Columbia and Brown to disclose admissions data: What this means for future applicants

Time of India

2 days ago

Columbia University and Brown University are set to disclose detailed admissions data, including standardised test scores, grade-point averages, and racial demographics of applicants, as part of recent settlements with the Trump administration.
The move, which departs from typical university-government data sharing practices, is being viewed as a significant development in the national conversation around race-conscious admissions.
At the heart of this development is the Trump administration's push to reshape college admissions to more heavily emphasise what it calls 'merit-based' factors. According to the
New York Times
, the administration is seeking access to data that may reveal whether elite institutions are bypassing the 2023 Supreme Court decision that banned the use of race in admissions decisions.
Why this matters for students
For current high school students preparing college applications, this development could affect both the criteria universities emphasize and the transparency expected during the admissions process. While the disclosed data is not specific to individual applicants, it does include sensitive and historically guarded aggregate details that colleges previously chose not to release.
Supporters of holistic admissions worry that this level of government oversight may lead to further restrictions on practices intended to support diversity.
Some universities could re-evaluate outreach programs targeting underrepresented schools or become more cautious about accepting students with non-traditional qualifications if they fear new legal challenges.
'The Trump administration's ambition here is to send a chill through admissions offices all over the country,' said Justin Driver, a Yale Law School professor, according to the
New York Times
. He added that the intention appears to be to discourage practices that help maintain Black and brown student enrollment at selective colleges.
Changing definitions of merit
The Trump administration has consistently criticised what it refers to as 'woke' university policies, including affirmative action and diversity, equity and inclusion programs. According to the
New York Times,
officials such as Education Secretary Linda McMahon have framed the settlements as victories for merit-based admissions. When the Brown deal was announced, she stated that 'aspiring students will be judged solely on their merits, not their race or sex.'
This shift raises key questions for students navigating the college admissions landscape. In a competitive environment where academic performance is only one part of the application, many colleges have traditionally considered factors like an applicant's background, neighborhood, or personal challenges. These softer elements, which some argue help contextualise academic records, are now being scrutinised as potential 'proxies' for race.
What's next
Although these data-sharing agreements currently apply only to Columbia and Brown, they could set a precedent. Similar requests may follow at other institutions, particularly if conservative legal groups pursue further action based on the released data. For students and families, staying informed about how individual universities respond to this new pressure will be essential.
As college admissions policies continue to evolve in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's 2023 decision, applicants may need to rethink how they present their strengths and how they interpret what merit truly means in this changing landscape.
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