In an article on the college application process, the Miami Herald discusses the fate of minority preferences after the end, if end it was, of affirmative action in Florida:
With the advent of Gov. Jeb Bush’s “One Florida” plan that ended affirmative action in college admissions, many wondered whether universities could find new ways to admit minority students whose GPAs and SATs might not measure up.
It turns out there’s another secret known to the savviest counselors: It’s that second essay question on the Florida university system’s standard application form — the one that asks how family history, culture or environment has influenced the applicant.
“We advise our kids that if you are a minority group member, it’s to your advantage to answer that one,” says Kravetz, the Gulliver [Preparatory School] counselor.
In one of my classes a couple of years ago, one of the seniors mentioned that her grad school applications asked a similar question. Of course by the time they finished giving examples of ways that you might be influenced, the question sounded a bit like describing how you’ve been a victim.