Just how valuable is to be an URM?

<p>Being an URM, I'm curious as to how much this well help me in the college admissions process. Does it count as a "hook"? Is it like the equivalent of being excellent at a sport or something? Because I suck at sports.... Haha. ;)</p>

<p>It depends.</p>

<p>It depends on many factors including details of your URM status, the school you’re applying to, and the other parts of your application. </p>

<p>If you go back to the Hispanic Students forum, there are many threads that discuss this subject, including:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/931488-ivy-league-admissions-nhrps.html?highlight=ivy[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/931488-ivy-league-admissions-nhrps.html?highlight=ivy&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Let’s say a school has a 50% ACT range from a 31 to a 34. If you are a URM, you may get in with a 31. If you are not a URM, you may need a 33 or 34 or 35.</p>

<p>In my view, URMs only need to be reasonably qualified, but not necessarily the best qualified.</p>

<p>^Do you really think it’s that simple, score at the lower end of the middle 50% range and you’re pretty much in? </p>

<p>Do you think that adcoms at all schools view URMs in an identical way (eg. H vs. Grinnell) and that all schools have the same quantity and quality of URM applicant pool?</p>

<p>Do you think adcoms wouldn’t differentiate between a first gen NA living on a reservation and an upper middle class Hispanic with college educated parents from Spain?</p>

<p>Do you think that test scores are the only factors of importance for a URM candidate?</p>

<p>so many questions, my head’s spinning ;)</p>

<p>At a top school, even URMs have to fall “in range” for scores, gpa and activities, plus the rest. Competition can be tough. Top schools get plenty of apps from top-performing URMs, first-gens, kids who’ve thrived despite hardships, and etc. </p>

<p>Agree with Entomom- it’s far more complex than simply being URM.</p>

<p>That’s why I was wondering, entomom… I’m from an upper middle class family in an NYC suburb, and my father, along with everyone else in his family, has an Ivy League education. However, he was born in and grew up in a Hispanic country; my mom did as well, although in a different Hispanic country. We speak Spanish at home, and I regularly visit these Hispanic countries, where I still have tons of family. And I don’t look Hispanic at all (I look completely white).</p>

<p>That lessens my URM status, right?</p>

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<p>From the input that you were given on your earlier thread, why would you make this comment? Did you read the Definition sticky thread you were referred to in that thread?</p>

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<p>If you mean that you won’t be given substantial leniency on test scores and the lack of demanding courses by selective colleges, then yes, that’s likely true. But colleges recognize that Hispanics come from a range of backgrounds and circumstances and that there are many ways to contribute to campus diversity. Did you read post #2 in the thread I linked to above? Also read the last two posts only in this thread:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/1215054-hispanic-really-urm-they-seem-all-over-cc-2.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/1215054-hispanic-really-urm-they-seem-all-over-cc-2.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>These should help answer your questions about affluent Hispanic applicants with college educated parents. If you have further questions about this, please start a thread on the Hispanic Students forum or request that this one be moved there.</p>

<p>I hate to say this, but I’m afraid that is generally is that simple. If you’re a URM, you’re held to what ends up being a “lower standard.” Last year, for example, a Hispanic girl at my school got into Brown and Columbia with a class rank of 8/60, ECs of only cross country and diversity club memeber, and a 2010 SAT. The white valedictorian and salutatorian with 2200s on their SATS were rejected from the same schools. Of course, this example is in no way a definitive way to prove my argument, but I would venture to guess that many, many others have similar stories.</p>

<p>I don’t want to start a fight here, so please realize that I’m in no way saying that this is a good thing, but it’s the truth. A similar thing happens with the National Achievement Scholarship; the bar is ‘lowered’ for an African American student. From my understanding, this does stem from an “underrepresented” status and an assumed lack of resources. For colleges, however, it seems to be that URMs are targeted solely to boost numbers, so their stats, as long as they’re not horrendously low, are not all that important. There are many, many qualified URMs, but even underqualified ones will most likely be selected over a strong white or Asian student due to a demand for diversity.</p>

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<p>Not definitive, venture to guess = the truth</p>

<p>Nice argument.</p>

<p>x-posted before mada34 edited their post.</p>

<p>Please calm down, entomom, there’s no reason to be so aggressive. </p>

<p>Yes, what I said is only opinion, but, from what I’ve heard, it’s widely believed. I apologize if I mislead you in any way, but the point remains clear: there is a definite advantage to being an URM. That was the question being asked in this thread, and I’m confident that I answered it based on my own observations. </p>

<p>Because they are so desired by colleges (and seemingly so few in numbers based on admissions stats) they are given priority treatment, and are held to what ends up being a lower standard. I’m sure that you can at least admit that that appears to be the case?</p>

<p>Again, there are tons of qualified URMs out there, but not necessarily enough to fill the diversity quotas that many colleges are looking have.</p>

<p>Watch out for “widely believed.” Try to find out what really occurs. Many folks go on hearsay; they aren’t versed in the relevant research, govt reports, etc. They don’t know what a given college’s institutional goals are, how they recruit, review and measure the success of their actions or directions.</p>

<p>A competitive college needs a freshman class of kids who can endure the academic challenges at that school. It needs kids who will add to campus vibrance, in the ways it values. And, kids who will “stick,” find a major, find satisfaction, engage, stretch- and go on to successful lives. You don’t dinker around with thoughts such as, he’s minority, we need to fill a quota, so what if it looks like he can’t cut it here. </p>

<p>It doesn’t matter if any one of us knows a kid or two who got in when a “better” student did not. Most folks, when they assess “better” are thinking of their high school standards, while adcoms are trying to dig beneath the surface. That’s part of the reason there is a full application package required, not just a hs transcript.</p>

<p>OP, the general standard is that you are Hispanic if you say so. Your appearance doesn’t matter. The fact that you live outside NYC will place you in a large pool of highly competitive candidates at many colleges. Your upper middle class status and Ivy family will set some expectations for your app package/achievements. Your Ivy legacy may help, Your Hispanic identity may help. I don’t think we know your stats, rigor, activities, etc.</p>