College Dreams Get a Twist When Politics Play Hooky
You’ve probably heard the story of Jin—nose in a notebook, dreaming of being a doctor or lawyer—only now she’s turning her attention to somewhere where the law isn’t going to sprinkle the path with roadblocks.
From Music to Medicine Meets a Legal Twist
Nina Huang was buzzing with excitement: Oberlin College, the place where students juggle the symphonies of academia with the saxophones of creativity. But when Ohio rolled out a near‑total abortion ban, Nina flipped a day’s worth of sheets and say went “Nope, not here.” At 16, she’s already making her dream list sing a new refrain.
“I Don’t Want to Study in a State Where I Can’t Do Things”
“If a law can keep me from going to an abortion clinic, why would I even set foot in that community?” Nina said. It’s not just a legal slap; it’s a chance to find a place where her whole sense of self stays in tune.
The Supreme Court’s Verdict and the New School-Name Game
When the Supreme Court in June overturned Roe v. Wade, no one could predict how many high schoolers would re‑chart their futures. 20 students and plenty of advisors told the story: some are dropping schools behind them like a bad autograph.
The chill isn’t only about abortion. It’s also about those “hard” boundaries states are putting around LGBTQ+ rights and even how some folks are tackled for being a different color or from a different creed.
Double‑Binding Dilemma
“I’m not finished figuring out who I am,” Samira Murad, a 17‑year‑old senior from Stuyvesant High, told us. “If I move to a place with laws my identity can’t stand on, I’m not going to do it at all.”
So a single new law can scream louder than a school’s hall‑march. It might paradoxically steer students away from schools that for the first time feel like a campus that’s truly “total freedom.” This happens in the heart of every politician’s old‑fashioned ranch or big‑city borough.
Will It Affect the Numbers on the Application Forms?
Right now, nobody can put a neat number on it. But it feels like a “soft but real” pressure on students’ decision charts. Think of a mini‑economic shift: certain dream schools may be taking a hit in applications. Or maybe it’s just a “college in your mind, not the one in your DNA.”
Talks to Counselors: Dreams, Laws, & Some They Cancel
“We’re seeing folks telling us they’ll skip entire states because of potential restrictions on reproductive rights,” says Daniel Santos, CEO of a Florida‑based college counseling service, Prepory. “It’s a new stage of ‘careful curriculum’ for students who want to avoid stepping into unknown political snags.”
Talks get real. Students who talk about moving back then find an unexpected harmony with the law: they want joy, not red‑pill barricades.
Why The American Student is Facing a New Map
Every state looks a little different. Some are “Wild West” policy roads that click for some; others feel like a stone wall. The big news: politics now matters more than ever. Student vibes align with how states are shaped by recent conservatism‑driven moves.
So, if you’re a student who’s been working hard on your college list, remember that your personal, legal, and ideological surface plans are like a garden: you’ll need to keep looking for the place where everything is in common season.
‘Topic of concern’
<img alt="" data-caption="Nat McGartland, 27, of College Park, Maryland, makes signs on a letterpress during a protest outside the US Supreme Court after the leak of a draft majority opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito preparing for a majority of the court to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion rights decision later this year, in Washington, DC, US, on May 3, 2022.
PHOTO: Reuters” data-entity-type=”file” data-entity-uuid=”3bab3d6e-d43f-424f-b69a-7ac641eef04c” src=”/sites/default/files/inline-images/120722_us_reuters.jpg”/>
Choosing Colleges in a Bumpy Legal Landscape
High school dreams meet the law; it’s not just about campus vibes or pizza nights – there’s a whole new twist when you fact-check the legal side of things.
What students are saying
- Kristen Willmott from Top Tier Admissions in Massachusetts hears students ditching schools in Texas, Florida, and Tennessee because their abortion‑ban laws feel more “tight‑rope” than “home‑coming.”
- Alexis Prisco (17) from Eastern Technical High School was eyeing Washington University in St. Louis, her parents’ alma mater, but now she’s tip‑toeing around the state’s new “full‑ban” law. “Mom’s telling me to be cautious,” she admits.
- Senior Sabrina Thaler (16) worries about a worst‑case scenario: “What if I go to a college where abortion is banned and I get raped… I might not have the option to get an abortion?”
Schools’ reactions
Washington University gave a June 24 statement that said, “We hear your worries and frustration. Feel free to ask questions.” The university was tight‑lipped, but it still sent a note that acknowledging the emotional rollercoaster.
While Oberlin College slid into silence, it’s a hint that not every campus is ready for a full discussion.
Even with laws, students keep applying
Jayson Weingarten of Ivy Coach, based in New York, told us that students still queued up for Duke and UNC Chapel Hill, even after North Carolina’s 2016 bathroom‑law hit the headlines.
- UNC’s admissions data jumped 14 % from 2016 to 2017, a number that’s hard to spot if you’re scrolling through a list of rejection letters.
- Weingarten’s take? “Abortion is a big talk, but it’s not the reason most students won’t go to the best schools.”
What medical schools say
Shahreen Abedin from the University of Texas School of Medicine says no noticeable paperwork dip recently after the state’s six‑week abortion ban took effect in September. “Numbers didn’t scream much death,” she said. “Closed figures aren’t telling us anything new.”
Bottom line
So while the Supreme Court riddle rattles many, the same students still hold onto their favorite schools. They’re juggling the thrilling prospects of dorm rooms, lab gear, and early‑year friendships – all while keeping an eye on the legal fencelines that
straddle the horizon.
Final thought: it’s a delicate dance: ignoring the law feels risky, while acting on it can feel like a love‑letter to your own future. But the students keep stepping forward – one campus, one letter, one hope at a time.
