I’m a URM (Latina, and one going into a STEM field), and technically, a first-generation American (one of my parents immigrated here while school-aged). However, I am not a first-generation college student, and my parents made an executive (and in my opinion – extremely unfortunate) decision to raise me exclusively in English and with trivial knowledge of my culture. Despite how I stray from the quintessential experiences of those in the position of first-generation Latina, the topic of AA NEVER goes unmentioned by many of my peers whenever college is discussed around me. Does it REALLY play into it as much as people imply? I had never even considered it an advantage, and I mean, if anything, have always considered the unsolicited condescension, disbelief, and dismissal based on such an intersection as a DISADVANTAGE. I didn’t even know it’s a ~thing~ until I began actively watching the debates and reading up on candidates this past year. Then again, I’m a sophomore in high school, but would like to know more about what the procedures really are and why so many people feel the need to make me feel like it gives me an easy path through life, despite my equal-or-better qualifications.
Depends on the colleges in question, though even at colleges where it does matter, it probably matters less than most people think it does.
Examples of colleges where it does not matter for admission:
- All California public universities.
- All Florida public universities.
- Any school for which you meet its automatic admission threshold (Texas public universities are well known, though not the only, examples).
Some places in life will give you less than a fair shake if you look Latina and have a Latina name. College admissions isn’t one of those. Yes, it will give you an advantage, but you still need to be able to do the work. Colleges won’t take you if they think you can’t, and you don’t make it through anyway if you aren’t up for the work. I’d ignore it. Roll your eyes and tell them you are going to study for the SAT or your AP tests so there will be no question that you are qualified.
“…why so many people feel the need to make me feel like it gives me an easy path through life, despite my equal-or-better qualifications.”
Based on how well you have expressed yourself here, people speak of their (mis)understanding of the yellow brick road they think you walk to give themselves an early reason to explain away their failure to get hold of the brass ring. It is a pre-emptive measure. Follow the advice of intparent, and keep doing what you do
AA is on its last legs in most places.
So many people just want to pull down smart kids. It’s a sickness, but it can hurt. Screw them.
That said, one place AA is alive is the National Merit family of scholarships, which can get you full rides at a few pretty good schools. The bar is lower for Hispanics. No shame in taking what people offer . . . , esp if you can use the money
(That’s based on the PSAT, if you don’t know.)
The bar is lower for Hispanics? I was almost positive the bar was a regionally-set standard, based on the state in which candidates reside. I mean, the area where I live and school I attend ARE heavily Latin American, but the National Merit Candidates/Semifinalists (I’m not super familiar with the terminology and just took my first PSAT the other week), and quite a handful of them every year, given that I go to a run-of-the-mill public school, are still universally qualified? 220s, 230s, 215s, etc. I really do not think there’s a lower-set bar for URMs. It’s a standardized test-based scholarship, if I’m not mistaken.
WasatchWriter refers to the National Merit Award just for Hispanics, with a different threshold for eligibility for
semifinalist and finalist status. See National Hispanic Recognition Program.
However, not all colleges that give good NM scholarships give equally good, or any, scholarships for NHRP. So still aim for NM, though NHRP may give scholarships at some colleges.
Sorry, I should have clarified.
@zadiesmithfan All other things being equal (good SATs, good GPA, good ECs) URM Latina status will give you a leg up in a lot of schools (excluding the one @ucbalumnus mentioned above). Take it… Check the box. Talk about your app, go for any Latina scholarships you can get.
It could make a bigger difference at the tippity top schools - if you are a viable candidate to begin with (GPA, SATs, ECs) so just continue on to work on that, but when the time comes, use it to your advantage, and don’t hide it!