race: advantage or disadvantage

red_eye12345 · 10-31-2004, 12:52 AM

Im really looking into Notre Dame as a top choice for college. Im wondering if being a minority (chinese) will improve my chances at Notre Dame. I saw the statistics, and the asian population is only 5% My grades are ok and i have alot of ec's and leadership positions, and i volunteer. Will being asian give me any advantage in getting into ND?

esrajay · 11-03-2004, 04:11 PM

I would like to know too. Anyone know?

jamimom · 11-03-2004, 04:20 PM

Race is not supposed to be taken into consideration except for URMS in college admissions. I don't know of any colleges that sorts their kids by race or ethnicity except for the the International students and, of course, the URM category. I have often responded to posts that feel that Asians are isolated by adcoms and then discriminated against with a joinder that there are a number of colleges with a dearth of Asians, and if any Asian kids want a benefit from their ethnicity, that is where they should apply. But several sources in midwestern schools have told me that they simply do not look for Asian kids. They are race blind except for the URM category and internationals.

I would venture to say that when you apply to a school low in number of Asians, there will be fewer of the stereotypical Asian apps so if you have a profile of that sort, you won't join as big of stack of that type. But Asians are not the only students who have this profile. Psychologically, it could be a "tip" factor. But I have been told by some who is directly in admissions that Asian kids are not "tagged" at Notre Dame.

IloveBorat · 11-05-2004, 06:19 PM

Yes. Only at Notre Dame though. Well, that's what I heard at least.

red_eye12345 · 11-08-2004, 08:57 PM

Thanks alot for your responses. Anyone else want to put in their own 2 cents?

Roger_Dooley · 11-11-2004, 10:06 PM

I'd say your volunteering and leadership will be worth more than being Asian, red_eye. Good luck!

beramod · 11-20-2004, 11:29 PM

Hey if I'm a Korean and a catholic, do you think i'll have a good shot with 1370 SAT and good grades/essay/rec?

JMIONE1 · 03-04-2005, 06:58 PM

5% is still overrepresented for the US popluation. Only if a group is UNDERRESPENTED does it help.

AlcyoneHikari · 03-05-2005, 12:53 PM

Wow thanks, that definately made my acceptance seem like less of an accomplishment

swtvtgyrl · 03-10-2005, 09:43 AM

I heard from my counselor that ND got a new chancellor or something (i'm not christian so i don't really know the religious positions) and he's really pushing for some diversity .. So she told me to apply there and said I would probably get a lot of money if i get in.. I was invited to the spring visitation weekend, so I'm assuming that all went well and that I'm in (i applied regular decision) .. but i don't know anything about money yet..

jamimom · 03-10-2005, 09:50 AM

I don't think it will make one bit of difference. The only time race/ethnicity makes a differnce is when the school is seeking URMs. Those who are in the URM category will be in a pool apart for assessment. All others are assessed blindly to this.

03-21-2005, 08:30 PM

I thought Asian wasn't considered a minority anymore....

swtvtgyrl · 03-21-2005, 09:37 PM

minority at notre dame, yes. 5% asian.. there are even more hispanics (8%).

minority at harvard, no. 18% asian.

** it says on princeton review that minority status is "considered".

JMIONE1 · 03-22-2005, 09:33 AM

Minority is "considered" just when its Underrepresented

5% is over represented when compared to 4 % asians in the 2000 US census.

WaterPolo - your right asians aren't considered minority

for instants hispanics would be helped since they are only 8% compare to 14% in the US

swtvtgyrl · 03-22-2005, 12:55 PM

well that's funny then.. then why am i and another Asian girl from my school invited to the spring visitation weekend if it's just for minorities then? =) just wondering.