Sep 18, 2023
Harvard University's new application essay requirements, including a 200-word limit, puts racial minorities at a disadvantage, according to a Board editorial from Harvard's student newspaper "The Harvard Crimson." This is due to new questions that "seemingly cater to those from highly privileged backgrounds." Harvard revamped its admissions process after the Supreme Court ruled that its racist admission practices were unconstitutional. "Shortening the essays has a disparate impact that falls heaviest on those from marginalized backgrounds. Learning 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," the editorial claims. If you are not smart enough to package an essay into 200 words, then you are not smart en