Diversity/ Minority Status for Jews?

Graduate School Law School
1

<p>Hello, </p>

<p>I'm a first generation Yiddish speaking Ashkenazi Jew applying to law school. Given the excitement over diversity these days, I was wondering if my ancestry would qualify me for minority status. I have gotten conflicting advice on this matter and hope that some knowledgeable person here might help to clear things up. </p>

<p>Note: Ashkenazim comprise less than 2 percent of the US population, so if African Americans (at close to 14%) count as minorities, than certainly we would as well... no?</p>

2

<p>lol this must be a joke thread. In case your not kidding, to qualify as a URM and hence get an edge in admissions, you have to be a member of a minority that is actually underrepresented in law schools, not one that makes up about 50 percent of HYS's student body.</p>

3

<p>^^ That is an ignorant and racist statement. Way to perpetuate stereotypes.</p>

4

<p>Schools want proportional representation so as long as 2% of law students are Jews, then Jews are correctly represented and law schools have no special need for them.</p>

5

<p>I beg you to tell me how that is a racist stereotype. Students of jewish background actually do make up approximately 35 percent of Harvard's student body, and the number is comparable at most other ivy league institutions and elite law schools. Maybe look into the facts before you start loosely firing off derogatory accusations.</p>

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<p>racist statement? don't try to make him feel guilty for that...</p>

<p>i agree with peacefreak.</p>

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<p>Regardless, the upside is that while your individual situation might make a decent essay on diversity or a good basis for your personal statement, there is really no way you are going to qualify for under represented minority status.</p>

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<p>I also agree heavily with PeaceFreak - his statements may not be politically correct, but they are reality. Jews are overrepresented in elite law schools.</p>

<p>(And here come the uberliberal PC fanatics...)</p>

9

<p>However, Jews are a minority worldwide...I think Curious has a better chance of playing up the 'first generation' aspect than the Jewish one, tho.</p>

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<p>ROFL, WOW, cant believe he actually asked that. and no, peace freak was not being racist, hes right, Jews probably make up the biggest group in higher educational institutes in all of America</p>

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<p>i concur with you guys...jewish people are without a doubt overpopulated in the medical, law, and business/finance professions....they like to make alot of money but hey i say go for it man!</p>

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<p>^^^^^ What an obnoxious comment. Way to stereotype, Ivay. Shame on you.</p>

13

<p>hahaha, this thread is hilarious. But yes Jews are over-represented in academia and in law.</p>

<p>It is not about "minority status" alone, but minority status comparing the legal field with the population.</p>

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<p>Currently minority status usually relates to race. It used to related to gender but as the number of women in law has increased, I don't think many law schools focus on gender as much as they did in the 70s. There may be some, but I really don't know of any law schools that consider minority status based on religion.</p>

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<p>If you were a Sephardic Jew that might make for a decent diversity statement.</p>

16

<p>The only jews who count as URMs are those who are hispanic ("jewbans" --like me!, "jew ricans", etc...) or those who are not ashkenazi. I don't think most mizrahim count as URMs either...but maybe if you're an ethiopian jew or something...? </p>

<p>However, you can probably write a diversity statement about being a 1st generation american who speaks a language other than english at home.</p>