The allowance of considering race in college admission processes plays a significant role in determining which schools college-bound students plan to attend. In 2014, approximately 66% of the student body at Palmetto (according to the FL. Department of Education) consisted of students considered a racial minority.

Factoring in race during the admissions process for a college or university should become obsolete.

On June 28, 1978, the United States Supreme Court passed the Powell Decision, which ruled in regard to the University of California vs. Bakke that schools could no longer use racial quotas in admission processes. Allan Bakke, a 35-year-old seeking admission to the University of California Medical School of Davis, did not gain acceptance either time he applied. The school reserved 16 places for “qualified” minority students in each class of 100 people. Bakke felt that students lacking his qualifications were admitted whilst he was denied because he was white (reverse discrimination). After moving through the California court system, the case eventually reached the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court justices had a split vote regarding whether Bakke should gain acceptance into the University of California Medical School of Davis. Justice Powell served to break the tie in favor of Bakke. Powell, however, also agreed with the minority of the justices in the court that race as a criterion amongst others does not violate the constitution.

The Powell Decision outlawed racial quotas but permitted the use of affirmative action in schools, thus allowing race to be considered as one aspect, or factor, while viewing applicants in order to promote diversity.

Affirmative action, an action or policy favoring those who tend to suffer from discrimination (especially in relation to employment or education) aids racial minorities but discriminates against the racial majorities. In October of 2012, the case of Fisher vs. the University of Texas at Austin reached the Supreme Court. Abigail Fisher, a white woman, had filed a lawsuit because she felt that minority students with less impressive credentials gained acceptance while she did not.

Fisher claimed she suffered from racial discrimination, which brought about a discussion in the court concerning the allowance of affirmative action. The court decided that affirmative action would not be outlawed, instead, strictly reviewed. In the article “Should race still be a factor in college admissions?” Thorin Klowoski explains that most colleges and universities’ primary concerns involve having a high graduation rate. Assuming colleges aim to accept the applicants with the best chances of receiving a degree, it would seem rational that only the most academically qualified students would gain acceptance.

Factors outside of academics can have an influence on admissions but affirmative action seems unnecessary and unjust. The revision of the admissions process itself can solve the problems that still arise within the school system. As opposed to serving as merely a way to aid the groups that society had previously oppressed, I feel that affirmative action operates as a form of reverse discrimination that sometimes works against the students with higher qualifications. Therefore, I find it important to seriously reconsider the allowance of including race as a factor in college admissions.