Is it true that Harvard is suing the government over admissions policies?
I keep seeing some headlines pop up about Harvard being involved in legal action with the federal government, but I'm not entirely sure what's going on. Can someone explain why Harvard would sue the government, and what this means for future applicants?
I'm planning to apply to Harvard in the fall, and I'm a bit worried that this whole situation might change the way they review applications. Is this something juniors and seniors should be concerned about? I'd appreciate any clarification or info from people who are more familiar with how college lawsuits work, because I don't want to be blindsided if the process is different next year.
I'm planning to apply to Harvard in the fall, and I'm a bit worried that this whole situation might change the way they review applications. Is this something juniors and seniors should be concerned about? I'd appreciate any clarification or info from people who are more familiar with how college lawsuits work, because I don't want to be blindsided if the process is different next year.
6 months ago
•
68 views
Luis Nario-Malberg
• 6 months ago
Advisor
Harvard has indeed been in the headlines recently for pushing back against changes in admissions policies, but the specific legal situation centers on government scrutiny following the Supreme Court's decision to end affirmative action in college admissions in 2023.
After this ruling, the Department of Education and the Department of Justice announced they would be closely watching how colleges, including Harvard, comply with the new restrictions on considering race in admissions. The latest coverage is about Harvard's legal response to the government's investigations into their practices, particularly the continuing use of essays and other holistic review factors that some critics claim can serve as workarounds to the ban on explicit race consideration. However, Harvard is not actually ‘suing’ the government outright; they're more often responding to subpoenas, investigations, or legal inquiries, sometimes countering in court when they feel the school’s discretion on admissions is being infringed upon.
For future applicants, including juniors and seniors, this means that Harvard's admissions process is under a national microscope, but it’s unlikely there will be immediate, dramatic changes from year to year. The main shift—dropping affirmative action—has already been set in motion. Harvard, like many other schools, is emphasizing a more strictly race-neutral holistic review. They’re still interested in your story, your achievements, and your background, but they need to follow the new legal limits on considering race as a factor.
For example, your application essays are still important, and you can discuss your identity or experiences, as long as the essay focuses on how those experiences have shaped your character and ambitions, not explicitly on race itself. The government’s concern is that these essays aren’t used as a loophole for the old system, but Harvard still wants to understand who you are and what you'll bring to campus.
In summary, don’t let the headlines stress you out. The core values of Harvard admissions remain the same: intellectual curiosity, leadership, impact, and potential. If you're planning to apply this fall, focus on presenting your most authentic self and the aspects of your experience that best show what you can contribute. Legal battles may make headlines, but you should prepare your application as you would for any highly selective school in a changing admissions landscape.
After this ruling, the Department of Education and the Department of Justice announced they would be closely watching how colleges, including Harvard, comply with the new restrictions on considering race in admissions. The latest coverage is about Harvard's legal response to the government's investigations into their practices, particularly the continuing use of essays and other holistic review factors that some critics claim can serve as workarounds to the ban on explicit race consideration. However, Harvard is not actually ‘suing’ the government outright; they're more often responding to subpoenas, investigations, or legal inquiries, sometimes countering in court when they feel the school’s discretion on admissions is being infringed upon.
For future applicants, including juniors and seniors, this means that Harvard's admissions process is under a national microscope, but it’s unlikely there will be immediate, dramatic changes from year to year. The main shift—dropping affirmative action—has already been set in motion. Harvard, like many other schools, is emphasizing a more strictly race-neutral holistic review. They’re still interested in your story, your achievements, and your background, but they need to follow the new legal limits on considering race as a factor.
For example, your application essays are still important, and you can discuss your identity or experiences, as long as the essay focuses on how those experiences have shaped your character and ambitions, not explicitly on race itself. The government’s concern is that these essays aren’t used as a loophole for the old system, but Harvard still wants to understand who you are and what you'll bring to campus.
In summary, don’t let the headlines stress you out. The core values of Harvard admissions remain the same: intellectual curiosity, leadership, impact, and potential. If you're planning to apply this fall, focus on presenting your most authentic self and the aspects of your experience that best show what you can contribute. Legal battles may make headlines, but you should prepare your application as you would for any highly selective school in a changing admissions landscape.
Luis Nario-Malberg
Mooresville, North Carolina
Harvard College, Class of 2018, A.B. in Philosophy
Experience
5 years