Lucas Van Binsbergen ’27
Over the past year the Trump administration has made an overt effort to profoundly alter the American college experience in his image, particularly in admissions and application processes. Among the host of changes, affirmative action has been discontinued, foreign exchange students have had to undergo examinations of past political statements, and multiple colleges have been forced to pay millions of dollars over accusations of antisemitism on campus.
The first hints at an effort to remodel the college experience began in 2023 with the Supreme Court ruling Students for Fair Admissions vs. Harvard, which effectively ended affirmative action. Opinions on the decision have been mixed, globally as well as at EA. “I agree with the decision, I don’t think that [race] should matter,” said one EA high school student who wished to remain anonymous due to the controversial nature of the topic.
Beyond the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action, other federal policies have added new challenges for college applicants. International students face increased visa restrictions and uncertainty, with recent attempts to limit universities’ ability to enroll them causing anxiety and prompting some to reconsider applying to U.S. schools.
Meanwhile, many colleges have revised essay prompts to avoid questions about race or identity, narrowing how students can share their personal experiences and identity.
Universities are also navigating evolving federal policies that impact areas beyond admissions, especially funding for research programs. The recent decision to reduce indirect cost reimbursement rates for research grants—from more than 50% to 15%—by the Department of Energy, has heavily impacted institutions like Texas A&M and Stanford. This change has led to budget shortfalls and has prompted a reassessment of research priorities.
College counselor Mary Maier shares her view on the policy changes, “It was a real mess a couple of years ago. It had an enormous impact on students who are applying for aid and the timing of their process, but it didn’t change the way we were advising students.” Oya Schooley, another college counselor, adds on, “The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) restructuring just unfolded during the administration, and the overall change was good as the FAFSA is a lot simpler now, but it was the first season. It was late. Students didn’t get a lot of their offers in time, so they couldn’t make decisions in that transition, which was last year, and that was very challenging.”
In addition to changes in essays, visas and funding, perhaps the most significant challenge facing students today is growing uncertainty—not only among applicants but within college admissions offices themselves. As institutions adjust to evolving policies and legal challenges, that uncertainty often trickles down to students, influencing how they apply and make decisions.
Schooley sheds light on the situation, “I think just there’s uncertainty on the college side about funding, and when policies change and when college administration they’re asked to do things, or there’s lawsuits, that creates uncertainty in admissions, which is then reflected onto the seniors. Do I get in? Should I apply? What are my chances of getting in? What we saw last year was a lot of students changing decisions at the last minute, which then affected other students down the line. The waitlist movement happened a lot. There was a lot of uncertainty—and that uncertainty is because of policies of the administration, but also things like visas, funding, budget cuts.”
One of the main facets of the Trump administration induced changes has been pressure to conform to ideological views. For instance, the Trump administration has revoked or denied visas to students who have criticized the U.S. as a whole as well as the presidency itself.
After Harvard refused to cede to Trump administration demands for oversight on admissions and other aspects of college life, the administration pulled research funding and then stopped the school from being able to teach international students. In response, Harvard filed a lawsuit that is still progressing through the courts.
Although not a direct result of federal pressure, at EA, political discussion has chilled. The Academy Scholium struggled to obtain comment for this article, with over a dozen people declining to be interviewed. “I’m scared of the reaction of people,” added the anonymous student when asked why they were unwilling to have their quotes directly attributed to them.
Overall, as college admissions continue to evolve under shifting policies and national priorities, students face more than academic hurdles: they face a system that is, itself, still adapting. Whether navigating essay prompts, delayed financial aid, or uncertain enrollment patterns, today’s applicants must plan not just for college, but around it.
