Can You Deal With The U.S. Supreme Court's Decision Regarding College Admissions?

By Dr. Paul R. Lowe, Admissions and Athletic Recruitment Expert

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld its previous rulings that colleges have the right to consider race and diversity in their admissions decisions. What does this really mean for college-bound rising seniors?

You’ve got the grades, the perfect standardized test scores, every AP course available since pre-school, and the usual list of extracurricular activities. Here are 7 things to consider on your check list for college admissions.

1. What challenges have you faced?

2. How do you demonstrate creativity?

3. Do you have the ability for original thought?

4. Have you demonstrated your ability to be inspired?

5. How have you demonstrated adaptability?

6. How are you different?

7. Do you have the ability to work with others?

The Court has recognized that we as a country have not reached the societal maturity that goes beyond mere tolerance of our differences within our society in the time frame formalized and prognosticated in the previous decision. The U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the importance of our country’s commitment to the importance of maintaining diversity within academic institutions.

Colleges want an engaged and interactive student body that demonstrates creativity and the ability for original thought. This is encouraged and achieved when they create a diverse student body.

Rote memorization to achieve perfect standardized test scores, while important to showing one important dimension of a student, does not demonstrate to admissions officers other meaningful and contributory facets of a student. Ivy League and highly selective colleges, therefore, use a holistic approach and review process when evaluating applicants for admission.

To learn more about what criteria colleges use in the holistic approach and review process, please visit: http://www.pinnacleeducationalcenteradmissionsadvisorsgroup.com or call one of our regional offices.

Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe is the managing director and lead admissions expert at New Jersey Admissions Advisors with offices in Fort Lee and Princeton. Tel. (201) 490-1037, and founder of Ivy League Admissions Advisors a part of the Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group network.

Dr. Lowe specializes in providing exclusive admissions advisory services for families and students who are interested in applying to and experiencing the unique educational environment and communities of Ivy League and highly selective colleges and elite private day and boarding schools.

Dr. Lowe is an active member of several professional organizations including: the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), the New York Association for College Admission Counseling (NYACAC), the New Jersey Association for College Admission Counseling (NJACAC), the International Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC), and NAFSA: Association of International Educators, American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), and the Admissions Leadership Consortium (ALC).