How much does race help?

<p>According to this info from CC you will be sent a form regarding your tribal ties. I have no idea how current this is: [How</a> Do Admission Officials Define “Native American”? - Ask The Dean](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/000293.htm]How”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/000293.htm)</p>

<p>tres: I am approximately 1/4(i misspoke earlier). I put on my application as being white and native american. </p>

<p>2blue: I heard about the form, but haven’t gotten one in the mail. I do have documentation though and everything. Everything is listed on my dad’s adoption records</p>

<p>Enjoy the singing bulldog on the 14th of December.</p>

<p>I think in terms of getting the “ethnic lottery” and college admissions, it’s</p>

<p>Native American > Black > Hispanic</p>

<p>Well, that’s cool. :slight_smile: Two of my cousins are NA also, and they are heavily involved in their culture–traditional dancing and everything. It’s awesome.</p>

<p>Good luck. As everyone said, your chances are great.</p>

<p>thanks for the responses
fingers crossed</p>

<p>^What’ll you do if you get accepted? Yale isn’t your first choice, no?</p>

<p>^^use their finaid (hopefully) as leverage to try to get a better finaid package from Smith(my first choice)</p>

<p>That’s not likely to work. Smith is not positioned to go head-to-head with Yale when it comes to need-based aid for middle-income kids. You could, however, get a nice merit award from Smith.</p>

<p>^^I know. But I have to at least try. Plus Yale is my second choice, so if I don’t get merit from Smith I have a very nice option if I manage to get into Yale</p>

<p>This might be a silly question, but…are Indians considered URMs? on the common app, Indians are listed under the Asian category. and from what I’ve seen on here, being Asian is a pretty big detriment when applying to the Ivies…</p>

<p>^No. Asians in most colleges aren’t considered URMs.</p>

<p>No. Only African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans – traditionally underrepresented groups at colleges – are URMs.</p>

<p>darn. hmm…will being indian help me at all or will it just hurt more than help?</p>

<p>This is a hot topic on CC. My own feeling is that unless you’re a URM, your race, religion, or ethnicity is a neutral factor, one that neither helps nor hurts you. What can cause the admissions bar to be set higher is affluence – and many candidates who are ORMs come from affluent families. In such cases, the bar is not set higher because you are Asian or because you are Jewish, but because you’ve had opportunities that less fortunate candidates haven’t. Colleges expect you to have taken full advantage of those opportunities.</p>

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<p>I agree. Our regional rep actually said something to the effect- he said that Yale wasn’t just need-blind. It was need aware in a good sense- they give a leg up to students who come from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.</p>

<p>Being South Asian could easily help if you apply to schools that value diversity but don’t traditionally attract a lot of South Asian applicants – i.e., liberal arts colleges (other than, maybe, Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore, Pomona).</p>

<p>“unless you’re a URM, your race, religion, or ethnicity is a neutral factor”</p>

<p>wait a second. religion is considered a factor? since when?</p>

<p>No. I didn’t make myself clear. Religion is not a factor. So, for instance, if you happen to be African-American and Muslim, you’re a URM by virtue of your race, not your religion.</p>

<p>It helps to a point where frankly, I would be surprised if you were deferred/rejected.</p>

<p>Native Americans are the most desired URM.</p>