<p>I’ve heard a lot of talk about how it helps a lot and how college don’t care and just don’t look at race. So what is the truth. So does this mean that a Hispanic would have a greater chance than a Caucasian or an African American would have a greater chance than and Asian? And would standards be lower or higher for Underrated Minorities.</p>
<p>All Feedback is greatly appreciated</p>
<p>This thread may help you:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/927219-race-college-admission-faq-discussion-8-a.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/927219-race-college-admission-faq-discussion-8-a.html</a></p>
<p>All else being equal, the URM would probably be taken, yes.</p>
<p>Otherwise, the admissions rate discrepancy comes mostly from certain populations all having similar accomplishments and starting to look the same, so certain people stand out for whatever reason.</p>
<p>I think of it more as you’re competing with other people of the same race. Which I wish didn’t happen, but it does, so meh.</p>
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<p>Note: the UR in URM stands for underrepresented, not underrated.</p>
<p>Do aborigines, from Australia, count as pacific islander? This is the only category I can think of in which they would vaguely fit…</p>
<p>yes they do</p>
<p>^ It’s actually quite unclear where an aboriginal person from Australia fits in the categories. The categories are arbitrary, as the Bureau of Census admits, based on United States politics, and not likely to fit the categories that are socially meaningful in other countries. But, yeah, if forced to choose (you always have the choice of not indicating any race at all), I would probably indicate “Pacific Islander” for someone of aboriginal heritage from Australia or Papua New Guinea.</p>
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What exactly does that mean? Can you identify with what is socially meaningful in other countries?</p>
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<p>Most colleges don’t care because most colleges are non-selective. They admit more than they reject, and they admit largely on the basis of “numbers.” When it comes to elite universities, however, “numbers only” isn’t enough to make decisions. While not every applicant will have a perfect SAT and GPA, enough will have SATs and GPAs at a level that a simple cutoff wouldn’t do. Enter subjective criteria: essays; extracurriculars; recommendations; and preferences, including those based on race.</p>
<p>So what is the truth, you ask? It helps a lot at elite universities, and it is irrelevant at non-selective universities. (Note that “helps a lot” does not mean “automatic admission.”)</p>
<p>Regarding “lower or higher” standards, it is very difficult to answer such a question. Let’s start with the facts: at least in 2005, there were very few blacks with high SAT scores. Less than 1,205 scored at least 700 on both sections at the time. Up the bar to 750 per section, and the number drops to less than 244. If you divide 1,205 by 40, the sum of USNWR’s Top 20 national universities and liberal arts colleges, you see that in 2005, there were not enough high-scoring blacks for each of the forty institutions to have even fifty black freshmen with balanced SAT scores of 1400 or higher.</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.jbhe.com/features/49_college_admissions-test.html]Source[/url”>The Widening Racial Scoring Gap on the SAT College Admissions Test]Source[/url</a>]</p>
<p>Undoubtedly, there are blacks with very strong SAT scores in the U.S. The problem is that there are not many of them. Well, all of those forty institutions want “diversity,” so what do they do? They have to admit black students whose SAT scores are high but not as high as the 244 / 1,205 group.</p>
<p>I can see the rebuttal flying already: the SAT isn’t everything! You’re right; it isn’t. But if you’re going to argue that a black student with a score of 1200/1600 is just as good as a non-black student with a score of 1600/1600, surely that applies to a non-black student with a score of 1200/1600 as well, right?</p>
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<p>You can describe yourself in terms of what is important to you in your social environment, if you think that would be of interest to college admission officers. For example, a person from Taiwan who is of Hakka ethnic origin has a life experience in Taiwan that might be distinguishable from that of a person of mainlander or Minnan ethnic origin. Or maybe not. You can decide what to emphasize about what is different about you, if you think your differences add to the diversity of a college class. You can also decide simply not to indicate any race or ethnicity category at all, emphasizing your commonality with all of humankind. It’s up to you. Please note that for international students (students who are neither citizens nor permanent residents of the United States), their most salient characteristic is their visa status and lack of eligibility for several forms of federal student financial aid. It’s generally harder, at most (but perhaps not all) colleges in the United States for international students to be admitted than for domestic students who are otherwise equally prepared to be admitted.</p>
<p>tokenadult, if you have a dual citizenship in another country (which I believe you have to say versus just saying you have a US single citizenship, PLEASE DEFINETLEY correct me if I’m wrong), then will colleges guess, with good accuracy, your race? I am going to leave ethnicity blank, but what will my citizenship status do to it?</p>
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Sorry, I’m not familiar with any of those terms, - are you saying your life experience is what defines the racial group you feel you are most a part of?</p>
<p>SO I was just filling out the common app when I got to the part about your ethnicity.
I look south asian (Indian) but I have gray eyes. This is because I’m 1/8th Caribbean and Dravidian (Brahui tribe). What do I put as my race on my common app?
Also does this make me URM or ORM because South asian Indians are overrepresented while the other races are underrepresente</p>
<p>south asian. many places consider it your ethnicity if you are 1/4th or more. 1/8 is basically non existent</p>
<p>well 1/8th dravidian (brahui) + 1/8th caribbean = 1/4th :)</p>
<p>^ i think you can put whatever you feel you are more, either both, just south asian, or just carribean. Just because your 1/8 doesnt mean you cant feel you belong to that group the most.</p>
<p>Okay, I don’t understand what ethnicities are URM’s and which ones are ORM’s and how they compare to each other.</p>
<p>Here are the categories for race on the common app:</p>
<p>American Indian or Alaska Native (including all Original Peoples of the Americas)
Asian (including Indian subcontinent and Philippines)
Black or African American (including Africa and Caribbean)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (Original Peoples)
White (including Middle Eastern)</p>
<p>Which ones are URM and which ones are ORM, and which ones are more ORM than others? And what difference does it make?</p>
<p>Anyone? BUMPPPPP</p>
<p>American Indian or Inuit = Strongest URM
African-American = Very strong URM
Hispanic = URM</p>
<p>Asian = ORM</p>
<p>Being an ORM means it will be harder to gain admission.</p>
<p>Just want to flame tonight eh? </p>
<p>I don’t believe that you want any answer to any question. You just want to stir the pot.</p>