paixdemonde

I'm
-Mexican-American
-First generation American
-First generation college student
-Low socioeconomic status (not supper low, but low enough to get free lunch and all that)

People keep telling me that my minority status will get me into a good school. How much truth is there in that? My SATs are average at best. My GPA is 3.91 weighted (about 3.54 unweighted), my school doesn't rank, my EC's are relatively good, my letters of rec are good. My dream school is Columbia, by the way.

Feedback would be greatly appreciated!

.Masochist

According to a study by Princeton a while back being Hispanic gives you an extra boost of about 150-200 (I forget the exact amount) on a 1600 scale, so probably around a 250-300 boost on the 2400 scale.

However do not believe anyone can get into Columbia easily even with hooks; perhaps we can give you better chance advice if you post your test scores/ECs. Without ranking, your GPA is definitely low for Columbia standards.

And on a last note First Generation American does not really affect your chances and low socioeconomic status has little effect. It is mostly your race that will be your hook.

alejis

I think it can help you, but it definitely won't get you in all on it's own.
To put it in perspective, I got in and I'm hispanic, but there's another girl from my school with lower SAT scores and GPA/rank than me who is also hispanic and did not get in.

i am me

Does anyone know important first generation college student + relatively low income (~$45,000) is, if it even plays a role at all?

CU4L91

obviously it holds some weight but bottomline if u dont have the grades or show the potential u wont get in....btw i got rejected from ED (black, male, super-duper poor--we are talking 25-30K a year, alright gpa and test scores, tons of leadership positions, varsity athlete, etc etc) just convey y u want to go to the school and dont play them the sad violin story because if you really are that poor and are qualified enough, you shouldve/couldve applied as a Quest Bridge Scholar. sorry if im ranting, but good luck and i really do hope u get into columbia, but if you dont, it will be fine cuz ull end up where u need to be.

denniso

Yes, minority status does boost acceptance chances. No, in your case minority status will not be enough to get you in Columbia given your mediocre SATs and GPA, there'll be more than enough minority applicants with significantly better stats than yours to fill up the quota. Sorry for being blunt.

ncstudent09

what if your a minority student/international student with a low income..? in other words from a different country but reside her and have citizenship here

paixdemonde

what were your test scores, gpa/rank, ec's, etc.?

Jcancollegebound

What about me? Female, Black (Caribbean). 2190 SAT, 4.0 GPA

NotAJock2Day

Yes. Game, set, match.

The system is flawed though, if you're not hard working and you lower your standards you'll fail. If you have to question your abilities and use minority status as a crutch you don't deserve anything...

abercrombieindy

can someone get the link to the princeton study?

latina177

Yes it does boost your chances of getting in...
a friend who is mexican got in..
her GPA was about the same as yours and her SAT was like a 1500 or 1600 i dont remember (YES without the WRITING)!!!
Im not kidding... !
I think as long as you prove you are hard working you will be ok!..
but take into consideration that there are other mexicans applying as well!
Columbia is very selective

bred.to.please

I'm restraining myself from making several obvious jokes that would all be in poor taste.

From what I've noticed on the accepted/deferred/rejected posts it seems as though if you're a solid student (3.7-3.8 UW GPA) without a hook, your chances could be decided on a coin toss. If you're a solid student and also an underrepresented minority, you've got a pretty good chance of getting in.

I'm not saying it's right but that's just what I've noticed in my short time here.

paixdemonde

could you give me more details about this friend. like specific scores, gpa, etc., if you know them.

limetime

I'm not a minority student (well, I am, but not really counted as one ) so I'm just going to state what I observed -- I might as well be wrong, but please don't take offense.

What I observed is that many prestigious schools like Columbia have so many qualified minority students applying that AA is not going to matter much. It just means you have to compete with the applicants in your minority pool -- i.e. if there's another Hispanic person with the same socioeconomic/social circumstances with you, but with higher scores and better EC's, that person may get in while you do not. Again, as I've said, a place like Columbia has so many qualified minority kids applying that they could probably fill half (or maybe entire) the place with extremely qualified minorities only.

So, don't rely on minority status as a crutch, but focus on writing a brilliant essay that will make you shine out among all others, minority or not!