Race Factor

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>How much does your race affect your application when you apply to prestigious schools like Harvard.</p>

2

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/651345-race-college-admissions-faq-discussion-3-a.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/651345-race-college-admissions-faq-discussion-3-a.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>This is where you will find everything about this over posted question.</p>

<h2>Basically the following. Not trying to be PC or accurate, but this is the general consensus. </h2>

<p>Native American/Alaskan native ++
Hispanic +
African American +
White -
Asian –
International (Not really a +/- but very competitive</p>

3

<p>It obviously helps to be a URM. they want diverse students and there are alot less qualified URMS out there. For example, in the past four years my school has sent three to Harvard. each was the smartest, most qualified african american male at my school.</p>

4

<p>Funny…I’m half Asian and half white, and I was invited to three other schools’ multicultural admitted students programs as a URM…but it looks like at Harvard, my entire racial background works against me :/</p>

5

<p>Not so sure the Asian ‘minuses’ are as strong at Harvard. I mean, a fifth of their student body is Asian (5% of general population).</p>

6

<p>It isn’t really reasonable to call whites a “minus”, since they make up the majority of applicants and are therefore the usual standard.</p>

<p>

Research has been done, it takes higher SAT scores to get into top colleges as an Asian.</p>

7

<p>I understand the statistic, but don’t think a lower rate is primarily due to the SAT. I’m Asian as well, and not to generalize, but (generally :P) some Asians are stronger in quantitative fields (to put it euphemistically), and Harvard as well as other colleges care strongly about the written essay and personal voice, which may not be strong suits of some Asians. I’m sure if you look at the humanities and history majors breakdown by race as compared to the math and science breakdown, you can get this same sense.</p>

<p>Of course, generalizing by race is an extremely touchy topic, and I’m not looking to offend anyone here. However, I don’t think my claims are outrageous.</p>

8

<p>I think a white minus is reasonable. Do you know the size of the applicant pool you are competing against as white?</p>

<p>Those ratings are based on an applicants perspective.</p>

9

<p>yeah, but if you are asian and do a sport, i mean a real sport (not that quizbowl, mathlete crap), it really impresses admission people. I’m asian w/ low SAT/ACT scores and i got in Duke, JHU, and Northwestern probably because i play basketball, run track and xc. I mean, i know my essays sucked (i’m a bad writer, as all my english teacher say) and my grades aren’t even all A’s and B’s.</p>

10

<p>^ Perhaps.</p>

<p>As long as the sport isn’t Tennis or Table Tennis.</p>

11

<p>Asians that play tennis is pretty impressive. Table tennis not nearly as impressive.</p>

12

<p>Half of our varsity team was Asian :O</p>