What should I put for race?

Applying to College
821

<p>^^^^ I love the challenge you have given me in that last sentence because it gives me an opportunity to tell you my son’s story.</p>

<p>He is white, non-minority (jewish last name…), 2340 SATs, 3.7 GPA, attends private prep on scholarship because dad works there, had no stellar ECs.</p>

<p>BUT, we are low income (so they tell me $40-50K is now low income, you know…), he became a Questbridge finalist and was matched to his number one ranked school, Pomona.</p>

<p>So, my answer to your question is an emphatic, Yes! The system works.</p>

822

<p>“As a high school senior, I don’t see any black or hispanic kids who are the victims of a racist society, except for the racism the blacks have for hispanics and vice versa. The “man” certainly isn’t holding any black or hispanic back at my school.”</p>

<p>Why do you think that you can “see” the racism that black and Hispanic students face simply from interacting with a couple of them at school? Are you a black or Hispanic student?</p>

<p>Full disclosure, too: I’m a black student. I grew up in a lower-middle-class family, partly in New York, partly in the South. No one burned a cross on our lawn, wrote ■■■■■■■■ on my locker, or spit at me and threw paper balls because I was black. That’s not the only way that racism operates in our country.</p>

<p>However, neither of my parents nor anyone in my family had gone to college, so I had literally no one to help me or to understand when I was going through the process myself. My parents honestly didn’t understand why I wanted to go to college, since in their mind you could be just as successful without going and none of them went themselves. It was unnecessary, and expensive, in their minds. The majority of my black classmates were in the very same boat – we were all helping each other, clueless as we were. I’m not saying that some white students don’t have the same problems, but honestly, white students are FAR more likely to have college-educated parents than black students.</p>

<p>Also – perhaps this is difficult to recognize when you are white, but when I watched TV as a youngster, I didn’t see many black people portrayed as physicians, lawyers, college professors, dentists, bankers, managers, etc. Not that there weren’t any, but there weren’t nearly enough to stand out. I do remember a lot of black people as crack dealers, video vixens, rap stars, and basketball players. I honest-to-God didn’t even realize that black women could become college professors until I went to college and HAD one. Now I’m in a Ph.D program at a top school partly because just SEEING her allowed me to realize that this was something that was possible for me. But the representation of black people in the media doesn’t allow for that.</p>

<p>Just two examples of the ways in which subvert racism works in the U.S.</p>

823

<p>Just to add after reading above:</p>

<p>Obv no affirmative action with my son, and you could even argue that since he benefited from all a private school offers, not many obstacles. Socio-economic diversity perhaps, but we’re not impoverished - we eat, we have internet, we have a car, we live in a safe neighborhood.</p>

<p>Do you want to know why I think he was accepted? He wrote some incredibly clever, engaging essays that made you want to meet him. He was LIKABLE. He also continues to help out on his parent’s failing shrub farm even though he doesn’t get paid anymore just because he’s a good kid. I think all that came through.</p>

824

<p>First, what they mean by they are not looking at stats is they don’t look once they’ve seperated out those that don’t have them. Trust me, I’ve been in the room.</p>

<p>As is pointed out in the book I referenced above, “Asians are the new Jews” in college admission. For years the ivies kept Jews out by creating institutional desires such as plays lax or squash. Now they have definitions of likable that exclude the things kids from Asian cultures tend to focus on.</p>

<p>As I tell kids who ask me to edit their essays, it’s key to make them like you through the essay. And when you give teachers resumes to write their recs, include thing that enhance your fun qualities.</p>

825

<p>Why are people even talking about this? I hate these board.</p>

<p>NO, YOUR RACE WILL NOT MAKE OR BREAK YOUR ADMISSION! STOP TALKING ABOUT ETHNIC “ADVANTAGE” AND GO STUDY FOR THE SATS!</p>

<p>…Well, unless you’re native american. Then, I suggest you apply to any school you want, no matter what your SATs and grades are. You’ll probably get in.</p>

826

<p>Juillet: Guess what? Blacks aren’t the only ones with parents who didn’t attend college. My best friend from last year (2340 SAT; rejected from HYSP) had two parents who had never stepped inside of a school and didn’t speak English. They are from the Far East. Their kids worked in the family’s business every day after school and on weekends. You think my friend’s parents were any less clueless than your parents? </p>

<p>And guess what? I don’t see too many Asians portrayed on television either. That doesn’t stop them from achieving. </p>

<p>If you attend high school in the last few years and didn’t realize that you or anyone else could go to college, that was a you problem or a problem with the people your surround yourself with. You had to see a black person on television to understand that a college education was possible for you? That makes no sense to me. </p>

<p>The bottom line is that many Asian students are worse off economically than many black and Hispanic students in my school, and many of them have parents who didn’t attend college either. They don’t use it as an excuse, however. Instead, they just work incredibly hard and do well academically. Then they get the privilege of watching lesser-performing classmates get accepted into their dream schools because Asians are perceived to be too much alike. Talk about racism. </p>

<p>Maybe Asians need to stop working so hard in school and focus their energies on perfecting a victim mentality.</p>

827

<p>^ @ the last sentence: Ha, pretty ironic… sigh.</p>

<p>

I agree with that statement.</p>

828

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</p>

<p>In case this isn’t obvious to everyone who reads it - this is VERY bad advice.</p>

829

<p>

^^hmom</p>

<p>So, you’re saying Jews aren’t on equal footing with Asians? I’d have to respectfully disagree with that. I think HYPM has their hands full with Jewish kids from NYC, LI and Westchester. A Jew from South Dakota might be interesting though, as would an Asian.</p>

830

<p>Obviously. It’s just funny.</p>

<p>I’m sad this has turned into another aggressive affirmative action thread, but I suppose I was the one that set it up - I was really trying to find out why it being Asian was supposedly seen as a disadvantage… not trying to argue about the fairness of it, or whatever.</p>

831

<p>go affirmative action! (not really)</p>

832

<p>Old College Try = classic example of a person who will never be able to put himself in another person’s shoes. No matter how hard you try, he will never get it. I’ve argued with that type before, and trust me… it’s not worth it.</p>

833

<p>Blu_g8orade:</p>

<p>Two things. </p>

<p>First, read my messages again. I’m not Asian. I’m a white guy. I am writing because I feel sorry for my Asian friends. How do I qualify as someone who “will never be able to put himself in another person’s shoes”? That’s exactly what I am doing. </p>

<p>Second, if you’re a high school student who is heading to college soon like myself, perhaps you should attempt to develop the ability to discuss controversial topics without dismissing those who disagree with you by concluding that they “don’t get it.” That type of response is fine for 3rd grade, but it’s time to be an adult. Or if you’re already an adult, why don’t you explain for me and the hundreds of other people on this board who disagree with affirmative action exactly you “get” that we’re missing.</p>

834

<p>MattsMom, I was quoting the book. I believe their point is that colleges no longer clearly discriminate against Jews, with the Asians now being in that position. All kids of all stripes from NYC are ORM’s and have a high bar in top school admissions. Even the URM’s I work with are much harder to get into top colleges than just 5 years ago.</p>

835

<p>^^^Okay. I was actually curious to read the book, but that will have to wait until after the FAFSA. I feel like a kid who procrastinates on here instead of doing apps. I’m procrastinating trying to figure out what my taxes are going to be, so I can estimate them for the FAFSA which is due at latest 2/1</p>

836

<p>

Yep.</p>

<p>UCLA had only 96 black freshmen (out of 4800) two years ago after the approval of Prop 209, the lowest percentage in over thirty years. It was blasted with criticism, adopted “holistic admissions,” and has since nearly doubled the percentage of black students on campus.</p>

<p>Caltech met similar criticism several years ago for not enrolling a single black student.</p>

837

<p>

Not necessarily. Many colleges, including some very good ones, would love to have Asian(-American) applicants.</p>

<p>Another poster posted a list not too long ago of the percentage of Asian-American students at various colleges. Science/math-oriented colleges have the highest percentages.

</p>

838

<p>Does no one know the meaning of “affirmative action?” Yeah, look it up, then bang your head on your calc 4 textbook if you’re asian. Like me.</p>

839

<p>julliet:
As if Asians aren’t victims of racism? For example, as a result of outsourcing of jobs, and the Middle Eastern conflict, prejudices against Indians have arisen greatly. Ok, so maybe my parents did go to college, but it wasn’t in America. They don’t know anything about America’s higher education, but it doesn’t make a difference to me. I do all the research on my own and I don’t need my parent’s help when it comes to preparing and selecting a college. Academically, I’ve been completely self-reliant since 5th grade, and I’m better because of it. Just because a greater percentage of Asians have higher scores and are more qualified should not be a detriment to them. They should be rewarded, not penalized.
In my opinion, media portrayal isn’t even an argument. Growing up, there were no Indians on TV, besides Apu, the convenience store owner on the Simpsons. Did I accept that as my fate and allow it to have a drastic effect on my life? Not at all; I know that I’m looking to succeed and something as inane as the portrayal of my race in the media should never influence me. Instead of lamenting over one’s situation, one should earn a spot in a school, not be placed their artificially. The fact that race is acknowledged and is a significant factor in admissions is racism in itself.</p>

840

<p>btw EMORY has 31% Asian pop. Got a brochure today.</p>