When it comes to applying to college, high school seniors have a lot to keep in mind; grades, extracurricular activities, sports; but in some cases some of that may not even matter. College admissions offices are required to admit a certain number of students with different ethnicities in order to make the admissions process fair for all. But is it really fair? If students were given a number at the beginning of their application process instead of using their name, putting down their race, or even their gender, it would grant all students an equal opportunity at admittance. Although the number of male and female, African American and White, students may be very uneven, students would be scored solely by their ability to meet the standards of the university. As I have just recently gone through the application process over this past year, I bore witness to the vast amount of questions through the application that required me to state my ethnic background and my gender. The importance of achievement seems to have fallen short of the weight ethnicity pulls in deciding which applicants are chosen for admittance.

In an article published by CNS News, it is stated that "an applicant to medical school was rejected in favor of students with less meritorious qualifications under a quota-type system that reserved seats for minority students." Although it is believed that creating a diverse college population is essential to the overall experience, it is unfair to allow a student with less valuable credentials to enter the institution based solely on their race. The article states that the University of Texas was accused of using affirmative action to bring diversity to the school, but rejecting students of greater qualification because there was simply no more spots to be filled after the requirements had been reached. University of Texas was brought to court, losing the case therefore allowing fair acceptance for all. A law stands in Texas that every high school senior in the top ten percent of their class may be automatically admitted to any state university. This law has "resulted in a substantial percentage of minorities (African American and Hispanic) being admitted to UT. That law is exactly the kind of race-neutral alternative that constitutes "narrow tailoring" because it produces diversity and its benefits but without the need to use racial preferences." 

A student's ethnic background may have beneficial factors when applying to college, but it may also have an adverse affect. In a speech spoken by George W. Bush in 2003, he addresses University of Michigan's race admittance policy. In a point system that maxes out at 150 points, "African-American students and some Hispanic students and Native American students receive 20 points out of a maximum of 150, not because of any academic achievement or life experience, but solely because they are African-American, Hispanic or Native American." At the university's law school "some minority students are admitted to meet percentage targets while other applicants with higher grades and better scores are passed over,"  meaning that "students are being selected or rejected based primarily on the color of their skin.' Bush also comments on the law put into place that I had mentioned in the previous paragraph. California, Texas, and Florida have granted admission to "top students from high schools throughout the state, including low-income neighborhoods, colleges can attain broad racial diversity." This provides reassurance that students will not be judged based on where they were raised or by the color of their skin, but by how qualified they are to attend the academic institution.

An article published by the New York Times also speaks of the case at the University of Michigan.  The university, years after the speech produced by George W. Bush, had finally put an end to their race-based admissions process, and Supreme Court ruled it constitutional. Other states have followed in the ban of affirmative action and it is predicted that several states will soon make the same motion. In an editorial contest conducted by the New York Times, a young woman by the name of Ashley K. with a pacific islander ethnicity, wrote on how affirmative action has affected her; how it has always worked in her favor, yet she is "appalled by the idea of being given an advantage in college admissions based strictly on the ethnicity with which I identify."  Not only does she feel as though she was only accepted to certain schools due to her race, but that other may believe the same thing; that she is unqualified to attend the university but she had to be accepted to fulfill a requirement.

The articles I have mentioned in the previous paragraphs have done nothing but strengthen my opinion regarding the issue of affirmative action, and support the ideas I have presented with fact. Students are unable to change their ethnicity so how could it be a qualification when applying to college. The only matter that should be taken into consideration is their academic and extracurricular qualifications.

