What's the bottom line?

[PayFor]

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I don’t think the “less privileged” URM that needs a bump in his SATs to gain entry into a reach school will be benefited by competing for a limited number of URM spots with a “privileged” URM with strong stats and a proven record of success which could be the “easy” way for a college to meet their goals.

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<p>I think the relatively low graduation rates for URM students admitted despite having stats significantly below a school’s median give the adcoms incentive to game the system. This could very well be an example of the law of unintended consequences at work, although admitting a URM with strong stats does gain the school an element of diversity that would not otherwise be provided by admitting an “average white guy”.</p>

<p>I still maintain that every successful URM has a strong potential to benefit his less privileged brothers. One, by being a role model who can serve to break negative stereotypes. Two, by individually helping other URMs by “paying it forward”.</p>

<p>BTW, we have some terrific posters here on CC who pay it forward in spades by sharing valuable knowledge they’ve learned in this crazy admissions process.</p>