How to be less 'Asian' ?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>What can I do about my application, so I don't just come across as another Asian stereotypical drone?</p>

<p>In a way, it's annoying, because it's so self-fulfilling. I do well at math and science, and enjoy them, but how can I get colleges to see/focus on me, not as an Asian?</p>

<p>This is where I am right now:</p>

<p>36 ACT, 12 Writing
5/490 Rank
4.43 Weighted GPA
3.72 Unweighted GPA</p>

<p>Medium sized surburban Illinois school, 3% Asian population</p>

<p>Courseload: All Honours and AP offered at my school (4 APs junior year, 4 senior)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>Class President (9,10,11)
Debate Team (9,10 Captain 11)
Academic Team (Captain 9,10,11)
Band (9,10,11) First Chair Trombone, Band President
Thespians (11)
NHS member (11)</p>

<p>Ron Paul Presidential Campaign Precinct Leader*</p>

<p>AMC 10/12 School Winner (9,10,11)
NMSQT Semifinalist</p>

<p>*I'm undecided about whether or not to include this . . .</p>

<p>~</p>

<p>What can I do?</p>

<p>Currently, I'm looking at Chicago specifically. Are there any other schools I ought to be looking at?</p>

2

<p>Do what you enjoy doing, make your passions clear, and it won’t really matter. They would much rather see an Asian winning state wide math championships and such than trying out for a sports team or something when that is not what they enjoy doing or what they are good at, I’m sure you’ll be fine</p>

3

<p>Chance me? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/723662-apply-dartmouth-ed.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/723662-apply-dartmouth-ed.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>Skip the Ron Paul. </p>

<p>The “Asian Robot” syndrome is a tough label to remove. Basically, you have to approach the application process differently than a white student. You just can’t write about your dream about solving world hunger that hit you as your family went on a month-long safari tour of Africa. Well, you could do that, but then your chances of getting into a top school without any hooks are much lower than the published data.</p>

<p>You’ve got to prove that you’re not an Asian Robot without making the topic of your main essay, “I am not an Asian Robot”. You’ve got to avoid the cliched “Be Yourself” suggestions about writing your essay. If you “be yourself”, then you’re saying to the admissions committee, “Accept me Ms. White Admissions Director, I am the best Asian Robot”. You do like math, after all.</p>

<p>My suggestion is to think out of the box. Apply to smaller liberal arts colleges. Free advice: Select “undecided” for your major. Another tip: Become a much better writer. More to follow…</p>

5

<p>^ Well said, James Chen (who is Asian, I assume!)
Hey kiddo I’m an Asian girl. And let me tell you that it’s hard to get out of that stereotype. I mean, all our parents made us play piano/violin, made us join SAT prep, join swimming, etc. But if you have a legit passion for the sciences and math, and you talk about it in a unique way, then your true personality will shine through. And no…not like an Asian drone! :]</p>

<p>Think outside the box. For example, my best friend’s older brother wrote about making my birthday cake and how that represented his philosophy. He got into Loyola U, a really good school if you don’t know where that is haha. </p>

<p>So, you have the stats. You got the ECs. And you got the passion. Just let it shine through man. Good luck in whichever road you take =)</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/724051-am-i-doing-too-much.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/724051-am-i-doing-too-much.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;