Other than the obvious URM’s (African-American/Black, Hispanic), which nationalities are considered, say, “advantageous”?
For instance, I am a second-generation Israeli (parents grew up there and moved to the U.S. the year before I was born); we are all dual-citizens in my family. I am also fluent in Hebrew (can actually READ the Yale badge ;)) and have had much experience with traveling and life in Israel (much of my extended family lives there, so I’ve been there more than 10 times, at least 1.5 months at a time).
My question is, can this offer me any sort of advantage/make me seem an even more interesting person/open up opportunities for essays/etc.?
<p>I seriously doubt it. I'm pretty sure that a higher percentage of Jews attend colleges than the national average. It might help at a few schools that are extra-homogeneous, but I can't see anyone getting a boost because they're bilingual and get to travel a lot.</p>
<p>Whoops, my mistake. I should read more carefully before dashing out replies. ;P</p>
<p>Still, I think the same thing holds true. Speaking two languages, having dual citizenship, and traveling probably won't help you much unless it's at an exceptionally homogeneous college... or if you make an interesting essay about it.</p>
<p>I'm also bilingual and have dual citizenship, but I'm not counting on it having any notable impact on admissions.</p>
<p>if it's nationalities, think countries with civil war and refugees. i know someone who fled kuwait during the 1st gulf war. he got into stanford and i believe he's going to harvard med school now. but he's also really smart too.</p>
<p>It's not just countries, though -- people from any nations (in the "groups of people" sense) or regions affected by turmoil can get a bump. For example, if you're from England, part of the U.K., you're not all that special at most schools. However, if you're from West Belfast or the Bogside -- still within the U.K. -- and your family has been seriously affected by the Troubles, that can be a big deal.</p>
<p>It's kinda like the difference between a kid from Massachusetts and another from Alaska applying to Williams. They're both Americans, but one's a little "better."</p>
<p>Being Israeli might help you in some regions with smaller Israeli and Jewish populations, but it's probably not going to make much of a difference at a place like Middlebury, Barnard, Vassar, or anywhere else with a large Jewish population. I know there's a difference between being Israeli and being Jewish, but the fact is, a lot of people are going to look at them as being the same thing, sadly. If the international population is low, then it could be worth something, but if a school already has a lot of Jewish and international students, being Israeli might not help. Even then, you're still not an international student, so you're just like a lot of Jewish kids in the U.S. who have dual citizenship. (I know I'm probably coming across as mean, but I sincerely don't mean to sound that way. It's hard to convey tone on-line.)</p>
<p>I think it'll help you with your essays more than anything. You can probably find a way to write really interesting pieces about your family and your experiences abroad that might make admissions committees take notice. Your travels might help you more than your family history.</p>