"Revamped Essay Prompts: US Colleges Adapt to Affirmative Action Ban"
US colleges, including Emory University and Sarah Lawrence College, are revising their essay prompts in response to a recent US Supreme Court ruling that deemed race-conscious admissions policies unlawful. The decision has prompted universities to find new ways to create diverse student bodies and avoid declines in admissions of Black and Latino students. The ruling is expected to elevate the role of students' personal essays, which will now face greater scrutiny. Admissions officers are concerned about the message the ruling sends to students of color and are planning additional outreach efforts to reassure them. High school counselors are uncertain about how students should handle questions of race and identity in their essays, and private admissions counselors are encouraging students to authentically express who they are.