nickv360

It just seems as if I can only compete with the best of the nation because I'm hispanic.

elmers45

i feel the exact same way

haithman

Have you ever thought the reason why you feel that way is because OTHER people have told you that? Be confident in yourself and hold your head high. If you get into an ivy/top 25 etc its because the admin staff knows you can be successful at the university, not because of the color of your skin.

HeavenWood

Haithman is right. Affirmative action only counts for so much. While it definitely gives minorities a distinct advantage over the rest, it is nowhere near the end all. If that were so, black kids with 2.5 GPAs and 900 SATs (old test) would get into Harvard!

excel

Yea, I am brown (asian), as log as you try your hardest, the results will pay off.

tsdad

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/039...lance&n=283155

bobbobbob

well...it kind of depends on your stats and your socioeconomic factors whether or not you should feel that way.

nickv360

1330 SAT
640 Physics
650 Math II

Got into Cornell

Cami215

Should recruited football players with lower SATs feel as though they are less than accomplished? Should legacy kids feel that way? What about the guys that apply to Vassar and get a tip because the applicant pool contains so many more females?

There are lots of reasons why schools want to have certain students admitted and give them a slight edge in terms of stats. URM is one such variable, but it is not the only one.

As long as you've worked as hard as you can to get where you are and have given it everything you have, there is absolutely no reason for you to feel lousy. Take pride in what you do. You've earned it.

bobbobbob

cami...i dont think you can compare urm status to being a football player or legacy.

thesiren72102

Why can't she compare it to being a football player or legacy?

Cami215

Yes, why not?

AcceptedAlready

The legacy is there because colleges care a lot about donations and the kind of students it graduates. The college benefits from accepting legacies as it strengthens the alumni network. This is like a business deal as well as a business formality. The message is similar to: "You chose this university and graduated successfuly, so therefore your kids may have an easier time getting in. Thanks for not dropping out or choosing another college!"


Football players are recruited to play for the school and contribute to it by helping the sports team and therefore getting the school more publicity. It is like a business deal. "You help us out with your talents and give us a slice of the pie in sports and we'll give you a slice of the pie in academics."


The URM is accepted because of something he/she has no control over. It is almost like a pity deal (like a rich guy giving change to a homeless man) rather than a business transaction. "Um.. we don't want to be called racist and we want diversity so yea sure u can come."

AcceptedAlready

To summarize: Legacies and athletes are different because the legacy is like a political deal (You vote for me, I vote for you) and an athlete is like a business transaction (You do this for me, I do this for you).

However, the URM is basically a societal/government intrusion on what would be a free market society. It is like welfare in our free market economy.

PS: Not saying URM is good or bad, just explaining the differences.

calicollegegirl

To the OP: I know how you feel. Whenever I win anything I feel like maybe I don't deserve it and I only got it because of a special circumstance. But then I realized that I only started feeling that way because that's what other people were saying about me. The moral: just ignore anyone who says that. They're just jealous.