<p>marmar16-thank you for answering my question. Your answer now makes sense. I wish you the best of luck in the college application process! APOL-a mom</p>
<p>@Brebeuff: I do agree that, to an extent, URM does play a factor in the admissions process–but, like you, I question by how much of an affect it has. What I do know, however, is that one does not simply check the box for Hispanic, Middle Eastern, African American, Biracial and sit back and relax while the acceptances come pouring in. I think it’s absurd, and rather insulting (not by you, but just in general), when people attribute a URM’s acceptance to the fact that he is a URM–as if everything else within the application doesn’t matter, all of the extra curricular activities and leadership positions held, research internships, etc. are just meaningless. I come from a VERY competitive high school in Virginia and I’m apart of the Governor’s School (it’s pretty common in Virginia). The top 75 students or so in my graduating class had above a 3.9! The average number of APs taken was around 5 or 6—I took 14, the most at my school. I originally came from a pretty uncompetitive high school that didn’t have many AP classes, so my GPA suffered when I moved to my new high school full of overachievers. I think the colleges realized this (hence the reason why they ask applicants to mention all high schools they have attended). I mentioned in a previous post on this thread that I am a playwright (I submitted a full-length play); I have conducted scientific research and won an award for it (I submitted my abstract) I began debate this year as a hobby and surprisingly made it to states (I came in 5th place in my region–out of 30); I’ve held an internship at a clinic for the past three years and received a recommendation from the head doctor; I’ve competed in and have won several awards in acting (I was good enough for NYU Tisch!); I also started a club in my school to promote humane treatment towards animals—I did ALL of that at my new, competitive high school (aside from the science research, which I did in 9th grade at my old school). I was able to show the admissions officers that, inspite of me originally coming from a less competitive high school with very little offers, when I moved to my new school, I really did take advantage of what it had to offer—even though I knew it would be very impossible for me to be in the “top 10%.” I showed my strength in other areas and I do not believe that I am any less qualified than the many valedictorians and other students in the top 10%—I earned my spot and if people want to attribute my acceptance to my URM status, then so be it. I know how hard I worked, the sleepless nights I had just to keep up with my privledged classmates (now that’s a whole new topic)! All-in-all, I think that if you work hard and really do convey a passion for something, you stand a good chance—no matter what your race is.</p>