<p>I read on collegeboard.com that only 4% of first year students are African American. I'm wondering if they want it that way or if being African American would help get an applicant accepted and give them that last nudge over another applicant. Thanks for any input.</p>
<p>I think it’s closer to 6-7% from what I remember, but I’m sure Cornell doesn’t want it to be that way. Cornell values diversity.</p>
<p>I agree with FreeFocus…After attending a diversity workshop with a Cornell admissions counselor (who was African American btw) Cornell does all it can to attract talented minorities to their campus. So if you are on the cusp or above of the admissions requirements being a URM certainly won’t hurt you.</p>
<p>I don’t know about “last nudge”. All URMs get a pretty big boost in apps.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure all colleges want diversity - Cornell especially since theres a shortage of high preforming African Americans. I applied ED for Cornell, and after talking to the head admissions officer who decides admissions for my state - I can say I have a decent shot for admission.</p>
<p>Being a URM is advantageous anywhere, no matter how you look at it. Unless you’re applying to some southern redneck college that no one knows about…but thats a different story…</p>