Which case held that race-based admissions quotas are unconstitutional but allowed race to be considered as one factor?

Which case held that race-based admissions quotas are unconstitutional but allowed race to be considered as one factor?

• A. Bakke (1978)
• B. Fisher v. UT Austin (2013)
• C. Grutter v. Bollinger (2003)
• D. Gratz v. Bollinger (2003)

Answer: (A)

The main idea is how the Supreme Court views race in college admissions: quotas are not allowed, but race can be considered as one factor in a broader, individualized review to promote diversity. In Bakke, the Court struck down the fixed racial quota system used by UC Davis Medical School—finding that reserving a certain number of seats for minority applicants violated equal protection. But the decision also opened the door to using race as a factor in admissions, as long as it isn’t a quota and the process remains flexible and individualized. This establishes the principle that while rigid numerical targets are unconstitutional, race can be part of a holistic admissions strategy, a doctrine later refined by subsequent cases.

The main idea is how the Supreme Court views race in college admissions: quotas are not allowed, but race can be considered as one factor in a broader, individualized review to promote diversity. In Bakke, the Court struck down the fixed racial quota system used by UC Davis Medical School—finding that reserving a certain number of seats for minority applicants violated equal protection. But the decision also opened the door to using race as a factor in admissions, as long as it isn’t a quota and the process remains flexible and individualized. This establishes the principle that while rigid numerical targets are unconstitutional, race can be part of a holistic admissions strategy, a doctrine later refined by subsequent cases.