<p>lol.
yes
it does</p>
<p>But you must realize that being black isn't good enough. You have to be a "smart" black, not necessarily compared to all students but compared to other smart African Americans usually. Don't think being black will secure you a place at harvard, because it won't</p>
<p>
[quote]
I Hate Being Asian I Wish I Was A Brotha!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>lol. 10char</p>
<p>i know.. a blak person with grades that make them a prospective student</p>
<p>See, no one actually statistically proven to me that race as an <em>isolated variable</em> increases one's chances significantly. Correlation != causation you guys. </p>
<p>Race correlates with many socioeconomic factors, so unless you specifically isolate for race, you can't conclude anything.</p>
<p>Yes it helps</p>
<p>@ galoisien it is nearly impossible to prove causation through most statistics, as they are designed to show correlation. And because race usually correlates with an individual's socioeconomic standing, colleges can racially categorize applicants in order to determine their level of achievement relative to their supposed socioeconomic standing. So I do not see a reason to specifically isolate race, since it does not exist as an <em>isolated variable</em></p>
<p>Two kids from the same large suburban HS with nearly identical EC's, grades, and test scores? If one is white and the other is Black or Hispanic, most top schools will want the Black or Hispanic student. That is just the way it is. And in my opinion, that is a reasonable system.</p>
<p>Going to the same school != having the same cultural and socioeconomic background</p>
<p>Please don't assume that your minority status alone will get you into top schools. You still need the grades. Minority status most likely will help you when it comes down to the last spot and its between you and someone else.</p>
<p>
[quote]
colleges can racially categorize applicants in order to determine their level of achievement relative to their supposed socioeconomic standing.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This isn't what I meant. I meant this is what colleges may <em>seem</em> to do when in fact their admission policies may well be different, though statistically their actions agree with the hypothesis.</p>
<p>The hypothesis is readily falsified when an URM who has enjoyed socioeconomic privilege does not impress an AdCom with having endured hardship ...</p>
<p>I know a ton of rich black kids that go to my school that continue to get into ridiculous schools with decent grades and mediocre SATs. I think URMs still need to have a couple core interests and great personal qualities (recs, essays), but overall it is far easier for URMs to get into school.</p>
<p>Some Princeton researchers did a study a few years ago which found that, in top college admissions, being black or hispanic is equivalent to getting a 230 and 185 pt. boost in one's SAT scores, respectively. (Before the 2400 scale)</p>
<p>URM applicants also enjoy a much higher acceptance rate than the overall pool. In one extreme example, MIT's black applicants were admitted at twice the rate of the general applicant pool.</p>
<p>Colleges have never denied using affirmative action..............................</p>
<p>MODERATOR'S NOTE TO "Does being an African American increase your chances of getting into a good school?" THREAD: </p>
<p>This thread will be merged into the general FAQ thread on ethnic self-identification in college admission, where there are external links to federal government webpages and to scholarly studies on various related issues.</p>
<p>
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URM applicants also enjoy a much higher acceptance rate than the overall pool.
[/quote]
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<p>Every time I see this statement repeated, it makes me laugh (bitterly). Obviously, they are looking at the wrong "pool."</p>
<p>What do you mean?</p>
<p>Look at the "pool" of URM high school graduates, and then tell me they "enjoy a much higher acceptance rate" to college. Isn't this the real problem that AA is seeking to address?</p>
<p>I didn't say "URM high school graduates." I said "URM applicants." And my statement was completely accurate given the kinds of colleges this now merged thread was talking about...at top universities, blacks and hispanics applicants are generally admitted at a higher rate than the overall applicant pool. Why don't you actually make an effort to understand things before laughing pretentiously?</p>
<p>Scroll down a bit on this page.</p>
<p>sdn,</p>
<p>Sorry, I did not mean for you to take my comment personally. I am very familiar with the analysis you are referencing, and yes, you are factually accurate. I guess I am just tired of hearing the same rant about how "easy" URMs have it when it comes to college admissions. People seem to forget what a long shot it really is for many of them to even make it to the application stage. Peace.</p>
<p>i refuse to put my race down on pure principle- not b/c I want to play some admissions strategy. First of all, when I was taking my apush exam last friday for example, the boxes you could check were like "African-American" "Pacific Islander" "Native American" etc...and then "white". Why "white"? Why not caucasian? It made me idignant, along wiht several other friends, including an Indian, an Asian, and an African-American. How totally degrading
......plus I don't want to encourage racial stereotypes....so and so got xxx on the sat and she's xxxx.....just goes to show all xxx's are like that...
so I've always, always, chosen not to bubble in my ethnicity
btw what are orms and urms?</p>