The start of this year’s application cycle was more momentous than usual, as colleges introduced new essay prompts and adjusted requirements for a post–affirmative action world. Even in a typical year, Aug. 1 is a big day for college admissions. It’s launch day for the Common App, the 1,000-member platform for college applications, and the beginning of many months of preparation and nervous anticipation for parents and applicants of all ages. Many college counselors refer to it as “admissions new year.”
Sarah Lawrence College will ask applicants about the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ban, quoting directly from the decision. Is it a savvy workaround or a brash rejoinder? Sarah Lawrence College released a new essay prompt for applicants on Tuesday, just ahead of the launch of this year’s Common App. It directly quotes language used in the Supreme Court’s June 29 ruling striking down affirmative action in college admissions.
When the Supreme Court last month struck down race-conscious college admissions policies, it didn't prohibit students from discussing, in applications, how race impacted their lives.