White House attacks college essays on race in latest DEI crackdown

The White House has issued another update on the crackdown on DEI in higher education.

The Trump administration is looking beyond university departments and trying to turn away from diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Now the federal government considers college essays used during college admissions exams to be potentially illegal reported by the Boston sphere.

While many students have used personal essays to date to describe their academic journeys, the administration now considers their writings, including race, in line with now-banned DEI practices. Many colleges require these personal statements to go beyond a student’s writing skills to highlight a moment when they overcame adversity and prove how they exemplify and contribute to the school’s values.

As some diverse applicants describe their personal obstacles as students of color, the proposed “dog whistle” may now seem part of a “discriminatory” admissions process. Since the reversal of affirmative action, schools cannot take into account identity factors such as race, ethnicity or national origin.

“Many students may read [a community prompt] and think, Oh, I’m in the band, I’m the editor of the newspaper, and I’m going to write about an activity,” says Jayson Weingarten, a senior admissions consultant, before adding how some “read between the lines of what admissions officers ask for – and they start talking about their race, culture, ethnicity, heritage, socioeconomic status, etc.”

However, given the way in which students’ livelihoods inside and outside of academia are shaped by these experiences, many have wondered what will happen to admissions processes if they foster school communities. As a result, mentioning these identity markers in college essays has led to legal problems. The White House now sees these expressions of student voice as another way to sidestep the repeal of affirmative action.

In a post-affirmative action world, the number of black and brown students at many elite universities has declined. An analysis by the Associated Press also confirmed that twenty selective colleges witnessed a significant decline in the number of Black freshmen since the 2023 ruling.

However, some elite schools remain committed to subtly identifying students with unique backgrounds through these personal statements, even though their future may be in jeopardy. Weingartern sees the continued use of these cues as a way to still provide pathways for diversity.

“It is a silent signal, but it is an undeniable act of resistance.”

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