<p>Hi all! so i was wondering...I know that many people on here talk about how underrepresented minorities get boosts for selective college admissions.
Does anyone know how colleges look at MULTI racial students?
I'm Chinese, White, Mexican-Filipina, and on top of that I'm a jew. What category does that even place me in in terms of admissions?</p>
<p>Does being part Mexican help even though I'm mixed?</p>
<p>Yeah it helps a little. I know a family with four kids, each one year apart. The mom is white, and the dad is black (Nigerian); yeah there are pretty much Obama kids. All four were accepted into either Harvard, Yale,or Princeton. Two attend Yale, and two attend Harvard. They put down that they were black and white on their apps.
Of course this is one example, but I think if you check off all the ethnicities that describe you, then you will get some type of consideration.</p>
<p>Great question! Unfortunately, it seems no one on CC knows the answer. ;)</p>
<p>You, my dear, are the ultimate diversity poster child! If your stats are competitive, you would probably be viewed VERY favorably. You likely have a unique perspective on any number of issues, and can provide valuable insight for other members of your college/university community. College adcoms consider this type of thing essential to dynamic social and intellectual communities. Likewise, most students want to attend schools where they have the chance to meet lots of different kinds of people. If everyone in a school were very much like yourself---essentially the same background, same monetary class, same race, same part of the country/world, mightn't you start to get bored?</p>
<p>Wow really? I hope you're right. I mean, i feel as though I have had a very diverse upbringing but i just don't know if it will come to any good in admissions decisions.<br>
I'm also not sure how to report it. Do i just check ALL the boxes that apply?
Any and all insights are helpful. thanks.</p>
<p>Haha, I'm not sure how to report either, or how to represent it in my essays (if at all).</p>
<p>If the application permits, check all that apply. That is honest. It should help you because I think the schools can report you as being a member of a URM if you check one of those boxes even if your check five others. They don't weight it in their reporting, so you are a whole Mexican in their view. You need to remember the colleges are as anxious as you are to report you as a URM if they can do so legitimately.</p>
<p>"I'm Chinese, White, Mexican-Filipina, and on top of that I'm a jew. What category does that even place me in in terms of admissions?"</p>
<p>An essay which addressed how your unique background influenced your perspective on political or social issues might prove very interesting. My kids, who are bi-racial have seen numerous times when people seemed frustrated by the fact that they aren't easily compartmentalized/categorized for easy assumptions/stereotyping. They are neither all one thing nor the other. At the same time, they are both things at once. This seeming contradiction gives them a different perspective from that of many of their peers. They often bridge a gap in many social settings and provide a fresh perspective for both sides. One of my D's college essays addressed this seeming conundrum, and celebrated her unique background. She also had very strong stats and ECs and recommendations, so her background was probably only seen as icing on the cake. I very much doubt a varied ethnicity would make up for a weak overall application. (Not assuming your application is weak, btw.)</p>
<p>wow poetsheart! that's really good feedback. Thank you so much! I decide to going to write my essay about this topic, and i feel like through the process of it, im discovering more and more about my own ideas around my identity as I go. it's a win-win situation!</p>
<p>Wow is this the multiracial Jewish student convention? If so, count me in. </p>
<p>Anyway, I currently attend Princeton and I might have some insight into the application process and living life as a multiracial college student. If you want to chat at all, just shoot me a PM. I'd love to respond to your thoughts, hopes, or concerns. You can also e-mail me at <a href="mailto:jmweber@princeton.edu">jmweber@princeton.edu</a></p>
<p>tokyo</p>
<p>Hey peachie - I was wondering about the whole multiracial thing too. Your ethnicity is so interesting! I am half Korean and half Dominican myself. We should keep in touch throughout this whole college app process... it's so stressful sometimes. where are you applying? and good luck!</p>
<p>I'm thinking about writing an essay about my ethnicity, but quite honestly, it has never been a huge hindrance or "issue" to me. Sure, I live in a mostly white area in a typical Southern town but...I have never felt singled out. Rather, I celebrate my multiracial identity and participate in tons of cultural-type things... I love it. Maybe I can write about that.</p>
<p>ps- are you going to report all of your ethnicities? (I am, btw)</p>
<p>I have the worst combo - I'm Half-White and Half-Asian....ugh, the two most ORMs....</p>
<p>RootBeerCaesar--
you should celebrate your interesting ethnicity instead of cursing it for being "overrepresented." One of my very good friends is half white and half Asian and he's one of the most interesting people I know. I think it should work in your favor instead of against you...especially if you believe in this yourself! BE PROUD !! ;]</p>
<p>I was reading a book from Michele Hernandez, the writer of A is for Admissions, and she says the following regarding multiracial people and filling out the "race boxes":</p>
<p>"On the other hand, if you are mixed-race and at least half black or Hispanic, you should identify with the less common group, as it will put you in the minority category for recruiting purposes (so if you are half white and half African American, for example, I'd suggest you check off the latter). If you are mixed race but not 50 percent of any one erace, then you need to check "other" and list the individual races."</p>
<p>First of all, I'm not sure why her and everyone calls it "race", there is nothing on the application that mentions "race" (personally I think race is a false construct)--it says ethnicity. If we were talking about race, then Hispanics would be like 3 races. </p>
<p>Second, does it make a difference if you check off the ORM side of you as well as the URM side of you? Is she correct in the assumption of her suggestion? What do you guys think?</p>
<p>I think the most important thing here is to be honest. If you identify yourself with both, check both. If not, then one is fine. The application is all about who you are...not what you want the admissions people to think you are...
so, I'm checking off both my ORM and URM sides. if that gives me a "disadvantage", then so be it. I appreciate both my cultures.</p>
<p>RootBeerCaesar: I'm half-Asian and half-White too...It does kind of suck for college apps. Just out of curiosity, whenever you go into an Asian restaurant that is run by Asians, do the workers ever look at you funny? They just stare at my sister and me, lol, and then ask us if we're Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or whatever. When we answer (Chinese/Filipino) they are always disappointed if we are not their "flavor" of Asian. lol</p>
<p>^^^ Yep, lol..... :(</p>
<p>What about those white people who pretend to be all gangsta/black, would they check off "black" as their "ethnicity" since they considering themself so?</p>
<p>(This is satirical)</p>
<p>haha yeahallie -- I have had the same experience.
I often find that people WITHIN my culture are much more discriminating than those who aren't. there are tons of Korean people who look down on you if you are not "purely" Korean. whenever I go to Korea I get a lot of funny looks...the population there is pretty homogenous, so my face definitely does not blend in. lol.</p>
<p>The very idea that we should have to check off one box or another is disgusting in my mind. According to her advice, I would be checking off "Mexican" when i am only technically 1/4 Mexican...and completely ignoring the fact that i am white and chinese. In other words, one or the other is just not ME.</p>
<p>I'll probably end up checking all that apply if given the option and if not, i'll check "other" and write out each one.</p>
<p>goodness this is so frustrating. I really hope it helps us in some way. wouldn't that be nice?</p>