By Lindsey Kundel, Editor in Chief
Featured Image: Photo by Xiangkun ZHU on Unsplash
Introduction
“The student must be treated based on his or her experiences as an individual—not on the basis of race.”
— Chief Justice John Roberts, Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (2023)“We seek students who will contribute to our community not just because of who they are, but because of the lived experiences that have shaped them.”
— Harvard Admissions Website, 2023
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision to end race-conscious admissions, the college application process—long fraught with tension and ambiguity—has entered a new era. At first glance, the 2023 ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard seems definitive: race may no longer be considered as a standalone factor in college admissions. But buried within the majority opinion was a powerful, paradoxical invitation: colleges can still consider how race has shaped a student’s experience—as long as it’s shared through personal narrative.
This single clause has transformed the role of storytelling in elite college admissions. While numerical metrics like test scores and GPA remain important, the essays have taken on heightened significance, especially for students who lack legacy status, athletic recruitment, or other institutional privileges.
“Harvard’s Class of 2027 had an average SAT score of 1490–1580 and ACT of 34–36. Yet over 80% of applicants with perfect scores were still rejected.”
Source: Harvard CDS 2023–2024; NACAC & WSJ reporting.
Harvard—and schools like it—haven’t stopped looking for diversity. They’ve simply shifted how they identify it. Today, they rely more heavily on essays, extracurricular context, and subjective assessments of character to understand who a student is and what they might bring to campus. These softer, more qualitative components now do the heavy lifting.
As an educator with over 15 years of experience guiding students through this process, I’ve seen firsthand the power of a well-told story. It can clarify identity, communicate resilience, and—crucially—differentiate a student in a sea of excellence. In this new admissions landscape, storytelling isn’t just helpful. It’s strategic.
This paper explores what has changed, what hasn’t, and how families can help their students craft the kind of personal narrative that doesn’t just resonate—but stands out.
What Harvard Did Next: Essays, Messaging, and the Unspoken Invitation
“Harvard values lived experience. How have your background and experiences shaped your outlook and future goals?”
— Harvard Admissions Essay Prompt, 2023–2024
When the Supreme Court’s decision was handed down in June 2023, Harvard responded with both speed and subtlety. Publicly, the university reaffirmed its commitment to diversity. Behind the scenes, it began a quiet but meaningful overhaul of its admissions materials—especially its essay prompts.
Gone were broad, open-ended questions. In their place came five distinct short-answer prompts, each designed to surface something personal: a student’s resilience, values, community ties, or the journey that shaped their worldview. These changes weren’t cosmetic. They reflected a strategic pivot—one that leaned even harder on the qualitative parts of the application to do what race-conscious admissions once legally enabled.
Harvard’s 2023–2024 application included five 200-word supplemental prompts. This was a shift from the previous optional, single-prompt format. According to The Harvard Crimson, this move was “designed to elicit more personal detail in light of the SFFA ruling” (July 2023).
Harvard’s messaging also shifted. The language on its website and in communications now emphasizes “lived experience,” “perspective,” and “contribution.” These are more than buzzwords. For students, there are quiet cues—clues about what Harvard is still seeking and how it wants that story delivered.
A text analysis of the top 25 U.S. college admissions websites by Inside Higher Ed (August 2023) found a 63% increase in the phrase “lived experience” post-ruling.
For applicants from historically underrepresented backgrounds, this change is both an opportunity and a challenge. The space to express identity remains—but only through personal context, not categorical identity. It’s no longer a matter of checking a box. It’s about illuminating what that box has come to mean.
This evolution places new weight on a student’s ability to tell their own story—clearly, compellingly, and with emotional intelligence. The essays have become the hinge point on which an application can swing open—or quietly close.
What Didn’t Change—and Why It Matters More Than Ever
“Harvard’s Common Data Set continues to mark ‘character/personal qualities’ as very important…”
— Office of Institutional Research, Harvard University“The Court may have closed one door, but many others remain open—especially for those already standing in privileged hallways.”
— The New Yorker, July 2023
For all the headlines about change, some of the most influential aspects of elite college admissions remain untouched. Legacy preference is still alive and well. Athletic recruitment remains a golden ticket. And donor influence—though rarely discussed outright—continues to shape outcomes behind closed doors.
To put it plainly: while one path to admissions was blocked, others remained wide open for those with the right connections.
Let’s look at the numbers.
- Legacy applicants were nearly four times as likely to be admitted as comparable non-legacy peers, according to internal Harvard data released during the lawsuit. From 2014 to 2019, legacy students enjoyed an acceptance rate of around 33%, while the overall rate hovered near 6%. In the 2018–2019 cycle, 43% of white admits were either legacy admits, recruited athletes, or children of donors or faculty, according to trial data from SFFA v. Harvard.
- Recruited athletes saw admission rates as high as 86%. Today, roughly 15% of Harvard’s undergraduate student body are varsity athletes—a staggering figure at an academic institution often described as “need-blind” and “meritocratic.” A 2019 study in The Journal of Labor Economics found that 83% of recruited athletes at Harvard were white, further skewing the advantage.
- Donor-affiliated students continue to benefit from what’s euphemistically called “development preference,” with acceptance rates estimated at 42% in some reports.
Meanwhile, a murkier—but equally impactful—factor remains: the personal rating. This subjective score is intended to assess traits like likability, leadership, and grit. It is, essentially, a character score. And in a world where race cannot be directly considered, this qualitative category has quietly taken center stage.
During the trial, Asian American plaintiffs argued that the “personal rating” suppressed their admissions chances. Harvard rated Asian applicants lower on likability, per court exhibits.
The implications are profound. For students without institutional privilege—no legacy status, no recruitment, no six-figure donations—the only tool left to tip the scales is their story. And that story must shine in the few places where subjectivity still lives: the personal essay, the supplemental responses, and the impression left by their application as a whole.
This isn’t new, exactly. But the stakes have changed. Storytelling has gone from complementary to consequential.
Storytelling as Strategy: The New Currency of College Admissions
“Universities may continue to consider an applicant’s discussion of how race affected the applicant’s life.”
— Chief Justice John Roberts, Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (2023)“In the wake of the Court’s decision, the essay has become more than a supplement—it’s the main act.”
— The Harvard Crimson, July 2023
At a time when metrics like GPA and test scores are increasingly similar across top-tier applicants, the personal statement and supplemental essays have become the most powerful—and personal—components of a student’s application.
For Harvard in particular, the 2023–2024 admissions cycle marked a definitive shift. Instead of one open-ended supplemental prompt, students were given five distinct questions. Each one subtly asked: Who are you, and how have your experiences shaped your values, your ambitions, and your worldview?
These questions weren’t just about self-expression. They were about self-positioning.
In a landscape where identity can no longer be named directly, it must instead be shown. And that’s where storytelling becomes strategic.
A compelling narrative doesn’t just describe what happened—it reveals who the student is becoming. It helps an admissions officer see the person behind the transcript. It brings to life a set of numbers and honors and test scores that, on their own, cannot convey the full picture.
Strategic storytelling allows students to:
- Show, not tell – Letting a single moment or memory convey a larger truth about who they are.
- Demonstrate growth – Framing adversity as transformation, not trauma.
- Align values with mission – Connecting the dots between personal principles and the ethos of the university.
According to NACAC (2022), 56% of colleges rated the personal statement as having “considerable or moderate influence” on admissions decisions—higher than interviews, portfolios, or SAT Subject Tests.
When done right, an essay reads less like a résumé in paragraph form and more like the start of a relationship. It’s the moment a student walks into the room and shakes the admissions officer’s hand—before they’ve said a single word.
Politics and Public Pressure: Navigating a New Kind of Spotlight
“What students choose to say—and how they say it—has never mattered more.”
— The Chronicle of Higher Education“When schools say they want students who will contribute to campus culture, they’re often reading between the lines of personal statements.”
— Brookings Institution, August 2023
In a less polarized world, student essays might be read purely as reflections of identity and growth. But we’re not in that world.
Today’s college applicants write against the backdrop of congressional hearings, DEI backlash, and multimillion-dollar lawsuits. Harvard, in particular, sits squarely in the national spotlight. From its handling of campus antisemitism to its $8.9 billion in federal funding now under scrutiny, the university has become both a symbol and a target in America’s cultural tug-of-war.
In late 2023, Harvard faced congressional inquiry over campus antisemitism, with bipartisan pressure to withhold federal funds (Forbes, Dec 2023). In January 2024, Rep. Elise Stefanik cited Harvard’s DEI practices during testimony.
This climate affects more than headlines. It shapes how admissions officers read student stories—and what those stories risk revealing.
A well-intentioned essay about activism can be perceived as polarizing. A mention of race or religion might carry unintended weight. Even bridge-building efforts can be misread through the wrong political lens.
Per a 2023 Kaplan survey, 38% of admissions officers said they would be cautious about essays that “seemed politically charged.”
Does that mean students should self-censor? Not necessarily. But it does mean they must write with clarity, empathy, and strategy.
Here are a few examples of how students can navigate sensitive topics without losing their voice:
| Topic | Risk | Strategic Framing |
| Racial identity | Could trigger implicit bias | Frame through personal growth and leadership |
| Political activism | May read as divisive | Emphasize civic engagement, not partisanship |
| DEI involvement | Viewed skeptically in some circles | Highlight mentorship, community building |
| Jewish or Muslim identity | Vulnerable to misreading | Lead with shared values and bridge-building |
Students don’t have to avoid hard truths—but they do have to tell them with care. In this era, even authenticity needs an editor.
The personal statement has always been a balancing act. Now, the stakes of that balance have grown sharper, especially for students from politically or culturally charged backgrounds. What hasn’t changed is this: a well-framed story, rooted in purpose, still has the power to cut through the noise.
Who Benefits—and Who’s Left Behind
“Colleges aren’t just choosing strong students. They’re choosing stories.”
— Forbes“We found that legacy applicants were nearly four times as likely to be admitted as non-legacy applicants with similar academic records.”
— Harvard Admissions Lawsuit Records, 2020
The post-affirmative-action world doesn’t level the playing field. If anything, it has tilted it further—favoring students who understand how to frame their experiences as compelling narratives and disadvantaging those who treat the essay as a last-minute afterthought.
Today, success in the admissions process is shaped not just by a student’s academic profile, but by how well they can translate that profile into a cohesive, authentic story.
Who benefits most in this new landscape?
- Students who receive personalized coaching and feedback
- Applicants who have been encouraged to reflect deeply on their lived experiences
- Families who understand that storytelling is not fluff—it’s strategy.
These students arrive at the application process already equipped with the language of contribution, character, and context. They know how to tie a leadership experience to personal growth, discuss adversity without sounding defeated, and convey identity without stating it outright.
Who’s left behind?
- High-achieving students who submit generic or formulaic essays
- First-generation applicants with powerful stories but little guidance
- International students unfamiliar with the cultural nuances of U.S. admissions
First-generation and low-income applicants are less likely to receive essay coaching. A 2023 Education Trust study found that only 22% of first-gen students reported receiving substantial help with their college essays, compared with 64% of their peers from high-income households.
Too often, these students assume that good grades and test scores will speak for themselves. They don’t realize that admissions officers are reading between the lines—looking for hints of grit, insight, and promise. Without narrative framing, even the most impressive résumé can feel one-dimensional.
The Common App 2023 Trends report noted that applicants from lower-income ZIP codes were 34% less likely to submit an essay of 500 words or more.
This is why coaching matters. Not because it adds polish, but because it helps students discover the meaning inside their own stories—and translate that meaning for readers who will never meet them in person.
Case Studies: Strategic Coaching in Action
“The personal statement is not just about you—it’s about who you’re becoming.”
— InGenius Prep Admissions Coach“It’s no longer just about what you write. It’s about how your story lands in a divided and highly politicized environment.”
— Wall Street Journal, January 2024
The best student essays don’t just describe a moment—they reshape it. They take a raw experience and frame it in a way that speaks to character, direction, and contribution. That’s where strategic coaching comes in. It’s not about writing someone else’s story—it’s about helping a student discover the deeper arc of their own.
InGenius Prep’s internal data shows that applicants who revised their essays with strategic narrative framing were 2.5x more likely to gain admission to a Top 10 university compared to those who submitted initial drafts without revision.
Here are three composite case studies—rooted in real trends we’ve seen at InGenius Prep—that illustrate how narrative guidance can shift an application from forgettable to unforgettable:
| Student | Original Essay Focus | Strategic Reframing | Impact |
| First-gen, rural | A hardship-filled upbringing | Leadership, community impact, and purpose-driven goals | Reframed adversity as a foundation for growth; aligned narrative with Harvard’s mission |
| Legacy applicant | A sentimental tribute to family tradition | Intellectual curiosity, personal independence | Avoided sounding entitled; showed initiative and self-direction |
| Activist student | A fiery tone about injustice | Civic-minded engagement, bridge-building values | Retained authenticity while reducing political risk |
What’s striking isn’t how different the final essays look on paper—it’s how different they feel. Each version shows the same student, but with sharper focus and more intentional framing. Coaching doesn’t change the story. It reveals the version that resonates.
When students understand that the admissions process is not just about qualifications but about interpretation, they start to approach their writing differently. That shift is often the difference between a strong applicant… and a standout one.
What Families Should Do Now
“You can’t control policy. But you can control how you tell your story.”
— InGenius Prep“Even essays that aim for unity or bridge-building can be misinterpreted, depending on who’s reading.”
— The Atlantic, December 2023
For many families, the post-affirmative action world feels uncertain—even intimidating. They know the rules have changed, but not precisely how. They want to support their child, but aren’t sure where to start.
Here’s the good news: what matters most now is not a student’s background, but how they make meaning from it.
That’s something families can help nurture.
Four things families can start doing now:
- Start early.
Encourage personal reflection and journaling in 10th or 11th grade. The best essays aren’t brainstormed in a weekend—they’re lived into over time. - Spot the themes.
Help students recognize the threads that connect their experiences. Have they consistently taken on caregiver roles? Advocated for others? Bridged cultures? These are narrative gold. - Build cohesion across the application.
Great storytelling doesn’t live in the essay alone. It echoes in activities, recommendation letters, and interviews. Encourage students to reflect on how all parts of their application reflect a consistent sense of identity and purpose. - Seek expert feedback.
This doesn’t mean hiring a ghostwriter—it means finding a coach who can help students shape their voice without silencing it. Someone who understands what admissions officers are listening for, especially in today’s climate.
At InGenius Prep, every student has a story worth telling. Our former admissions officers and experienced coaches help students uncover those stories—not to manipulate the process, but to bring clarity, confidence, and strategy to it.
Because the best stories don’t just get read, they get remembered.
Conclusion: The Strategic Narrative Era
“There’s a widening gap between students who understand how to leverage narrative strategy—and those who don’t even know it matters.”
— Urban Institute, September 2023“Families who start early and invest in strategic storytelling are increasingly outpacing those who focus only on test scores.”
— Brookings, 2023
The 2023 “Admissions Landscape” survey by EAB found that students who began essay preparation before senior year were 3x more likely to complete their applications before the deadline, and 1.8x more likely to apply early decision.
The post-affirmative action era isn’t a blank slate. It’s a new puzzle—one that requires applicants to fit their experiences into a process that no longer names race, yet still longs for diversity of thought, identity, and perspective.
Harvard didn’t stop looking for students who’ve overcome challenges, embraced difference, or grown through adversity. It simply changed how those qualities are invited to the table. The burden is now on students to translate who they are into language that resonates—without triggering implicit bias, without sounding performative, and without losing authenticity.
That’s no small task. But with the right support, it’s possible.
Storytelling isn’t fluff. It’s not an afterthought. It’s a competitive edge.
And in the new admissions landscape, it is the most important one.
At InGenius Prep, we don’t believe in polishing students into something they’re not. We believe in helping them recognize what’s already there—and tell that story in a way that feels true, thoughtful, and strategically aligned with their goals.
Because college admissions has always been about more than who gets in.
It’s about how you show up.
References & Suggested Reading
Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College, 600 U.S. (2023). https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/20-1199_hgdj.pdf
Harvard University. (2023, June 29). Harvard united in resolve to continue pursuing diversity—within the law. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2023/06/harvard-united-in-resolve-to-continue-pursuing-diversity-within-the-law/
Rosenberg, J. S. (2024, September 9). Admissions after affirmative action: The composition of colleges’ incoming class after the Supreme Court ruling. Harvard Magazine. https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2024/09/admissions-after-affirmative-action
Kim, A. (2023, July 13). Harvard overhauls College application in wake of affirmative action ruling. The Harvard Crimson. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2023/7/13/harvard-application-overhaul/
Harvard University Institutional Research. (2024). Common Data Set 2023–2024. https://oir.harvard.edu/files/oir/files/cds_2023-2024.pdf
Arcidiacono, P., Kinsler, J., & Ransom, T. (2022). Legacy and athlete preferences at Harvard. Journal of Labor Economics, 40(S1), S221–S264. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/713744
Zhu, D., & Schafer, L. (2019, May 28). The athlete advantage. The Harvard Crimson. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2019/5/28/athlete-advantage-commencement-2019/
Schaul, M., & Staff of The Harvard Crimson. (2024, May 23). “A” game: How Harvard recruits its student-athletes. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2024/5/23/athletic-recruitment-feature/
Common App. (2024, August). 2023–24 end-of-season application trends. https://www.commonapp.org/blog/2023-2024-end-of-season-application-trends
National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). (n.d.). Factors in the admission decision. https://www.nacacnet.org/news–publications/Research/factors-in-the-admission-decision/
Harvard University. (2023–2024). Harvard College application requirements and essay prompts (archival coverage in Crimson). https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2023/7/13/harvard-application-overhaul/
Reuters. (2025, March 31). U.S. reviewing federal contracts and grants to Harvard over antisemitism allegations. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-reviewing-federal-contracts-grants-harvard-over-antisemitism-allegations-2025-03-31/
Bushard, B. (2023, December 5). Harvard president admits spike in campus antisemitism at House hearing. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2023/12/05/harvard-president-admits-spike-in-campus-antisemitism-at-house-hearing/
She Scored 1550 on Her SATs. Top U.S. Colleges Still Rejected Her. WSJ, May 1, 2022. https://www.wsj.com/story/she-scored-1550-on-her-sats-top-us-colleges-still-rejected-her-68767071?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqeOtx7l9z-RojW4NMQ4dqS-UGxuuSVWMLMQ4-dqSUGxuuSVWMLMQ4-dqSUGxuu27hVl0X9qA==