’s diverse applicants to write about their diverse experiences inclusive of how race may have shaped their perspectives, character, and overall value systems. By doing so, Stanford admissions leadership hopes to curate what it deems to be a sufficiently diverse first-year class based on diverse perspectives, experiences, and dispositions rather than by allowing an applicant’s skin color alone to play any role in any admissions decision. In short, Stanford must adhere to The Supreme Court of the United States’ ruling, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, that included this critical paragraph:

“At the same time, as all parties agree, nothing in this opinion should be construed as prohibiting universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise. See, e.g., 4 App. in No. 21–707, at 1725–1726, 1741; Tr. of Oral Arg. in No. 20–1199, at 10. But, despite the dissent’s assertion to the contrary, universities may not simply establish through application essays or other means the regime we hold unlawful today. (A dissenting opinion is generally not the best source of legal advice on how to comply with the majority opinion.) “[W]hat cannot be done directly cannot be done indirectly. The Constitution deals with substance, not shadows,” and the prohibition against racial discrimination is “levelled at the thing, not the name.” Cummings v. Missouri, 4 Wall. 277, 325 (1867). A benefit to a student who overcame racial discrimination, for example, must be tied to that student’s courage and determination. Or a benefit to a student whose heritage or culture motivated him or her to assume a leadership role or attain a particular goal must be tied to that student’s unique ability to contribute to the university. In other words, the student must be treated based on his or her experiences as an individual—not on the basis of race. Many universities have for too long done just the opposite. And in doing so, they have concluded, wrongly, that the touchstone of an individual’s identity is not challenges bested, skills built, or lessons learned but the color of their skin. Our constitutional history does not tolerate that choice.”

Columbia University’s 2023-2024 Supplemental Essay Prompts Announced

Posted on July 31, 2023 by Craig Meister Leave a Comment

Columbia University in the City of New York has released its 2023-2024 supplemental essay prompts for first-year applicants.

All first-year applicants to Columbia will complete several Columbia-specific short answer questions, and this year’s Columbia supplemental prompts represent an intriguing mix of old, reworded, and new prompts with adjusted word-count limits.

One new Columbia short essay prompt for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle that is focused on adversity very much seems inspired by US President Joe Biden’s request for colleges to consider adversity and diversity in their admissions decisions after The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in June 2023 that colleges can no longer admit students on the on the basis of race:

In college/university, students are often challenged in ways that they could not predict or anticipate. It is important to us, therefore, to understand an applicant’s ability to navigate through adversity. Please describe a barrier or obstacle you have faced and discuss the personal qualities, skills or insights you have developed as a result. (150 words or fewer)

Also new/reworded in 2023-2024 is the following prompt:

What attracts you to your preferred areas of study at Columbia College or Columbia Engineering? (150 words or fewer) *This prompt was reworded from last year and the maximum number of words a student can use to respond has also been lowered from 200 to 150.

Three prompts that did appear in last year’s Columbia supplement but which have now been retired include:

List the titles of the books, essays, poetry, short stories or plays you read outside of academic courses that you enjoyed most during secondary/high school. (75 words or fewer) *While this prompt has been retired, a new prompt exists that condenses this prompt and the one below into one new prompt with a 100-word limit.

We’re interested in learning about some of the ways that you explore your interests. List some resources and outlets that you enjoy, including but not limited to websites, publications, journals, podcasts, social media accounts, lectures, museums, movies, music, or other content with which you regularly engage. (125 words or fewer) *While this prompt has been retired, a new prompt exists that condenses this prompt and the one above into one new prompt with a 100-word limit.

In Columbia’s admissions process, we value who you are as a unique individual, distinct from your goals and achievements. In the last words of this writing supplement, we would like you to reflect on a source of happiness. Help us get to know you further by describing the first thing that comes to mind when you consider what simply brings you joy. (35 words or fewer)

It’s important to note that most high school seniors applying to Columbia do so through the Common Application; therefore, most Columbia applicants will also need to respond – and respond well – to one of the Common App’s main essay prompts in order to be considered for admission at Columbia.

Fellow Ivy League institutions, Cornell, Dartmouth, and Yale released their supplemental essay prompts for first-year applicants earlier in July.

2023-2024 Columbia University Supplemental Prompts

Instructions

For the list question that follows, there is a 100 word maximum. Please refer to the below guidance when answering this question:

Your response should be a list of items separated by commas or semicolons.
Items do not have to be numbered or in any specific order.
It is not necessary to italicize or underline titles of books or other publications.
No author names, subtitles or explanatory remarks are needed.

For the four short answer questions, please respond in 150 words or fewer.

Questions

List a selection of texts, resources and outlets that have contributed to your intellectual development outside of academic courses, including but not limited to books, journals, websites, podcasts, essays, plays, presentations, videos, museums and other content that you enjoy. (100 words or fewer)
A hallmark of the Columbia experience is being able to learn and thrive in an equitable and inclusive community with a wide range of perspectives. Tell us about an aspect of your own perspective, viewpoint or lived experience that is important to you, and describe how it has shaped the way you would learn from and contribute to Columbia’s diverse and collaborative community. (150 words or fewer)
In college/university, students are often challenged in ways that they could not predict or anticipate. It is important to us, therefore, to understand an applicant’s ability to navigate through adversity. Please describe a barrier or obstacle you have faced and discuss the personal qualities, skills or insights you have developed as a result. (150 words or fewer)
Why are you interested in attending Columbia University? We encourage you to consider the aspect(s) that you find unique and compelling about Columbia. (150 words or fewer)
What attracts you to your preferred areas of study at Columbia College or Columbia Engineering? (150 words or fewer)

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For my advice on how to write wonderful responses to these 2023-2024 Columbia supplemental prompts, watch my latest video here. For overall advice on how to get into Columbia University, watch my in-depth video here.

Cornell University Releases 2023-2024 Supplemental Essay Prompts

Posted on July 26, 2023 by Craig Meister 3 Comments

Cornell University in Ithaca, New York is the third Ivy League college to officially release its 2023-2024 supplemental essay prompts for first-year applicants. Dartmouth and Yale released their supplemental prompts earlier this month. As most high school seniors applying to Cornell do so through the Common Application, most Cornell applicants will also need to respond – and respond well – to one of the Common App’s main essay prompts in order to be considered for admission at Cornell.

This year’s supplemental prompts are a mix of new and old; some of the university’s colleges have kept their supplemental prompts the same as last year, while others have introduced new prompts.

To watch my detailed advice from last year regarding how to get into Cornell, which includes advice on last year’s supplemental essay prompts, some of which are used again this year, click here or watch it at the bottom of this article.

The admissions offices at most highly selective universities have been slower than usual in releasing their supplemental essay prompts for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle as a result of having to reassess their practices in a new post-affirmative action environment. University of Virginia earlier in July released a new supplemental essay prompt that seemed to be created specifically in response to affirmative action being ruled unlawful.

Without further ado, here are Cornell’s prompts for students applying for Fall 2024 entry.

Cornell University 2023-2024 Supplemental Essay Prompts

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Required: Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected? Please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced your choice. How will an education from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University specifically serve to support your learning, growth, and the pursuit of your goals? (650-word limit)

Instructions: The optional short-answer questions invite you to share additional information about your background, interests, and experiences as they relate to aspects of the Cornell CALS mission. The content of any responses submitted will be included in the holistic review of your application (which is also the case for any optional additional information submitted as part of your Common Application or uploaded through your Cornell Application Portal once you’ve applied).

Optional: At Cornell CALS, we aim to leave the world better than we found it, so we seek out those who are not simply driven to master their discipline, but who are also passionate about doing so to serve the public good. Please elaborate on an experience where you had a meaningful impact on people, a community, and/or an environment of importance to you. (200-word limit)

Optional: Cornell CALS is dedicated to purpose-driven study of the agricultural, life, environmental, and social sciences and welcomes students with interests that span a wide variety of disciplines. Given our agricultural history and commitment to educating the next generation of agriculturalists, please share if you have a background or interest in agriculture, regardless of your intended major. An “agricultural entity” for the purpose of this question is defined as cultivating soil, growing crops, and raising livestock (ex. farm, ranch, greenhouse, vineyard, etc.).

Select all that apply:

A primary source of income for my parent/guardian(s) comes from ownership of or employment by an agricultural entity.
My extended family owns or operates an agricultural entity.
I have experience working in an agricultural entity.
I have interest in pursuing a career in an agricultural entity.

Please feel free to share additional details (optional). (100-word limit)

College of Architecture, Art, and Planning

How do your interests directly connect with your intended major at the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP)? Why architecture (B.Arch), art (BFA), or urban and regional studies (URS)? B. Arch applicants, please provide an example of how a creative project or passion sparks your motivation to pursue a 5-year professional degree program. BFA applicants may want to to consider how they could integrate a range of interests and available resources at Cornell into a coherent art practice. URS students may want to emphasize their enthusiasm and depth of interest in the study of urban and regional issues.

College of Arts & Sciences

At the College of Arts and Sciences, curiosity will be your guide. Discuss how your passion for learning is shaping your academic journey, and what majors or areas excite you and why. Your response should convey how your interests align with the College, and how you would take advantage of the opportunities and curriculum in Arts and Sciences.

Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy

Why are you drawn to studying public policy? Drawing on your experiences, tell us about why you are interested in your chosen major and how attending the Brooks School will help you achieve your life goals.

Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

What kind of a business student are you? Using your personal, academic, or volunteer/work experiences, describe the topics or issues that you care about and why they are important to you. Your response should convey how your interests align with the school to which you are applying within the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business (Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management or the Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration).

College of Engineering

Instructions: All applicants are required to write two supplemental essays. Each has a limit of 250 words. Essay 1 is required of all applicants. For Essay 2, you must choose between Question A and Question B.

Essay 1: Required response. (250-word limit)

How do your interests directly connect with Cornell Engineering? If you have an intended major, what draws you to that department at Cornell Engineering? If you are unsure what specific engineering field you would like to study, describe how your general interest in engineering most directly connects with Cornell Engineering. It may be helpful to concentrate on one or two things that you are most excited about.

Essay 2: Choose either Question A and Question B. (250-word limit)

Question A: Describe an engineering problem that impacts your local community. This could be your school, neighborhood, town, region, or a group you identify with. Describe one to three things you might do as an engineer to solve the problem.

Question B: Diversity in all forms is intrinsic to excellence in engineering. Engineering the best solutions to complex problems is often achieved by drawing from the diverse ingenuity of people from different backgrounds, lived experiences, and identities. How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity and/or the inclusion of the Cornell Engineering community? What is the unique voice you would bring to the Cornell Engineering community?

College of Human Ecology

How have your related experiences influenced your decision to apply to the College of Human Ecology (CHE)? How will your choice of major impact your goals and plans for the future? Your response should show us that your interests and aspirations align with CHE and your choice of major. (Refer to our essay application tips before you begin.)

School of Industrial and Labor Relations

Using your personal, academic, or volunteer/work experiences, describe the topics or issues that you care about and why they are important to you. Your response should show us that your interests align with the ILR School.

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My “How to get into Cornell” video from 2022:

UNC Chapel Hill Releases 2023-2024 Supplemental Essay Prompts

Posted on July 25, 2023 by Craig Meister Leave a Comment

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has officially released its 2023-2024 supplemental essay prompts for first-year applicants. All UNC applicants will also need to respond – and respond well – to one of the Common App’s main essay prompts in order to be considered for admission at UNC, which is North Carolina’s most selective public university.

The admissions offices at most highly selective universities have been slower than usual in releasing their supplemental essay prompts for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle as a result of having to reassess their practices in a new post-affirmative action environment after UNC’s and Harvard’s past use of affirmative action was ruled unlawful by The Supreme Court of the United States in late June.

Whereas UNC’s new prompts make no mention of an applicant’s identity (last year UNC had a prompt that read, “Describe an aspect of your identity [for example, your religion, culture, race, sexual or gender identity, affinity group, etc]. How has this aspect of your identity shaped your life experiences thus far?), its selective neighbor to the north, University of Virginia, has released a new supplemental essay prompt that seems to be taking a different approach.

UNC’s 2023-2024 Short Answer Prompts

We’d like to know how you’d contribute to the Carolina community and ask that you respond to each prompt in up to 250 words.

Discuss one of your personal qualities and share a story, anecdote, or memory of how it helped you make a positive impact on a community. This could be your current community or another community you have engaged.
Discuss an academic topic that you’re excited to explore and learn more about in college. Why does this topic interest you? Topics could be a specific course of study, research interests, or any other area related to your academic experience in college.

Yale Releases 2023-2024 Supplemental Essay Prompts

Posted on July 22, 2023 by Craig Meister Leave a Comment

Yale is the second Ivy League college to officially release its 2023-2024 supplemental essay prompts for first-year applicants. Dartmouth released its supplemental prompts earlier this month. As most high school seniors applying to Yale do so through the Common Application, most Yale applicants will also need to respond – and respond well – to one of the Common App’s main essay prompts in order to be considered for admission at Yale.

All first-year applicants to Yale will complete several Yale-specific short answer questions; yet, the required questions are slightly different based on the application platform an applicant chooses. All of the 2023-2024 Yale-specific questions for the Coalition Application, Common Application, and QuestBridge Application are detailed below.

This year’s Yale supplemental prompts are a mix of new and old questions.

The news comes as admissions offices at most highly selective universities have been slower than usual in releasing their supplemental essay prompts for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle as a result of having to reassess their practices in a new post-affirmative action environment. For instance, a few days ago, University of Virginia released an out-of-character new supplemental essay prompt that seemed to be created specifically in response to affirmative action being ruled unlawful.

Without further ado, here are Yale’s prompts for students applying for Fall 2024 entry.

Yale’s 2023-2024 Short Answer Questions

Applicants submitting the Coalition Application, Common Application, or QuestBridge Application will respond to the following short answer questions:

Students at Yale have time to explore their academic interests before committing to one or more major fields of study. Many students either modify their original academic direction or change their minds entirely. As of this moment, what academic areas seem to fit your interests or goals most comfortably? Please indicate up to three from the list provided.

Tell us about a topic or idea that excites you and is related to one or more academic areas you selected above. Why are you drawn to it? (200 words or fewer)

What is it about Yale that has led you to apply? (125 words or fewer)

Applicants applying with the QuestBridge Application will complete the questions above via the Yale QuestBridge Questionnaire, available on the Yale Admissions Status Portal after an application has been received.

Applicants submitting the Coalition Application or Common Application will also respond to the following short answer questions, in no more than 200 characters (approximately 35 words):

What inspires you?
If you could teach any college course, write a book, or create an original piece of art of any kind, what would it be?
Other than a family member, who is someone who has had a significant influence on you? What has been the impact of their influence?
What is something about you that is not included anywhere else in your application?

Yale’s 2023-2024 Essay

Applicants submitting the Coalition Application or Common Application will respond to one of the following prompts in 400 words or fewer.

1. Reflect on a time you discussed an issue important to you with someone holding an opposing view. Why did you find the experience meaningful?

2. Reflect on your membership in a community to which you feel connected. Why is this community meaningful to you? You may define community however you like.

3. Reflect on an element of your personal experience that you feel will enrich your college. How has it shaped you?

For expert advice on how to get into Yale, including strategies on how to tackle Yale’s latest supplemental short answer and essay prompts above, watch my “How to get into Yale” video below:

Video Highlights:

How to Build a Strong Foundation
Those serious about getting into Yale will first read my article “How to get into the Ivy League – Ethically.” This article sets the table for how to maximize one’s chances of getting into any hyper-selective college or university.

How to Differentiate Your Accomplishments
Take my How to Build an Extraordinary Extracurricular Resume short course.

Yale Supplement (Expert Tips Included in Video)
See prompts above the video.

Potential Interview Invite
It’s worth noting that you should do everything in your power to INTERVIEW with Yale if you are invited to do so! Don’t say no to the offer to interview! While interviews are not required, they are sometimes offered for Yale’s admissions team to get to you know you better. Watch some of my past videos specifically about college admissions interviews.

Bonus: How to Differentiate Your Common App Essay Videos
Best & Worst Common App Essay Prompts
Most & Least Popular Common App Essay Prompts
Why Your Common App Essay Is Awful
Why Your Common App Essay Is So Bad

Good luck getting into Yale!

Dartmouth Releases 2023-2024 Supplemental Essay Prompts

Posted on July 15, 2023 by Craig Meister Leave a Comment

Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire is the first Ivy League college to officially release its 2023-2024 supplemental essay prompts for first-year applicants. As most high school seniors applying to Dartmouth do so through the Common Application, most Dartmouth applicants will also need to respond – and respond well – to one of the Common App’s main essay prompts in order to be considered for admission at Dartmouth.

This year’s supplemental prompts are a mix of old and new; some were kept from last year, while others are brand new.

To watch my detailed advice from last year regarding how to get into Dartmouth, which includes advice on last year’s supplemental essay prompts, some of which are used again this year, click here or watch it below. At the very bottom of this article (and here) you will find my latest video discussing Dartmouth’s newest supplemental essay prompts.

The admissions offices at most highly selective universities have been slower than usual in releasing their supplemental essay prompts for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle as a result of having to reassess their practices in a new post-affirmative action environment. Dartmouth does seem to have added a few new prompt options to give students more ways in which to highlight their unique identities and future potential.

Without further ado, here are Dartmouth’s prompts for prospective first-year students applying for Fall 2024 entry.

Dartmouth 2023-2024 Supplemental Essay Prompts

1. Required of all applicants. Please respond in 100 words or fewer:

Dartmouth celebrates the ways in which its profound sense of place informs its profound sense of purpose. As you seek admission to Dartmouth’s Class of 2028, what aspects of the College’s academic program, community, and/or campus environment attract your interest? In short, why Dartmouth?

2. Required of all applicants, please respond to one of the following prompts in 250 words or fewer:

A. There is a Quaker saying: Let your life speak. Describe the environment in which you were raised and the impact it has had on the person you are today. (New this year)

B. “Be yourself,” Oscar Wilde advised. “Everyone else is taken.” Introduce yourself.

3. Required of all applicants, please respond to one of the following prompts in 250 words or fewer:

A. What excites you?

B. Labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta recommended a life of purpose. “We must use our lives to make the world a better place to live, not just to acquire things,” she said. “That is what we are put on the earth for.” In what ways do you hope to make—or are you already making—an impact? Why? How?

C. Dr. Seuss, aka Theodor Geisel of Dartmouth’s Class of 1925, wrote, “Think and wonder. Wonder and think.” As you wonder and think, what’s on your mind?

D. Celebrate your nerdy side. (New this year)

E. “It’s not easy being green…” was the frequent refrain of Kermit the Frog. How has difference been a part of your life, and how have you embraced it as part of your identity and outlook? (New this year)

F. As noted in the College’s mission statement, “Dartmouth educates the most promising students and prepares them for a lifetime of learning and of responsible leadership…” Promise and potential are important aspects of the assessment of any college application, but they can be elusive qualities to capture. Highlight your potential and promise for us; what would you like us to know about you? (New this year)

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My “How to get into Dartmouth” video from last year:

My new video discussing Dartmouth’s 2023-2024 supplemental prompts for first-year applicants:

Battle of the Tech Titans: Caltech vs. MIT

Posted on July 7, 2023 by Craig Meister Leave a Comment

If you are debating between applying to (or attending) Caltech (California Institute of Technology) or MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) as an undergraduate, here are some factors I would consider before making such a momentous decision.

Enjoy this latest installment of College List Deathmatch below, and good luck!

More context about Celebrity Deathmatch and College List Deathmatch can be found here. To watch past additions of this series, click on the links that interest you below.

Penn vs. Georgetown

USC vs. NYU

University of Maryland College Park vs. Penn State University Park

WashU. vs. Northwestern

Supreme Court Ends Affirmative Action and Upends Admissions Process for Top Colleges

Posted on June 29, 2023 by Craig Meister

The Supreme Court of the United States just after 10:00 a.m. today, June 29, 2023, ruled that affirmative action, as practiced by selective colleges and universities in their admissions processes, is no longer lawful.

Click here to read the full opinion of the court, concurring opinions, and dissent(s).

Ultimately, the majority opinion, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, today found that Harvard considered the race of applicants multiple times in their review of applicants, while UNC was interested in racial balancing of its student population to reflect the racial demographics of North Carolina generally. Interestingly, Students for Fair Admissions argued that diversity could be considered a compelling state interest. Yet, Chief Justice Roberts, in his majority opinion, argues that the entire concept of diversity as presented by Harvard and UNC is incoherent and unmeasurable.

Several sentences from the majority opinion seem to be the most relevant regarding how selective colleges will move forward:

Moving forward, it is very likely that legacy admissions will be terminated at many selective colleges as soon as the 2023-2024 admissions cycle. College leaders will want to do everything they can to be seen as advocating for diversity and getting rid of legacy admissions is one of the easiest ways to do so; however, the results of such a move may ultimately benefit Asian and White applicants far more than Black and Hispanic students if selective colleges adhere to the law/Supreme Court majority opinion and refrain from considering race when making their admissions decisions if applicant pools to these colleges and universities remain similar to what they are today.

Meanwhile, this section of the majority opinion not only goes for the jugular against affirmative action as currently practiced by selective colleges and universities, but also the entire DEI superstructure of these institutions:

Watch below for live-streamed details and analysis as it happened on June 29, 2023:

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