High schoolers are self-censoring their college application essays in the post-DEI era. Amid crackdown on diversity initiatives effecting universities, many students are second-guessing how much personal information to reveal—especially about their race, gender, and immigration status. One college access coach put it bluntly: “D.E.I., in this decade, is an I.E.D.” One transgender student in New York rewrote her entire essay after her counselor warned that focusing on her transition was too risky. And an increasing number of students aren’t even checking the box to report their race outside their essay. Colleges are adjusting their language on their websites too; Harvard changed their description for enrolling a “diverse student body” to “diversity of perspectives and experiences.” But not all students are willing to play it safe—some say they only want to attend schools that see value in their full identity. (NYT)
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