ethnicity

xolala · 08-15-2008, 07:05 PM

on college applications, you have to pick your etnicity. I want to write first generation armenian (URM...sort of)...since i feel it will help me. Where can i write this?

siglio21 · 08-15-2008, 07:06 PM

i love how Armenians are so proud of themselves...not a bad thing of course

ElectricTech · 08-15-2008, 07:15 PM

I think in most cases, they ask for your race.

buffettime · 08-15-2008, 07:24 PM

Well I think it depends if that specific race have been discriminated against in like legislature and stuff. However I would think that Armenians are just considered White considering that most Americans don't even know what/where Armenia is (it's in the Mediterranian right?).

geranium · 08-15-2008, 07:29 PM

apps are strict. By law you are not required to include your ethnic background. If you want to, do so, and put that you are a first generation else where like your supplement or essay.

ASC · 08-15-2008, 07:35 PM

Generally, you just have a list of checkboxes that includes a general list of ethnicities, and I've never seen URM before or a line where you could write your ethnicity in. I think you might be SOL, unless you're applying to a school that requires an essay and you write about it or mention it there.

Sally_Rubenstone · 08-15-2008, 08:09 PM

Actually, most applications--including the Common Application--have an "Other" option which includes a spot to write in exactly what that "Other" is.

romanigypsyeyes · 08-15-2008, 08:13 PM

But Armenian is considered caucasian, or white.

I went to an Armenian church once... it was quite interesting lol.

Sally_Rubenstone · 08-15-2008, 08:21 PM

Even if Armenian is considered Caucasian, if a student has strong ties to his or her Armenian roots, then it certainly makes sense to let admission officials know. I think that "diversity" is too often equated with skin color, and there are many ways that an institution can be diverse, even when many students share a similar racial background.

ASC · 08-15-2008, 08:27 PM

^^^ nice. Thx for the info. I guess the 15 or so apps I've looked at were the only 15 that didn't have that write-in space LOL

So, I wonder how many students decide to write in

"25% Hungarian 12.5% Canadian 12.5% Cherokee Indian 12.5% German 12.5% Scottish 12.5% Austrian 12.5% Lebanese"

:-/

JBVirtuoso · 08-15-2008, 09:19 PM

Just write an essay about how you can relate to the Kardashian girls. Robert Kardashian's parents were Armenian.

tokenadult · 10-19-2008, 01:06 PM

The short answer is that Armenians are considered white in the federal race and ethnicity categories.

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/...ssion-2-a.html

The long answer comes in two parts:

1) You can decline to self-identify with any etnnic group if you like. A lot of colleges admit a LOT of students who are reported to the federal government as "race/ethnicity unreported." The thread linked above links out to many Common Data Set reports about various colleges to prove that.

2) If you have specific identification with some unusual ethnic group and you feel that is an aspect of your personal background that you will to a campus community and will add to the diversity of the campus community, you may as well mention it. It may not help your chances at all, but it is hardly likely to hurt them.