July 4, 2003

Decisions May Prompt Return of Race-Conscious Admissions at Some Colleges

By Jeffrey Selingo

Washington

For the vast majority of college-admissions offices, last week's landmark rulings on affirmative action by the U.S. Supreme Court are more likely to be the topic of applicant essays than a factor in admitting students.

That's because relatively few institutions have selective admissions. Most colleges essentially accept all qualified applicants, regardless of race. And even among that exclusive group of public and private colleges that have considered race, many have abandoned the