admissions

Only a small portion of U.S. colleges have selective admissions, where race-conscious admissions can make a difference in who gets in. But the impacts of banning affirmative action are far wider.

The students admitted were well-connected to staff or donors and took spots from more qualified applicants.

The Justice Department says Harvard has "failed to show that it does not unlawfully discriminate against Asian-Americans." Harvard says it doesn't discriminate against any group.

Colleges including Amherst, Williams and Middlebury are said to have received letters asking them to retain communications with other schools about admitted students, as part of an antitrust probe.