<p>This question just popped in my head. It seems as if acceptances aren't completley based on merit, personality, or services, but also have to do with nationality. Many people on this forum constantly say " oh you're asian, your chances have just been lowered",etc.. There is also statistical proof. on the PA website, it states that 40% of students are of color, meaning that 60% of the student body is of one color: white. Similar statistics are shown in other schools such as Deerfield, Choate, etc.. Is it just coincidence, or is it intentional???</p>
<p>Note, I'm not trying to degrade any school, but this was just an observation that I saw while looking at some websites.</p>
<p>Boarding School Review gives a good comparison on diversity between schools. Deerfield I believe is one of the least diverse among all the HADES and GLADCHEMMS if I am not mistaken.</p>
<p>What could be more interesting is the diversity of the applicant pool versus the matriculated pool. For example, if the applicant pool was 85% white, but the student body was 60% white, that might indicate better odds for students of color. Or not.</p>
<p>We’ve visited DA/Choate/Exeter/Andover/Hotchkiss several times the past year, and at least once to many other schools (travelled to our kid’s athletic meets). We find it hard to believe the percentages given on the website for students of color (except for Hotchkiss & NMH). For what it’s worth, there’s no verification of what the applicant checks off in the ethnicity box on the application. It’s not unusual, whether it be a school application, job application, or a census response, to claim ‘color’ when they’re really not.</p>
<p>For an applicant, I suggest to ignore the race issue. Focus on being the best applicant, regardless of race.</p>