I heard that it’s easier for Blacks and Hispanic/Latinos to get accepted into colleges than Asians
(I’m Asian btw)
60 Asian group are suing elite schools alleging discrimination.
I think the answer depends on where you apply and what you want to study.
I was thinking of high-end colleges like MIT, Princeton, and the ivy league
It is NOT easier for Blacks and Hispanics. We face many obstacles in our education that, without regard to income,that White and Asian people do not usually deal with.
That being said, I do think that an overwhelming number of Asian applicants who are qualified is not necessarily the reason for it being more difficult to get in, I think may also have to do with the overwhelming number of Asians applying to the same programs. Science/Premed I think is more difficult to get into as an Asian because of the sheer number of qualified Asian applicants to these programs. Merit is important but so is perspective and diversity, particularly when you are applying to a field of innovation. A program made up entirely of people who share many of the same cultural norms, values and heritage will be a program that goes about solving problems in a very similar way. This is true of admitting any ethnicity as dominant.
My advice?
- choose a school where you don’t have to apply for a specific program, (it’s highly likely that you will change your mind anyways)
- Mark a major in which Asian students are typically under-represented and then switch over to something when your school requires you to declare.
- Don’t be the guy who tells his ethnic classmates how much easier it is. Trust me, it’s not and having that mind set will make you VERY unpopular in college, for far more than just your opinion on that matter.
- Never pull your punches on your application about your Asian pride! You are every bit as valid, no matter your test scores! Colleges will be much more impressed with a fearless Asian applicant than a student who tries to avoid saying it!
It is just as possible to get in as an Asian. Don’t make excuses for yourself and work at it.
Honestly, the problem usually isn’t your race. Colleges, however, do need equal representation of races in their campuses. Diversity you know? Some Blacks and Hispanics (not trying to generalize here, and this is not meant to offend anyone) overcome great obstacles and they still achieve great things in school. As an Asian, I can wholeheartedly say that I hate affirmative action, but I know that there are people (Blacks, Hispanics, Whites, every color of the rainbow) who did not have the resources I did but still did profoundly better than me in high school. I know I have my flaws, and I will be happy and honored to give up a spot at a top university to someone who deserves it more, no matter what their race is. Don’t try to play the race card all the time. Just because you don’t get into a “good” college doesn’t mean it’s all because of your race.
This says, and answers, it all. Such a myopic and uninformed search and strategy will not end well.
The schools you have on your list are longshots for pretty much everyone regardless of race. They all have to turn down many qualified applicants due to sheer numbers. I suggest you expand your college search to include some match/safety schools – there are tons of wonderful colleges and universities out there.
Statistically, Asians probably do get higher test scores and grades than the overall average numbers for colleges. However, that’s because many Asians (like myself) are heavily study oriented, so it then becomes an expectation of college admissions to see high test scores from Asian applicants unfortunately. With so many high test scorers (a lot of tutoring classes are out there for these standardized testing) getting good grades and scores are simply not impressive anymore. Is it harder for Asians to get in? I’d say definitely yes- simply because there’s a lot of Asian students out there wanting to apply to elite colleges and there are only so many spots. When almost every Asian applicant has a good GPA, SAT scores etc. along with music or something, how do you differentiate? Unfortunately rightly or wrongly, lots of Asians have the mindset that whatever college you get into kind of validates the success or failure of the first two decades or so of a young person’s life. So if you’re being constantly judged by family and friends on what college you get into, it creates more pressure and stress for Asians during the process.
Not every Asian can get accepted into every Ivy school.
Let’s put it this way: Asians are very narrow minded. They only see what lies directly ahead, not ten years in the future. Just because you are Asian and you get rejected from great schools does not mean they have too many Asians. Although the school you go to does play a small role in looking for jobs, it’s ultimately your major that decides what happens to you. If your dream is to become a great biochemist (using this as an example), then you work to become a great biochemist. However, when you complain that a school like JHU rejected you and there’s no way you can make it in life now, that’s the wrong mindset. Just shoot for what you want, not for the undergrad (of all things) school.
@brown1311917 Thank you! It seems that so many people have the idea that all you need to put on your application to get in anywhere is black, hispanic, or some other ethnic minority.
Anyway in response to the OP, it’s not more difficult to be admitted as an Asian as it is for other students. A lot of well qualified Asian students apply to those schools you mentioned and just like any other group, not all of them get in. That’s just how it is.
given that Asians are accepted at over 3X their % in the general population, I’d say it is not “harder” for them at all…
@HRSMom That logic doesn’t make sense.
^To you…
@HRSMom But the percentage of Asian applicants compared to the proportion of Asians that are accepted is greatly disproportional.
Why those schools on your list I wonder?
Then perhaps the problem is a disproportionate % of asians apply to the same 15 schools, not that they don’t all get in? Universities want to reflect real life in their classrooms. Not just the richest, or the smartest, or the prettiest or most athletic…
The key to a real analysis of the situation is as follows:
- track race/ethnic background of each student
- use not only test scores and GPA, but also ECs and level of commitment and work/volunteerism
- grade essays “blind” for all students
A HUGE plus for me is that I worked every summer since I was 14. How many Asian kids have part-time or summer jobs? Maybe it is coincidence, but I think if people start comparing students who have very similar GPA, test scores, ECs (breadth and depth), and work/volunteerism, I really doubt that there is a substantial difference between Asian and non-Asians being admitted.
Another plus is to get outside your comfort zone. Not to stereotype more, but especially first-generation Americans of any background are often insular - volunteer work is often via their religious or cultural organization, and sometimes even mandatory; applicants who list conservative religious organizations are known to be pretty much forced into it by their parents.
Stop getting hung up on schools that accept less than 7% of their applicants. You will very very likely be disappointed. Think more about where you want to go to school and WHY. Harvard does not appreciate applicants who say they want to go to Harvard because it is Harvard and has the international stellar reputation it has.
Also if you look, at the world population, last time I looked it was 1.4 billion Chinese and 1.2 billion Indian. So a small percentage of these two categories is still a lot of people.