Question says it all.
Depends on the college ie. privates.
It can be excellent depending on where you apply.
Probably less than what you and most people think it is.
^ This. Maybe a tip factor, unless you are also low income and have great stats. Then the highly competitive admission schools will be competing for you.
Agree with @ucbalumnus ^^^ especially for the impacted schools.
Depends on the whole story. A blond kid raised by a couple of lawyers that one happens to have a parent born in a latin country, will be a tie breaker or minor boost (will overlook a couple of A-s or a few points on SATs), guessing of course.
A kid whose first language is Spanis, US citizen, that breaks 2100, 3.7UW GPA or better, raised in the projects by a single parent, will help a lot.
Also, for some reason I am told Mexican heritage is particularly desirable, not sure why. I think AA is also desireable but it did not seem to help my neighbors much but I have no idea what scores. May have helped their oldest get into Princeton a bunch of years ago (he is about 30), although again did not know his scores, but did not help his siblings get into any place good. Younger bro just got into some state school (money not an issue) that no one I know has ever gone to before.
I self identify as Caribbean American, and I’m pretty sure my tax bracket is <$40000. And I don’t know if my test scores are up to CC standards, but I’m pretty proud of them.
And I can completely see how Mexican-American would be an underrepresented minority; aren’t a lot of Hispanics who are admitted to really selective schools Cuban, South American, or Spanish?
Please don’t put too much stock in one person’s speculation.
I know there are some solid stats URM kids that have got a big boost and a full ride some very ‘white’ schools. But at Stanford or something they are pretty close to just another applicant unless they are really the top of the pile.
I’m fairly certain I’m not applying nor do I really want to attend Stanford, but what you’re saying makes sense.
Apparently 230 bonus points on the SAT:
http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-adv-asian-race-tutoring-20150222-story.html#page=1
There is a thread for discussing the affect of race in college admissions. Please use it…
It can vary widely from college to college. Some great schools like Gettysburg and Denison are seeking to increase diversity.
puzzled123, although I doubt it’s that cut-and-dry, that’s interesting.
@Prospective1998 you misinterpreted what I was saying, of course being of Cuban or South American or Spanish descent helps that was NOT my point, that is obvious. What I heard speculation that for some reason, even among those who can claim to be Hispanic while being any Hispanic nationality is good, if you can choose, FOR EXAMPLE if you have one parent who is South American and one parent who is Mexican, it is better to highlight the Mexican parent. Someone told me this. I do not know if it is true or even what the logic is. I posted it HOPING someone could explain. It is not relevant to me so I have no reason to follow it up.
@puzzled123 yes that was the Princeton study. Thank you for the link. I did not realize it was done over a decade ago. Wonder how that has changed.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1780862-what-are-my-chances-of-admission-to-johns-hopkins-columbia-uc-berkeley-and-umiami-class-of-2016.html indicates that the OP has a 4.0 unweighted HS GPA, 790CR/630M/750W SAT score, and 31 ACT score, and is applying to highly selective colleges.
To the OP: Berkeley need-based financial aid will not cover the $23,000 per year additional out-of-state tuition for you as a Florida resident, and race/ethnicity is not considered in admissions there. Be sure to start your list with a safety that you know you will be admitted to and know that you can afford (for need-based financial aid, check each school’s net price calculator). Some automatic-merit-scholarship safety candidates can be found at http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/ ; if you have any National Merit status, look at http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/ as well.
I didn’t include my safeties in that thread, but I do have them. And thanks for the links!