Three-Minute Legal Talks: Can College Applicants Mention Race or Ethnicity in their Applications?

Should you include your race or ethnicity in your college or graduate school applications?

For more than half a century, admissions officers were free to factor in an applicant’s race or ethnicity into their decision as part of affirmative action policies. However, in June 2023, the Supreme Court issued Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. That decision effectively ended affirmative action and the practice of using race as the key factor which determines your admission to a college or university.

Many applicants and guidance counselors now worry that any mention of race or ethnicity — most likely included as part of a personal statement — might adversely affect admissions chances.

In three minutes, Theo Myhre, Teaching Professor at UW Law, examines Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and lays out what applicants need to know about stating their race or ethnicity during the admissions process.