I have a few questions about the URM status for people applying to college:
-First what Latino/Hispanic communities fit under the category of URM? I’ve heard that not all Latin-American countriesgain this status.
-Up to a certain point, how much would this factor in college admissions?
-I am a Peruvian male born here, but my parents are immigrants (now divorced and have no residency or citizenship), I currently live only with my father who earns less than $40,000, and I am a first-generation student. How would my own status affect my chances in getting into college?
The Common App has no box that says: “Check here if you are URM.” The applicant fills out the info, and the colleges choose how to use it. Each college, where not prohibited by law, is free to define what it considers URM and is free to decide how much of a bump, if any, said hook will give an application. I have seen examples for colleges where the Latin@ hook applied only to Mexican-Americans and mainland Puerto Ricans. Others have a wider definition. Most will not divulge their definition.
Again, if the college give an edge to URM, it will only help so much. It certainly won’t help an application package that is otherwise sub-standard. But there is no mathematical percentage that applies (or at least not admitted to by colleges.)
As with the explanation for URM, it may help at some colleges, and may not at others.
Each college can have its own definition of URM, and makes its own choice as to whether it matters and how much if it does.
Living with a single parent can complicate financial aid at colleges that want both parents’ finances. If your non custodial parent is alive and uncooperative, or has money but will not pay, you may not be able to get financial aid at those colleges.