Students such as Jeannie Tarnue from Annandale, Virginia, now have the opportunity to express various aspects of their identities in their college applications.
They can highlight their academic achievements resulting from dedicated study hours and share stories of their leadership roles in extracurricular activities after school.
However, a recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court has limited the scope for students to discuss their family backgrounds or ethnicities in college applications. This restriction now centralizes the discussion of these topics into a single essay prompt within the application.
Previously, applicants like Tarnue could elaborate on their backgrounds in different sections of the application, separating it from the essay content. However, the prohibition on inquiring about race by colleges has reshaped this approach.
Tarnue, a first-generation American, deliberated over the Common Application’s questions as she embarked on her college application journey in 2023. This standardized form facilitates applying to numerous colleges and universities.
The Common Application presents seven essay prompts for students to choose from, encouraging them to share impactful narratives about themselves. While Tarnue contemplated discussing her immigrant heritage, she opted to narrate her journey of overcoming a personal challenge instead. She recounted her struggle with a speech delay in early childhood and her subsequent triumph over it, drawing parallels to a butterfly emerging from a cocoon.
In a brief application section, Tarnue touched upon her family’s Liberian background, recounting her experience learning a traditional handshake symbolizing Liberia’s history of slavery in the U.S. She consciously avoided centering her personal statement on race, aiming to differentiate herself from other applicants.
Across various regions in the U.S., students like Hillary Amofa in Chicago grappled with crafting authentic college essays. Initially, Amofa delved into her immigrant roots from Ghana but later shifted focus to her confidence in embracing her natural hair, a journey that led her to establish a hair styling business. Embracing her uniqueness, she emphasized self-worth and resilience in her essay.
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling, some universities expanded their essay prompts to delve deeper into students’ life challenges and the influence of their backgrounds or race on their perspectives. This shift prompted applicants like Darrian Merritt from Cleveland to reflect on their worthiness and authenticity in their essay narratives.
In Portland, Max Decker shared a transformative essay about his involvement with a community group supporting young Black men, highlighting his journey towards self-acceptance and embracing his racial identity. Similarly, Imani Laird from Boston chose to narrate her family’s history of racial discrimination, emphasizing her drive to excel in the face of adversity.
As the first cohort to submit applications under the revised policy, these students offer advice to future applicants, emphasizing the importance of reflecting on personal growth experiences in their essays.
The evolving landscape of college applications underscores the significance of authenticity and resilience in shaping compelling narratives for prospective students.
Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press and a conversation with Tarnue.
Quiz – What Will Students Tell Colleges on Their Applications This Year?
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Words in This Story
application –n. a written request to be accepted to a school, college, or program
standard –adj. regularized for use by everyone
challenge –n. a task or job that is difficult to do
metaphor –n. an idea or image that represents a larger more important idea
cocoon –n. a sheltered place that is not influenced by reality or difficulty
trauma –n. a bad experience
style –n. a design or way something is done
persist –v. to continue doing something even if it is not supported
sob story –n. a sad story which is not taken too seriously
odd one out –expression something that is different and that does not fit in
We want to hear from you. What would you say to students who are working on their college applications next year?