Have an idea for a resource to include here? Email us: help@collegeessayguy.com 

Resources for Students and Counselors:

Note: If you don’t find a hyperlink below, that means the resource is forthcoming. We’ll add links when each resource is ready.

Read the actual decision from the Supreme Court for yourself at this PDF.

Is it “Okay” to Write about Race in Your College Application—And, If So, How? (Blog Article)
This guide offers practical advice for students and counselors, including examples of essays by students who chose to discuss race and its impact on their character and unique abilities.

The “If You Really, Really Knew Me” Exercise (Template)
This practical, comprehensive exercise helps students generate a list of identities, skills, qualities, and skills they can share with colleges. It’s one of our favorites here at CEG—if you use it, just give us a shout-out. :)

The Social Identities Exercise (Template)
This exercise is another favorite and is useful for helping students think about diversity and identity in both broader and more nuanced ways. Includes a guide for counselors, facilitators, and parents.

How to Answer the “Diversity” (and Other Related) Supplemental Essay Prompts (Blog Article)
This year, many selective colleges added an essay prompt (see next resource linked below for list) inviting students to write about diversity, identity, race, cultural background, or the importance of inclusivity. This guide walks you through how to tackle those prompts.

Race-Conscious Admission Was Struck Down—What Does This Mean and What Can Students and College Counselors Do? (Podcast Episode)
Learn from legal expert Jay Rosner what the decision means and practical advice for students and counselors. 

Colleges and Universities that Changed Their Supplemental Essay Prompts After the SCOTUS Decision Was Released (Blog Article)
In this list, you can see which schools have added questions that invite students to write about diversity, identity, race, cultural background, or the importance of inclusivity.

7 Things Latinx Families Need to Know About Preparing for College— in Spanish and English (Podcast Episode)
Hear Lorenzo Gamboa (Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Outreach at Santa Clara University) bust a few common myths Latinx families confront, including the notion that students have to major in a high-paying profession and the myth that undocumented students can’t go to college. We also discuss whether or not students should discuss race or cultural influence in their application after the SCOTUS decision to ban race-conscious admissions.

Why You Don’t Have to Write about Trauma in Your College Essay to Stand Out—and What You Can Do Instead (Podcast Episode) & (Blog Article)
This podcast with TedX speaker Tina Yong addresses how students can speak in their application about identity without feeling they have to write about traumatic experiences. We’ve also created a practical blog post to help students brainstorm alternative ways to share about the skills, qualities, interests, and values they’ll bring with them to a college community.

How (and Why) to Uplevel Your School Profile: A Guide for Counselors that Predominantly Serve First Generation, Low-Income and/or Underrepresented Students of Color (Blog Article)
Counselors: Advocate for your students with this essential, but sometimes overlooked document: your school profile. This important PDF can help admission officers understand the context of your school community by including information on your curriculum, demographic data, the percentage of students on free and reduced lunch, and much more. This example from Achievement First Hartford serves as a model.

RESOURCES FOR College Admission Officers

Questions and Answers Regarding the Supreme Court’s Decision in SFFA v. Harvard and UNC
Here’s a resource released jointly by the U.S. Dept of Education’s (ED) Office for Civil Rights and the U.S. Dept. of Justice’s Civil Rights Division jointly to help colleges and universities understand the Supreme Court’s decision.

Actions Taken or Policy Changes Made by Colleges After Race-Conscious Admissions Ban
Here’s a running list of specific actions colleges and universities have taken since the SCOTUS decision. And find statements colleges released following the decision in this Google Drive folder, including links to media coverage.