<p>Obviously, this wouldn't be as big of an advantage as being URM. But would being Muslim-American who is fluent in Arabic and whose parent(s) are immigrants from the Middle East be afforded any advantage in college admissions? Colleges always say they want a 'diverse' student body - this seems to fall under the category. In addition, Muslim-Americans face more discrimination in the US today than most URMs.</p>
<p>Opinions, anyone?</p>
<p>No, it would not be an advantage (at least not inherently–you can make almost anything work for you if presented intelligently).</p>
<p>What types of schools are you targeting? Most schools won’t be interested. Some, seeking diversity, may show extra interest.</p>
<p>Lol. Actually, I’m an Arab-Latino (my father is Arab, my mother Latino) - talk about a weird mix. So I’ve already got the URM thing going for me. This was just out of curiosity. It just seems unfair that Hispanics and African Americans would get advantage while Muslim, Arab-Americans wouldn’t get any: the community itself is very vibrant and cultural, and its members face lots of persecution. I’ve been made fun of about being a Muslim since 2001, sometimes in an unfriendly manner; Muslim relatives on my dad’s side have been discriminated against at their workplaces in and public places. A girl at our local mosque had her head-wear snatched off her by some guys at my high school. It just seems like Arab Muslims are deserving of the Aff-Action label as well, since they also face significant persecution today.</p>
<p>Then again, this is college admissions, so it’s probably foolish to expect any sympathy based on personal accounts.</p>