Julie J. Park

Explains how recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions ended race-based affirmative action in college admissions and explores how that shift has changed who gets into selective colleges and how campuses look today. Also looks at alternative ways to promote fair access—like test-optional policies and class-based considerations—and suggests reforms to make admissions more equitable despite limits on using race directly.

Examines adoption of test-optional policies during the pandemic among selective and highly selective institutions. Results suggest test-optional implementation related to increases in Black student enrollment, mostly at moderately selective colleges and when policies extended to all applicants and scholarships. At highly selective colleges, results suggest test-optional implementation related to an increase in applications but not consistent gains in enrollment.

Examines the implementation and ramifications of test-free admissions by studying admissions professionals working at schools that adopted test-free admissions during the pandemic. Findings show that participants generally viewed the shift to test-free admissions favorably, and the vast majority felt that test-free admissions made it easier to identify talented applicants from historically underrepresented backgrounds. Benefits included helping readers not over-rely on test scores as a shortcut when reviewing applications, and others.

Analyzes extracurricular activity descriptions in applications submitted through the Common Application platform. Findings show that White, Asian American, high-SES, and private school students reported substantially more activities, more activities with top-level leadership roles, and more activities with distinctive accomplishments (e.g., honors, awards). Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and low-income students reported a similar proportion of activities with top-level leadership positions as other groups, although the absolute number was lower.

Examines the effect of socioeconomic diversity in higher education. Concludes that socioeconomic diversity, while beneficial, cannot replace racial diversity in campus environments.

Challenges persistent myths about how race works in college admissions and campus life. Includes issues such as affirmative action, the mismatch hypothesis, and "self-segregation."

Documents the high rate of participation in SAT prep courses by Asian Americans.

Addresses how Asian American students benefit from racial diversity in college.