<p>I'm a sophmore and just recently started looking at this site and i've seen being a URM as an advantage on many posts. Does it make it a really big difference as far as chances to schools? and I was sure if you are a URM if ur compared just to other URMs by admissions ppl? Just wondering. Thanks</p>
<p>Being an URM will give you an edge</p>
<p>i would say that it only gives you a slight edge unless you are an extremely underrepresented at the university level (i.e if you are native american it may have more of an impact.) but even then, i don't think that being a URM guarantees acceptance into any school.</p>
<p>it doesnt gaurantee anything.
but it can only help</p>
<p>I'm not quite sure but what is the most sought URM right after Native American?</p>
<p>Is it Mexican american? or black?</p>
<p>These are my stats, do u think being a URM will help my sort of generic profile, im also low income bout 35K and first generation</p>
<p>GPA: 3.97
PSAT: 2030
RANK: somewhere in the top 1% of a class of 800 </p>
<p>Soph Sched: APH US 1, H ENGLISH, CHEM, ALG 2 H, Spanish 2, Ceramics
Junior Sched: Pre Calc/Trig, AP Spanish, AP US 2, AP ENG, AP CHEM, Physics</p>
<p>Should have about 8 APS by Senior year</p>
<p>ECS
Mock Trial /Debate Captain
Sciece Club Pres./ Founder
Science League
Future Problem Solving
Summer research internship
Columbia U Science Honors Program
Trying to do some volunteer stuff
YDA
Science Fair
Football JV , V next year ( not gunna be recruited lol)
Job ( 20hrs/ week)</p>
<p>There are others but these are the more important ones</p>
<p>if you don't mind me asking, what race are you? and what is the avg. SAT score of your high school?</p>
<p>at this point everything looks really good for a lot of good schools, but your SAT is a little low for the ivies. i know that you are poor and first generation, so if the avg. test score of your high school, is much lower than that projected 2030, then i'd say that you have a good shot wherever you apply, including the ivies.</p>
<p>Well im puerto rican from a single parent home. I'm a sophmore so i took that 2030 PSAT with no prep, so i got book and am begining to prepare now. The score should come up when i take the PSAT/SAT next year with more prep. Out of the other honors kids in my school the averge for sophmores on the PSAT was around 1500. Overall the highest PSAT score was 2150 by a junior and i was secon, a sophmore with the 2030. Thanks for all of the responses, I appreciate all of the info.</p>
<p>okay wow, that info really helps. Um, but what is the avg. test score of all the students and not just the honors kids...</p>
<p>and if you keep up your grades and get that SAT test score up (which can be easily done considering that is a sophomore projection) i'd say that you are excellently qualified even before race is taken into consideration. your urm status should just be a tipping factor...</p>
<p>Combined Math and Verbal is just about 925, couldn't get stats for the new SAT with the writting. My Verbal and Math was 1400.</p>
<p>i think you have an excellent chance at any school you apply to, then.</p>
<p>Thanks does include elite colleges like the ivies?</p>
<p>even more so. take no offense as to what im saying, but the top universities want to look diverse so they will much more readily take loser scores from hispanics and blacks. that just makes it even easier if you are a top "URM" which it seems you are. just keep up the good work. it does make a bigger impact at the ivies though because there arent as many great students who are minorities but they want a certain amount. dont let that be the only thing you have going for you though</p>
<p>urm status is the next best thing to being one of madonna's kids. combine that with an early decision application and you are pretty much secure in any lac you wish to apply to and most of the ivy's (provided you have 3.5+ and 2100 plus), but not all. hyp get almost all the superior urms and they have stats equivalent to non urms, but a cornell seems easily attainable with an sat of 2030. break 2200 and hyp will certainly be within reach.</p>
<p>Question about URMs: Do you consider Arab-American a URM?</p>
<p>No. African-Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans are usually considered URMs. Arab-Americans are not disproportionally underrepresented as far as I know. On the other hand, you could present yourself as a vehicle for greater diversity in your essay if you do it with subtly.</p>
<p>I'm also a URM, from what I've gathered it's generally a tipping factor like everyone else says. If you're being evaulated in a pool of say, 15, people and they have to eliminate 10, then your status may tip the scales in your favor just like ECs, essays, geographics, etc. might. I've come to the conclusion based on what I've heard that it helps, but is not a particularly definitive factor unless the schools are really seeking to increase diversity. Of course, your stats are excellent so as far as the average applicant you probably have a good shot at most colleges you apply to, and the URM status helps.</p>
<p>Don't depend on it</p>
<p>URM as a hook really depends on the school. </p>
<p>According to the 2002-03 common data set for Harvey Mudd College, only 3 of 707 undergradate students were African American. So, chances are, a highly qualified AA candidate might receive some additional consideration at HMC.</p>
<p>Ethnicity in no way guarantees admission though. Candidates still have to be qualified.</p>
<p>According to the HMC Common Data Set:[ul][<em>] Average high school GPA of all first-time, first-year (freshman) was 3.80
[</em>]89% were in the top tenth of their hs graduating class
[li]SAT I 75% percentile = 750 Verbal & 800 Math[/ul]Relative importance of each of the following academic and nonacademic factors in first-time, first year (freshman) admission decisions:</p>[/li]
<p>Academic</p>
<p>Secondary School Record, Very Important
Class Rank, Very Important
Recommendation(s), Very Important
Standardized Test Scores, Very Important
Essay, Very Important</p>
<p>Nonacademic</p>
<p>Interview, Important
Extracurricular Activities, Important
Talent and ability, Important
Character/personal Qualities, Very Important
Alumni/ae Relation, Important
Geographical Residence, Considered
State Residence, Not Considered
Religious Affiliation/commitment, Not Considered
Minority Affiliation, Important
Volunteer Work, Considered
Work Experience, Considered</p>
<p>I agree with GSP that Ethnicity in no way guarantees admission though. Candidates still have to be qualified. </p>
<p>In admissions, blacks are compared to other blacks, hispanics to other hispancis, etc. Even amongst URMs the bar is being raised because more URMs are coming to the table with stats that are comprable to the overall pool of candidates.</p>
<p>Keep in mind at selective schools it is not purely a stat driven process for any one because schools are interested in bulding a well rounded class at fulfills their institutional mission.</p>
<p>Thanks guyz. I know im getting kinda off topic, but to strengthen my application wat do u think i should do? My ecs seem weak compared most of the other people on CC. Does trying to help other hispanics or raising hispanic awarness or sumthing like that increase my chance among the URM pool?</p>