Does race really make a huge difference to admissions?

<p>Just like the title, I'm curious. I've always heard that it was easier for African Americans and Hispanics and harder for Asians and Caucasins... anyone have any thoughts?</p>

<p>yes. very much. as much as 200 extra points on SAT for blacks. and MINUS 50 for asians</p>

<p>how much will my latinoness get me? :) +150? ( i swear there was a chart somewhere!)</p>

<p>for the percent of asians in america they are over represented in colleges percentages and blacks and latinos are under represented</p>

<p>"and MINUS 50 for asians"</p>

<p>I doubt that, that's illegal, their probably on the same level as Caucasians.</p>

<p>there also tends to be de facto segregation... especially in AP courses... unless its AP Spanish... in which case... NAH NAH NAH NAH BOO BOO!</p>

<p>on a semi-serious note.... what are the offical US grad rates for such groups? mid 50s, n'est pas?</p>

<p>I've seen all sorts of rumors about race accounting for certain things on the SAT, but I've never seen any evidence that's the case.</p>

<p>I think that if you take a close look at students who have posted on CC about their own (not others') backgrounds and college acceptances/rejections, you'll find many URMs who clearly were highly qualified for top admissions who ended up getting rejected to at least some of the places that they applied to.</p>

<p>I am an alum interviewer for Harvard and either interviewed or know black students who were rejected who include: a salutatorian with a 1520 SAT (on the old SAT), a valedictorian whose sib attended Harvard; a legacy with 1350 SATs, high class rank, state ranking in 2 different nonsports ECs.</p>

<p>I did meet a URM who graduated recently who had an (old) SAT of about 1250, however that student was first generation college, in an inner city public h.s., and had achieved national recognition in 2 unusual nonsports related ECs. What she did was remarkable for a student of any race from her background. Indeed, if you check the archives, you can find a white male from a rural Virginia low performing public school who was accepted EA last year who had SATs that were around 1300 (old SAT) and who had done remarkable things for a person from a rural background where the schools aren't that good. </p>

<p>I also know a Native American (tribal member, active in Native American activities) athletes who had a 750 M along with a high verbal, rigorous curriculum, but who had a a gpa of only about 3.0 who was rejected by Harvard despite being an athlete who was being recruited by other schools. </p>

<p>You'll see plenty of stories posted on CC by people claiming that they know URMs who got into places like HPYS with low stats. FIrst, I doubt that those people who post know everything about the students' applications. The students who posted probably don't even know the students' actual scores, gpas, ECs, etc.</p>

<p>My older S, for example, got into 2 top 25 colleges basically on the strength of his performance in an academocally-based EC that he did in the community and with private companies. He had gotten major recognition for that EC, but most of his classmates had no idea he did it. His grades were unimpressive -- about a 3.0 in a rigorous curriculum, but his scores were sky high. Even if he had been white or Asian, I suspect that the same top 25 colleges still would have taken a chance on him.</p>

<p>Anyway, apply to wherever you want. Do careful applications, but don't expect to get in because of your ethnicity. Make sure, too, that you have solid back-ups that you know you will gain acceptance to and can afford.</p>

<p>I notice from another thread that the below is your profile, and you're hoping to go to Stanford. </p>

<p>Yes, you have a chance. You'd also have a chance if your were black or HIspanic. However, Stanford and similar schools still are reaches for you and also would be if you were a URM. Nothing really stands out that demonstrates major leadership or a defining passion. Both are factors that are highly sought by top colleges, which have the luxury of picking and choosing among many outstanding students like you that most colleges would admit in a heartbeat.</p>

<p>Less reachy would be excellent schools like Notre Dame, Carnegie Mellon, University of Mich., Emory and NYU. I've seen students with similar profiles as yours recently get into those schools.
"Ethnicity: Asian American Female
Hometown: Washington</p>

<p>GPA: 3.83 on a 4-pt system</p>

<p>School: Nationally ranked public school, recognized by multiple ivys</p>

<p>Courses: All International Baccalaureate courses, 2 years ahead in math, taking two languages </p>

<p>Test Scores: Took SAT and ACT in 7th grade and scored around the 85th percentile, will take tests in the upcoming year</p>

<p>Class rank: In the top 10%, most likely in the top 5%</p>

<p>EC's: Key Club class rep, Future Business Leaders Community Service Chair, piano for 9 years, Varsity tennis team for 3 years, NHS officer, Japanese Club</p>

<p>Awards: Placed within top 5 at FBLA state competition, on a state ranked tennis team, placed 2nd at nationally recognized piano competition, attended university courses for talented youth at University of Washington</p>

<p>Yes, sounds all too ordinary...any schools i might have a chance in getting into?"</p>

<p>"but don't expect to get in because of your ethnicity"<~~~ lol, my guidance counselor said the exact opposite... </p>

<p>i'm sal of our class (lemme not jynx it and say, "ill prolly be in top 3/550-600 by the time i send in my apps), our school is slightly un-competitive, and i remember telling my counselor that my stats, although significantly above average, aren't exactly up to par with the nation's best and brightest... (something i define as... well... "up there", lol... the depressing CCers) </p>

<p>but he said that the fact that my parents' education levels are low (dad no hs, mom no college) + URM= a chance.... (even though i'm not "poor")... and that i should give it a shot...cause even if i dont get in, UF, my instate, is still a really good school </p>

<p>whether it be horrible/get-your-hopes-up advice, it got me thinking.... the avg URM SAT is....depressing, to say the least, not to mention AP scholar awards, etc... maybe i do have a shot, all i have to do is score higher, and maybe i can get into a dream school... </p>

<p>hmmm... 1.5% of all black SATers reach the 1300 bar.... idk about latinos, but im sure it isnt much better... where are these kids going? top colleges must fulfill their quest to establish diversity on campus.... and i'm sure that's where these kids go...as long as they fit the mold of the ever-so desired "well rounded" status</p>

<p>"and i'm sure that's where these kids go...as long as they fit the mold of the ever-so desired "well rounded" status"</p>

<p>It's a fallacy that top colleges are seeking "well rounded" students. Top colleges are seeking to create well rounded classes that represent all kinds of diversity: ECs, arts, sports, majors, ethnicity, religions, socio economic background, regions, and, yes, races.</p>

<p>In general, the students who get selected are well lopsided -- have 2 definite interests preferably in different fields that they have pursued with talent, creativity, passion and impact. These are not things that can be faked. </p>

<p>If students genuinely are well rounded (and those students are very rare), they also are welcomed. However, there are very few students who are highly successful at and love doing a variety of things.</p>

<p>The students who put together a hodgepodge of activities that they pursue only to impress colleges do not impress the top colleges, and often those are the esame students who end up whining on CC about how "less qualified" students got admitted over them.</p>

<p>Lets suppose a college will admit everyone with over a 2100. </p>

<p>Native Americans +250
Blacks/Hispanics +200
Other URMs +150
Jewish +50
White +0
East Asian -100</p>

<p>An affirmative action study by Princeton sociologists in 2005 attempted to break down and compare the effects of the practice among racial and special groups. The data from the study represent admissions disadvantage and advantage in terms of SAT points (on the old 1600-point scale):</p>

<p>Blacks: +230
Hispanics: +185
Asians: -50
Recruited athletes: +200
Legacies (children of alumni): +160 </p>

<p><a href="http://opr.princeton.edu/faculty/tje/espenshadessqptii.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://opr.princeton.edu/faculty/tje/espenshadessqptii.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>For UCs and CalStates - race doesn't enter the admissions equation since they're not allowed to discriminate based on race. For privates and most other states, I'd expect it to generally make a difference. When it's a part of the equation, the key is whether it's considered an "URM" race or not so just being a non-white or a minority doesn't guarantee bonus points.</p>

<p>thanks everyone, great comments. anyone have anymore?</p>

<p>I know quite a few hispanics with "sub-par" stats (eg. 3.3 GPA and around 1000 Old SAT's) who've gotten into USC, a fairly difficult school to get into. Not to demean those stats, just sub-par for a school like USC. At the same time, a number of asians I know can't get into schools like USC and NYU with 3.7+ and 1200+ SAT type stats. </p>

<p>The numbers regarding admisssions given in previous posts somewhat tell the story but one just needs to look around their own environments and one will witness all this first hand. By the way, although UC's and CSU's aren't allowed to discriminate based on race, some of the same hispanics I mentioned above got into UC Berekley straight from high school. </p>

<p>Good for diversity on campuses or discriminatory? I can sort of respect both sides of the argument although I'm starting to see less and less how campus diversity to this extent really benefits society.</p>

<p>how do you think Indians are affected? (not native americans).</p>

<p>they are put in the category with Asians...i believe</p>

<p>that's what I heard.</p>

<p>So, question about race. How much of one race do you need to be? First generation? 50%? </p>

<p>I'm 1/8 Mexican and 1/8 Cherokee, and 50% Italian, so I'm pretty dark skinned. I could totally pass for Hispanic ;). </p>

<p>This Egyptian kid put down that he was black on all his apps (he looks it). Got into some good schools. LOL. I wouldn't lie like that on my app, but seriously, I laughed when he told me. Stick it to the system, I say...haha.</p>

<p>as long as your 1/16 native american you can out it down....i saw this in one other thread but dont know where</p>