50% Chinese, 50% black - am I a URM?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I’m 50% Chinese and 50% black. Would I be considered a URM or an ORM? I’m a girl but that’s not racial lol

2

Yes and no :D/

3

Haha, I wish. I’m just concerned because I know that there’s a possibility of being discriminated against in college admissions and academically due to my being Asian (or rather saying that I’m Asian because there really aren’t any indicators), which I’m concerned about even though it’s pretty far away. I don’t even look like either, though. Most people think that I’m just Mexican or Filipina. Anyways, I was just curious, so if anybody could offer insight that would be great.

4

What do our identify as? You are biracial, and have a story to tell.

5

wow, URM + ORM equals equates to no RM. Truthfully, as racially mixed, you likely count as URM still. It also depends on the college. If on the common app you answer the first question as “yes” to African American your app will get bifurcated down that URM path. If your last name is Chinese, all bets are off. Subliminally ADCOMS may see you as having the tiger parents and advantages of a family that values education and you may get lumped into ORM group. This is why i am so against using race as advantage or disadvantage in the college admissions game as it is. Race should not be a factor but we will need US Supreme court ruling to change things.

6

Truth be told, I have no idea what I identify as yet. I still have a couple years and I hope that I’ll figure out soon, but I probably couldn’t tell you now. I was raised as both, if that makes sense, but seen as neither.

7

Well, since Obama is universally accepted as black, which would be a URM, despite that he is 50% white with a white mother, I would say you can definitely argue you are URM. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise if that is what is in your best interest.

8

There is no box to check on an app that asks, “Are you URM?” One simply lists one race. Any college, where not prohibited by law, will make it’s own determination of what is URM and what bump, if any, it will contribute to the admissions process. There’s just nothing to argue.