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URM pot would most likely do better at admissions if they were in the URM pot. That is a very small underrepresented pool and if every one could join it at will, then it would have no advantage at all.
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<p>All I can say about this is that being a URM of some sort really helps if you have stats to the higher end of a college's middle 50%. In my readings on the admissions process, and having talked to people very close to the system, if a URM is a good fit for the profile of the school, they will get admitted, bar any severe issues with their application.</p>
<p>For non-tagged applicants, demonstrating academic initiative and talent outside of the transcript and test scores seems to be VERY important at HYPSM. Meaning, letters of reference need to be outstanding and allude to love of learning, and extracurricular academic awards will really help. This is where doing well on stuff like the AIME or Physics Olympiad pays off. Also, research is great, as well as having published a paper in any sort of recognized journal. </p>
<p>Joey</p>