<p>A lotta people say that because I am URM (underepsented minority) I have a competitive advantage at top schools. Is this true? Currently I have a 2090 SAT, ranked 1.7% of class in a poor school, and some good activities like team sports (fball bball track) and environmental club that colleges like, so I think I stand a chance. I also have that great essay.</p>
<p>I see a lot of people angered because colleges might cut me slack for being black. Some kids will say "well you're black you will definitely get accepted." and look at me with contempt fr being black because I may get into a good college that they won't with better stats.</p>
<p>These Asians fail to recognize the stigma attached to being a black male and the troubles that are gone through on a daily basis to grow as a man. The school I attend has several gangs and places a low priority on learning and improving yourself. This may not seem like a big deal, but when nobody in your class cares about learning, your friends are in gangs, your lunch money comes from selling canabiss and your raised by a single mom, things are a little more difficult. Many people don't understand the struggle and assume that because I'm black my life has been easy.</p>
<p>I thought the other day that maybe colleges look to accept URM because these are the kids who have struggled the most and living in the struggle with a 2090 is the same as living in a rich neighborhood with good parents and having a 2350. Just a thought.</p>
<p>You are living under the false assumption that every URM is poor and/or lives in a poor neighborhood. I live in a wealthy suburb and 6 of the 25 families in my community association are minorities. Colleges look to increase URM enrollment because diversity is generally highly looked upon and they want a more open student body to bring more ideas and experiences to the campus.</p>
<p>Not all schools consider race or ethnicity in admissions. Those that do may give a smaller boost than is generally assumed (by both URMs applying to colleges and those who resent the existence of a URM boost in admissions). So make your safety (especially), match, and reach assessments without considering race or ethnicity, so that any boost results in a pleasant surprise, rather than a smaller or non-existent boost resulting in a disappointment.</p>
<p>Depending on your GPA, SAT score breakdown (CR+M is often important by itself), and National Merit status, there may be some good scholarships for you.</p>
<p><a href=“http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/”>http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/</a>
<a href=“Competitive Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - #46 by ucbalumnus - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-p4.html</a>
<a href=“http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/”>http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/</a></p>
<p>It’s more about diversity rather than achievement. While there may be a URM who came from impoverished conditions and achieved a 2100+ SAT and a top 10% ranking, there could also be a white or Asian student who achieves the same with the same exact circumstances. </p>
<p>Will they be looked upon as equals? Not necessarily, because one is over-represented and the other is under-represented. </p>
<p>Just because you are a URM doesn’t mean you come from poor conditions; conversely, just because you are an ORM does not mean you are necessarily well off or come from a nice neighborhood by any means.</p>
<p>Actually if you are Asian and go to a high school in a bad neighborhood and still do well colleges still reward you. I know a friend who couldn’t afford a good neighborhood but both of his kids were accepted to Stanford.</p>
<p>Not anywhere near as much as a URM in those situations and wealthy URM’s are rewarded more than wealthy ORM’s.</p>
<p>1) It seems clear that you have struggled, but being black isn’t the reason you’ve struggled. From an outside perspective, it seems that the reason you’ve struggled is because you’ve grown up in a bad place and (assuming you were referring to yourself) live in a single parent household.</p>
<p>2) I have no problem with colleges giving an advantage to people who have been through a lot. But those people’s advantage should be because </p>
<p>Oops. …THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT, not because they are black. many URM’s have easy lives, and many whites/asians do not. Giving a competitive advantage is okay, but basing it entirely on race is completely unfair.</p>
<p>also the idea is that historically blacks were slaves–>when they were freed they had no $$, education or means to success–>they were never given any of this, so each generation after them carried this burden–>so now colleges are trying to make this burden go away by giving them opportunity to get on the same level</p>
<p>not flawless logic, but it should be on a case by case basis</p>
<p>Good lord, tske this to the race dis@ussion thread, cant link from ph. My D is AA but this topic is old. And to the OP, your scores are not competetie for top schools.</p>
<p>Yes, I would recommend taking a look at the race in admission thread at the top of this forum.</p>