Asian stereotype

<p>One has to admit there is an obvious stereotype for "asians". I'm talking about the stereotype of a small nerdy asian kid. I'm not trying to be politically incorrect, but I'm just trying to prove a point.
The fact of the matter is that I do not fit that stereotype, but people often expect it of me. There is something about the culture that expects more of you academic-wise.
I am my own person. While I dominate the intellectual aspects in my school, i want to prove that I am not just a "shell". I am not just a fact sponge, and I can show that through my passion.
Every conversation I've had on the subject always has that given stereotype. Do you guys think that college admissions will look at each person as more than "just another asian", and look at you as your own person no matter what ethnicity?</p>

<p>Honestly, in terms of college admissions, it just depends on your application and, especially, ECs. If you play tennis, do math competitions, are great at math SAT but have a low CR, and don’t show personality in your essays etc, etc, etc, you will probably be perceived as a “typical” asian. </p>

<p>It is your job to show colleges that you do NOT fit this role.</p>

<p>I am in the opposite situation. I’m sorry you feel that way. I have been told that I am “smart enough for a black person”. Of course most of the time I know these people are not racists, but the stereotypes society sets on individual is troublesome. Sadly, college admissions officers are human beings and do take race into consideration. Maybe this can be something you can discuss in your essays. Colleges DO notice students who do not conform to stereotypes.</p>

<p>This sounds to me like a great essay topic for you, something that is unique and will represent you well. Have you ever thought about it that way?</p>

<p>Stereotypes exist because apparently many people fit that mold. You said "Do you guys think that college admissions will look at each person as more than “just another asian”, and look at you as your own person no matter what ethnicity? "</p>

<p>Your goal is to give evidence that varies from the archetype. But I think it’s best done through what you show and not what you say. My opinion is that if you say “I’m not a typical stereotype” – that’s calling attention to the fact whereas if you show that you’re not the stereotype – through your interests, personal statements, etc. – then that’s what will stand out.</p>

<p>Me? My “asian mold” characteristics were: Super in Math/Sci and all other academic subjects, 1st generation of immigrant parents. How was I not stereotypical? I was a Chinese who was clearly a student leader in a predominantly black urban HS with much influence and connectivity. That’s what made me stand out, IMHO.</p>

<p>Now what do you have? Think about it, write some drafts about it – and get it out there. Good luck to you.</p>

<p>I don’t really think there is an Asian stereotype that is as big as CC Asians (or non Asian posters) make it out to be. Every person is unique and you just need to demonstrate that in your applications. Why wouldn’t colleges want kids that fir the “stereotype”? Hard working, conscientious, etc… just make sure to “show” the other aspects of your personality.</p>

<p>I was thinking about It as a potential essay topic, but i dont know if it would come off as being a rant. </p>

<p>Furthermore, i am a straight A student,and I have a deep interest in neurosciences and economics. Honestly i was pushed by my parents to do a whole bunch of crap. But now i am totally capable of self motivation. I am a free thinker and i thank god that my dad is the same way, and that he is down to earth.</p>

<p>Thankfully, i have a life (a very successful high school career thus far and other interests in art, history, etc.)</p>

<p>no, colleges don’t see that as just another asian. this is ridiculous. isn’t it just as bad not to play tennis, do math competitions, etc. to impress colleges as it is to NOT DO the EC’s you’re genuinely interested in for college.</p>

<p>why can’t someone excel as school and love math and science because they’re asian? I personally don’t believe that an asian who loves english is more advantaged than one who loves math. as long as you show your individuality in your essay.</p>

<p>"But I think it’s best done through what you show and not what you say. " - T26E4 has it exactly correct.</p>

<p>OP - Don’t approach your college apps with the goal of showing the Adcomm what you are not. Get busy showing them who you are.</p>

<p>I heard colleges that look at “asians” that way anymore; they actually dont favor them much either because they are not considered a minority. A minority is black or spanish. Even middle easterns are not considered “minorities”. Not every asian is smart, they just have good worth ethics that are almost installed in them, that is why they are always stereotyped. Asians have just been known as “focused” people.</p>

<p>Coming from my aunt, an mit professor,</p>

<p>Obviously you can say tht you are a non discriminatory school and be very open “on paper”, but that is not the case. Look at female discrimination in the workplace. People say they dont discriminate in the workplace but it still happens.
Same thing seems to happen in admissions. They say they are a certain way, but human nature cannot help but think a certain way and associate apples to apples. They cant help but judge even though they try not to.</p>

<p>Usually the Asians in STEM fields will be “small” and “nerdy.”</p>

<p>On the contrary, most Asians in business and the liberal arts and humanities fields do not uphold that stereotype. These Asians are usually outspoken and the antithesis of “small” and “nerdy.” They are usually the hot, goodlooking and extroverted Asians.</p>

<p>Most, not all.</p>

<p>I am Korean, I have been called a dumb ass by some people. Not because I was intellectually unable, but I had no common sense apparently. I am freaking smart, yet I don’t try in school, that is why I’ve been called a dumb ass.</p>

<p>I am not small and nerdy. I and 6’ 220lb. Mostly fat now since I dropped football and been sitting on my ass all day…</p>

<p>Interesting new stereotype - Asians that do liberal arts are hot and goodlooking.</p>

<p>I am curious about all those STEM major Asians who end up going to business school for MBAs. Were they small and nerdy and screwing up the hot and goodlooking image of business school Asians that should have been HOT?</p>

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<p>i have not heard of any college admissions offices that do not want Asians or that do not value what each individual can bring to their campus. There is a tendancy on CC for a few people to claim there is some type of systematic bias against Asians in college admissions but cannot not provide any proof. </p>

<p>I wouldn’t write about the Asian stereotype either; I suspect it is overdone and therefor very hard to show how you’re different from everyone else who writes on the same topic. Write about YOU as an individual and what you love and why you want top go to a particular university.</p>

<p>“There is a tendancy on CC for a few people to claim there is some type of systematic bias against Asians in college admissions but cannot not provide any proof.”</p>

<p>Yes, I believe there is bias (or racial quota) against Asian Americans.
If selective colleges have nothing to hide, then they should release detailed admission data by race.</p>

<p>Just saying, some private midwest colleges are looking for asians since there are so few of them in their schools.</p>

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<p>you may “believe” this is true but do you have proof? What selective colleges are you referring to? I don’t know any Asian’s that didn’t get into a college they were well qualified for. If you’re talking about the colleges that are a stretch for everyone (where plenty of people with super high stats get rejected) then I think you are just trying to stir the pot.</p>

<p>Here is a link to detailed admission data by race at Harvard <a href=“http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/statistics.html[/url]”>http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/statistics.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>here is Princeton’s <a href=“http://www.princeton.edu/admission/pdfs/Profile_10.pdf[/url]”>http://www.princeton.edu/admission/pdfs/Profile_10.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>And Yale <a href=“http://www.yale.edu/oir/factsheet.html[/url]”>http://www.yale.edu/oir/factsheet.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>and Stanford <a href=“http://ucomm.stanford.edu/cds/2010.html[/url]”>http://ucomm.stanford.edu/cds/2010.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>and MIT <a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/apply/process/profile[/url]”>http://mitadmissions.org/apply/process/profile&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I think 20more meant admission data as in the proportion of <ethnicity> applicants that are admitted, not data on how many <ethnicity> students are in the class. For example, from Harvard’s link, 18% of the entering freshman class are Asian-American, but they don’t tell us how many Asian-Americans applied/were accepted.</ethnicity></ethnicity></p>

<p>EDIT: Sorry, admitted class, not entering freshman class. In that case, we would just need a count of how many Asian-American applicants there are. (A percentage of the applicant pool would also work.)</p>