<p>I’m also interested in Columbia. My credentials are pretty good, but not extraordinary like yours. (3.8, 2100 sat, NHS, 10 ecs, comm. service with Make a Wish and tutoring mentally ill kids, etc.) People told me I have a good chance because I am a Haitian American female? Hope it helps me xD</p>
<p>^ For SEAS: very good
For CC: Depends on other factors like your essay, APs, etc.</p>
<p>Does coming from Jordan count as ethnically diverse? I lived there my whole life up until high school and I’m 100% fluent in arabic if that helps</p>
<p>Diversity can help, but there is no sure thing. There is not a history of Polish/Indian being a sought after as an underrepresented minority. Write a great essay about your passion. Works hard to get good grades and practice the SATs a lot before you officially sit for them. Best of luck.</p>
<p>How’s the chances for Hispanics? </p>
If you keep up your grades/scores/ECs and write a killer essay (along with supps), you DEFINITELY have a strong chance… don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! But, Columbia is an ivy league, and they receive so many amazing applicants from all over the world who are just as accomplished as you are. So, the process can be somewhat random imo. Just keep in mind that you will end up at an incredible school, even if its not Columbia. Best of luck 
Diversity is often a code word for under-represented minority. Both, Indians (Asian in US definition, don’t ask me why, I know that it is weird). and Poles (White in US definition) are overrepresented.
If you would be an African you would have much better chances.
California is correct. AA, Hispanic, Native American, Pacific Islander at minorities also people with interesting backstories, such as parents being gay (although that will become common as soon as todays 10 year olds apply to college). To some extent at other STEM schools being female in STEM. As for being part Indian, you are probably better off identifying as white. Indians are an ORM not an URM. Middle Eastern is considered white. As for speaking 3 languages, I was born and raised here and speak 3 with English and am teaching myself a 4th and absoltely no one has cared so far. It was not even something I highlighted (they ask on the Common App so I put it there).
Not sure about Armenian, something to ask
I’d look at federal affirmative action criterion; it’s pretty specific.
It’s important to remember that Columbia values many different kinds of diversity. For example, geographic diversitty is very important (and as a result, it’s slightly more competitive for kids from the tri-state area or CA than it is for kids from Wyoming or Nebraska). What’s important is to highlight what you bring to the mix at Columbia.
Question.
Does diversity matter for graduate school applicants?
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