Did identity play a role in Mamdani’s Columbia application? SAT scores raise debate

New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani is facing scrutiny after reports revealed he identified as “Black/African American” on his Columbia University application, despite being of South Asian descent. The New York Post reported his SAT score was 2140, which fell within but near the lower end of Columbia’s accepted range. Critics, including Mayor Eric Adams, questioned the motive behind his racial identification. The controversy arises amid Mamdani’s mayoral campaign and past affirmative action policies at Columbia.