Race/Related: What seniors are writing in their college admissions essays during a diversity crackdown
Many students said they were worried that sharing personal information could hurt them.
Race/Related
January 16, 2026

As high school seniors draft their college applications, the question of what to include in a personal statement — especially sensitive aspects of their identity — looms large in the face of the Trump administration’s crackdown on diversity efforts.

Zhi McMillan, wearing a blue blazer, shirt and jeans, leans against a rock painted royal blue and spray-painted with “2026.”

KT Kanazawich for The New York Times

Read more on how high school students are approaching their college essays. →

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