<p>..so why is ethnicity a factor in prep applications?</p>
<p>To diversify their school</p>
<p>Colleges still kind of do it; if they didn't, they wouldn't ask what your race is. Prep schools are the same. They want a diverse school environment so that they have a variety of cultures and opinions (I'm practically quoting here :D). If they do it right, it's not illegal, I suppose.</p>
<p>Hm. You're right; it shouldn't be.
I'm supposing they're lessening it now (i.e. maybe they're making sure that the minority students let in are on equal level according to SAT scores/GPAs, but from what I saw on some of the Early Action boards, URMs do get a benefit)</p>
<p>well of course it shouldn't be, that was a point made a long time ago.
but my point is, they're still doing it!!!! and it's illegal!! not only was it unethical and unfair in the first place, but now it's unethical, unfair, AND illegal!</p>
<p>No, blairt, what they're doing is not illegal. They've found a way to make it legal.</p>
<p>What's the way?</p>
<p>it's so shady, it really is. and it hurts everyone involved - the school, the school's image, school resources, the minorities, the majorities...</p>
<p>I don't like it, but I can understand why they do it. Many kids who are from "under-represented-minorities" come form places where they don't have as good a chance as represented minorities to build up a solid application, but the school still sees them as being a valuable asset to their school. The system is flawed, and unfair, though. Affirmative Action wasn never meant to be permenent. It was reacting to a big problem and they needed some quick-fix to tackle it immediately. They nead to find another way to bring diversity to their school.</p>
<p>there are more than plenty of white kids who have not had the opportunity to either build up an application or go to a prestigious school. it should be based on socioeconomic status, if the argument is about opportunity. there are plenty of wealthy minorities, and for them to get an advantage is very unfair to the white kid from the midwest who can't afford EC's and doesn't have the opportunity to go to a good school that could even just prepare kids for these boarding schools</p>
<p>I know, blairt, that's what I meant when I said the system is flawed. Race is not everything in terms of opportunity, which is why it's not fair.
:( However, that seems to be starting to be recognized (there is at least talk of changing it, and with the court rulings . . .), which is good.</p>
<p>Blairt- If you think that getting ahead based on your ethnicity is unfair and illegal, why do you think/want to put down on your prep school applications that you are native american?</p>
<p>Excellent response, Soccerprep92. If blairt doesn't understand why schools give special consideration to certain groups, she shouldn't be applying to prepschool. blairt has talked about using her ethnicity as an possible advantage, her grandfather's friend who is well known at Andover, the alum who interviewed her all as advantages to be admitted. She reminds me of that road...."One Way".</p>
<p>because i have native american blood, so i thought maybe i should let them know about my backround. it's just a quirk of mine, a part of my heritage, so i posted a question asking if it was appropriate to note that, if they asked for it.</p>
<p>andover adcoms note that alumni letters of reccomendation are strongly encouraged. that's why i thought i should get more letters of rec, because they're important and other people, who i'm competing against, are doing the same thing.</p>
<p>and if an interview goes well, of course that's an advantage. the interview is important. i don't know what the objection is there.</p>
<p>I agree with you Kiddo..</p>
<p>Affirmative Action is wayyyy unfair and should be illegal.</p>
<p>Blairt I dont understand. So basically you only want to put down that your Native American because its one of your many "quirks"? You aren't doing it because you think it will give you an advantage over others since its an under represented minority and give you an extra shove in getting in?? I am sorry, but I don't believe that. </p>
<p>Also, there is a difference between giving another personalized, meaningful rec. to Andover admissions and having George Bush write one, even if he has never met you.</p>
<p>even if who has never met me? I would never ask someone i didn't know to write a rec for me, because it would be a waste of time.</p>
<p>i think soccer was talking about george bush</p>
<p>yeah, but it's not like i just decided to email the president and ask for admission to his alma mater. that's ridiculous.</p>