- Stanley Zhong, a talented teen, sues universities for racial discrimination in admissions after being rejected despite impressive qualifications.
- The Zhong family claims a pattern of anti-Asian bias in college admissions and seeks fairness through legal action.
- Despite college rejections, Stanley accepted a job at Google, highlighting the contrast between his qualifications and his treatment by universities
Teen Sues Universities Over Racial Discrimination
Stanley Zhong, a 19-year-old from Palo Alto, is suing several prestigious universities, including the University of California (UC) system, for racial discrimination in college admissions. Stanley applied to 16 colleges, and they rejected him, but Google offered him a job that usually requires a Ph.D. His legal action follows his claims that Asian-American students face unfair treatment during the admissions process.
Lawsuit Against UC and Other Universities
Stanley and his father, Nan Zhong, filed civil rights complaints against universities like UC, the University of Washington, the University of Michigan, and Cornell University. They argue that these schools have racially discriminatory admissions practices that hurt highly qualified Asian-American applicants. The lawsuit seeks to address what they believe is a systemic issue within elite colleges.
Stanley’s Achievements and Qualifications
Stanley is a highly accomplished individual. He taught himself programming at a young age, and Google recruited him at just 13. While still in high school, he launched a free e-signing startup alongside his job at Google. Amazon Web Services featured his startup, and Stanley became a finalist in multiple coding competitions. His academic achievements are equally impressive, with a 4.42 GPA and a 1590 SAT score, placing him in the top 9% of his graduating class.
Rejected Despite Outstanding Credentials
Despite his remarkable achievements, Stanley’s applications to five UC campuses were either rejected or waitlisted. This was a shocking contrast to the full-time job offer he received from Google, which required a Ph.D. or equivalent experience. The lawsuit argues that Stanley’s rejection highlights a pattern of racial discrimination against Asian-American students at top universities.
Growing Frustration and Support
Stanley’s father, Nan, was initially shocked by the rejections. Stanley applied to 18 colleges, and 16 of those rejections left the family searching for answers. After sharing their story, the Zhong family received messages from other Asian-American families who faced similar challenges in college admissions. Stanley even had admissions counselors tell him they couldn’t find a valid reason for his rejection. This led the family to believe that racial discrimination against Asian-American students is widespread at prestigious universities.
Silence From Lawmakers and Officials as Teen was Rejected
The Zhong family reached out to California lawmakers, Governor Gavin Newsom, and the U.S. Department of Education. However, they received no support. Nan Zhong explained that no one seemed willing to take a position on the issue. He speculated that the lack of response was due to political fears of contradicting existing narratives. The family ultimately decided that filing a lawsuit was the only way to push for change and address the unfair treatment they faced.
Supreme Court Ruling on Race-Based Admissions
In June 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that race-based college admissions practices were unconstitutional. The decision came after a case brought by Asian-American students against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. Stanley’s lawsuits, however, claim that racial discrimination persists at the universities he is suing, despite the Supreme Court ruling.
Continued Use of Racial Targets
In their complaints, Stanley and Nan Zhong point to examples of continued racial targeting in admissions. One such example involves federal grants given to UC schools for meeting enrollment goals for Hispanic students. According to the lawsuit, UC actively seeks Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) status, which requires a minimum of 25% Hispanic student enrollment. The Zhong family argues that this policy violates the principle of fair admissions.
Commitment to Taking Legal Action
Nan Zhong stated that they are prepared to take their case all the way to the Supreme Court. Their goal is to secure fairness and transparency in college admissions, especially for future Asian-American applicants as teen was rejected. They believe that the current system harms Asian-American students and that the legal battle is necessary to fight for equal treatment.
U.S. Department of Education as Co-Defendant
In addition to suing universities, rejected teen and his Zhong family has named the U.S. Department of Education as a co-defendant. They argue that the department failed to investigate UC’s discriminatory admissions practices after they closed their complaint with the Office of Civil Rights. This adds a layer of complexity to their case, as they seek accountability from both the universities and the federal government.
University Responses to the Lawsuits
The University of California has vowed to defend its admissions practices. UC officials claim that race is not considered in the admissions process, as it was banned in California in 1996. They argue that race and ethnicity information is only collected for statistical purposes and not used in decision-making. Similarly, the University of Washington supports its admissions process, acknowledging the limitations of its capacity to admit all qualified applicants.
Cornell University, Governor Newsom’s office, and the University of Michigan did not provide comments on the lawsuits. The U.S. Department of Education has also remained silent regarding the case.
Stanley Chooses Google Over College
Despite receiving acceptance letters from the University of Maryland and the University of Texas-Austin, Stanley Zhong decided to take the job offer from Google instead. He began working there in the fall of 2023 as a software development engineer. This decision marked a significant moment in his life, showing that even after facing significant setbacks in his college applications, Stanley had already secured a promising career path.
Stanley’s case has brought attention to the issue of racial discrimination in college admissions and has sparked wider discussions about how Asian-American students are treated and rejected by elite universities. His legal action continues to raise important questions about fairness, transparency, and equal access in higher education.