Every year, high school students across the country dream of getting into top colleges. In California, this goal may be getting tougher as lawmakers push for new admissions policies that aim to help specific groups.
As a junior in high school in San Jose, I am preparing to apply to colleges next year. Many students like me are taking advanced classes and working hard to build strong applications. We believe that colleges will evaluate us based on our achievements and backgrounds fairly. However, a new bill could change that.
California Assembly Bill 7 (AB7) recently passed in the Assembly with a vote of 54–17. This bill would allow public universities in California to consider whether an applicant is a descendant of enslaved people in the United States. This initiative is part of a larger effort to address historical injustices and is now headed to the state Senate.
Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, who authored the bill, argues that it is not about race but about addressing historic harm. He points out that for years, universities have favored wealthy donors and their families while ignoring those affected by past injustices. While he raises valid points about history, the bill has sparked debate about whether ancestry should be a factor in college admissions.
Critics argue that the bill creates a preference based on lineage rather than individual merit. It defines "descendants of slavery" without using racial terms, which some believe is an attempt to circumvent California’s Proposition 209, which banned racial preferences in 1996. Legal experts warn that these kinds of policies, which use ancestry as a proxy for race, can face legal challenges.
The bill’s definition of a "descendant of slavery" is also controversial. It applies specifically to those whose ancestors were enslaved in the U.S., potentially excluding many Black students whose families immigrated after slavery was abolished. Meanwhile, someone identifying as white could qualify if they trace their ancestry back to enslaved individuals through DNA testing.
Even if the bill is legally sound, it raises questions about fairness. Ancestry-based preferences could still lead to issues like lack of individual assessment and concerns about fairness for other applicants. Critics point out that any advantage given to one group comes at the expense of another.
Instead of pursuing this bill, many believe California should focus on better solutions to support marginalized students. Suggestions include adjusting financial aid to reflect local living costs, strengthening admission guarantees for top public high school students, and improving resources for community college transfers.
The debate continues as the California Senate prepares to consider the bill. Many hope for a fairer approach to college admissions that addresses inequality without creating new forms of discrimination.