{"id":133898,"date":"2023-09-14T09:08:21","date_gmt":"2023-09-14T13:08:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/?p=133898"},"modified":"2023-09-14T09:08:21","modified_gmt":"2023-09-14T13:08:21","slug":"harvard-student-newspaper-calls-new-200-word-limit-on-admissions-essays-racist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/harvard-student-newspaper-calls-new-200-word-limit-on-admissions-essays-racist\/","title":{"rendered":"Harvard student newspaper calls new 200-word limit on admissions essays racist"},"content":{"rendered":"

Questions ‘seemingly cater to those from highly privileged backgrounds,’ students say<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Harvard University’s new application essay requirements, including a 200-word limit, put racial minorities at a disadvantage, the editors of its student newspaper wrote this week.<\/p>\n

In an editorial<\/a> Tuesday, The Harvard Crimson<\/em> student editorial board said the new short-essay questions \u201cseemingly cater to those from highly privileged backgrounds.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOur foremost concern: How can students reasonably condense discussions about formative life experiences and their identities into 200 words or less?\u201d the student editors wrote.<\/p>\n

Harvard revamped its admissions process after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled<\/a> in June that its race-based admission practices were unconstitutional.<\/p>\n

Among the changes were its essay requirements. The Ivy League school used to allow student applicants to choose from a series of questions and write one long, open-ended essay and two shorter optional essays, according to The Crimson<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Now, the application requires students to write five short essays within a 200-word limit in response to \u201cnew mandatory prompts,\u201d the student editors wrote.<\/p>\n

These requirements hurt \u201cmarginalized\u201d students, forcing them to answer questions that may \u201cnot be relevant to their background,\u201d they continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cLearning to package yourself within a shorter amount of space is a product of advanced education; longer essays more equitably allow applicants to discuss their experiences in full, particularly if they are from non-traditional backgrounds and require more space to elaborate on nuanced qualifications,\u201d the editorial board wrote.<\/p>\n

As an example, they quoted one essay prompt: \u201cBriefly describe an intellectual experience that was important to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Crimson<\/em> student journalists said the question provides an unfair advantage to students who had better academic opportunities in high school because of their \u201cwell-resourced backgrounds.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, some scholars have expressed<\/a> the opposite concern, saying Harvard admissions staff may use the essays to skirt the Supreme Court ruling.<\/p>\n

They pointed to a June 29 memo from Harvard President Lawrence Bacow that quotes a line in the ruling saying colleges and universities may consider \u201can applicant\u2019s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration or otherwise.”<\/p>\n

But the\u00a0Crimson<\/em> student editors said the new essay questions are unfair and could result in less diversity on campus.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile Harvard\u2019s new prompts signify a notable effort to meet the moment, we have misgivings about the ability of these new questions to thoroughly capture the diverse array of student experiences,\u201d they wrote.<\/p>\n

The editorial urged Harvard to take steps to ensure the \u201cstudent body remains diverse\u201d and underprivileged students have the opportunity to attend.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the Class of 2028 gets to writing, we mourn the loss of Harvard\u2019s old application. However, the focus on retaining a diverse student body in the questions Harvard asks its applicants is a welcome supplement,\u201d they wrote.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 MORE: Harvard loses $15 million in affirmative action legal fees in appeal<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

IMAGE: Gil C \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n

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