What exactly is Affirmative Action and how does it affect minority students?

College Admissions

Our Counselors Answered:

What exactly is Affirmative Action and how does it affect minority students?
Annie ReznikCounselor/CEOCollege Guidance Coach

What exactly is Affirmative Action and how does it affect minority students?

Affirmative action is a blanket term that refers to any policy that aims to balance and improve racial inequities. The Supreme Court ruled that colleges and universities may use race as admission factor (thus use affirmative action) for the purpose of achieving diversity (an educationally beneficial and desirable quality). Race may be used as a “plus factor” when conducting a holistic review of candidates.

Kenneth HutchinsonDirector of College Counseling

What exactly is Affirmative Action and how does it affect minority students?

Affirmative Action is the practice of taking race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, etc. into consideration in order to benefit the underrepresented group. Ideally, in the admissions process, the minority students’ status as a minority/ underrepresented group will be taken into consideration when the admission officer is reviewing your application. It is not a shoe- in that you will be admitted some place just because you are black or gay or latino but rather it simply means that its OK for the admissions committee to take that into consideration when they are reviewing your application. Some states have outlawed Affirmative Action and in other places the law is in full effect 🙂

Reecy ArestyCollege Admissions/Financial Aid Expert & AuthorPayless For College, Inc.

What exactly is Affirmative Action and how does it affect minority students?

Affirmative Action is when a less qualified minority individual gets picked before a more qualified individual. This also applies to students, but not as much now as it did in the 60’s.