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URM really doesn't do much to be honest. My friend who is a valedictorian, URM, with NMSF, good EC's, etc was rejected.</p>
<p>Also, if you look at decision threads you will see that all races get in with low stats sometimes w/o hooks, while some outstanding URM's get flat out rejected.
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<p>I'm not going to debate whether affirmative action is right or wrong, but I do need to point out that URM helps incredible amounts. Sure, your URM valedictorian didn't get in, but how many non-minoirty valedictorians didn't get in? A much much higher ratio I'd wager.</p>
<p>From my school alone (It's a competitive boarding school where approximately the top 10+% get into HYMPSCD), I've seen many cases of URMs getting in on the race card. Two URMs getting into Columbia EA, while my friend (Harder classes, better scores, great essays, likely from Cornel) gets deferred then rejected. The only Harvard acceptee this year was URM (RSI guy was rejected, siemens winners rejected, and some other amazing people). Same situation with Princeton. Same with a few scholarships.</p>
<p>Now I am not saying these URMs aren't qualified (They are), however for those at my school who know these people, the situation is clear. The URMs generally had fewer accomplishments, and lower stats then some of the rejected. Had they left the race box unchecked, the results would have been different. Only the UC system and Caltech seem to practice true race blind admissions.</p>