<p>I am from Uzbekistan which is in the middle east and i have never actually thought about what ethnic group i fall under. I’ve been told i would be considered caucasian, but my counselor didn’t know so that got me concerned.</p>
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<p>If your counselor thinks you’d be classified as “caucasian” (not a term used on the college forms), then you’d probably be classified as “white” on the forms. You have the choice of marking no answer at all–that is the law. (Your question has been merged with the FAQ thread on this subject, and the first few posts link to the federal definitions and other regulations.) I’ve seen videos of people in Uzbekistan, and evidently quite a few people there would look “half-Asian” to the eyes of people who are used to seeing persons with one parent from east Asia and one parent from Europe. That makes sense, given the location of Uzbekistan. You can say nothing at all about your “race” on the college form if you like, but describe your personal background in detail in your college application if you think that would make your file interesting to a college admission committee. </p>
<p>Good luck in your applications.</p>
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<p>On the contrary, I think many AA proponents are against the forced “undiversification” of any college or university. The colleges and educators WANT ethnic and cultural diversity in their classrooms, it is those on the outside who are often misinformed who want to DICTATE to them what is a valuable mission in education. </p>
<p>And Affirmative action would only violate the civil rights act if A) there was some type of quota or limit and/or B) Members of one group were unequivocally favored over another group solely because they are of that group. </p>
<p>If one year UCLA has a class where the black students are statistically stronger than the Asian students on the whole, the Asian students will be more “valuable” to the class because diversity, not black students, is the goal.</p>
<p>First a clarification: I consider criticism and urges to alter laws to promote affirmative action a kind of “forcing.” Obviously no one can force any institution to do anything, save for the law.</p>
<p>Of course colleges and educators want ethnic and cultural diversity. I, personally, very much want diversity and a diverse campus is a plus in my college search. But personal or institutional desires do not supercede a constitutional and legal commitment to nondiscrimination (a commitment often echoed in institutional mission statements). If an institution’s idea of a valuable educational mission is to educate only white people, is this legal? I personally do not see it as any more or less illegal than an all-male college like Deep Springs. The courts seem to apply the law more liberally with private institutions, which is fine with me–I would be content to see all public institutions of higher education (of education period) eliminate affirmative action and attempt to increase diversity on campus in ways that do not target a specific race (e.g. recruit in “black” neighborhoods, low-income zip codes, outside usual geographic reach). And private institutions that choose to admit with consideration for racial diversity ought to make this clear in their mission statements–because it IS discrimination.</p>
<p>The type of affirmative action that violates the Civil Rights Act is up to the courts to decide. I interpret the “spirit” of the law as I see it, which is to protect against discrimination of any kind (with regard to protected classes)–including the “positive” discrimination of affirmative action. The courts do not yet agree with me; that’s fine.</p>
<p>@ Zacker, there are many more Caucasians in America than Asians. There are also many more smart Caucasians in America(due to the amount of Whites), which explains why they are the majority at most institutions. UC’s however attract many asians because the UC system is a highly regarded system in Asian communities, and many Asians apply to these institutions instead of, say, a small liberal arts college in Maryland. I’m guessing they would get a boost at these small liberal arts institutions because asians are less likely geared towards the humanities than science/math related fields. Most asians I know that get accepted to prestigious schools have a humanities major.</p>
<p>Or, in general, is affirmative action fair at all?</p>
<p>I am curious, define “affirmative action”</p>
<p>Well, no. Affirmative Action is reverse racism. There’s a difference between granting those who have not grown up in the best circumstances opportunities and just meeting a minority quota. I think the latter is ridiculous and the former, I can see why colleges do seek certain types of people.</p>
<p>But whatever, its not up to us.</p>
<p>Yes, totally.</p>
<p>But our job is not to complain, it’s to try and beat the system anyway.</p>
<p>The complete ignorance about affirmative action continues. If you knew anything about the law you would know that the Supreme Court barred quotas in 1977 with the Bakke vs UC Regents decision. The “quota system” is a myth of the right wing elements in this country who prey on people’s ignorance of the law. </p>
<p>In short QUOTAS HAVE BEEN ILLEGAL SINCE 1977. No affirmative action program has been able to use them ever since. </p>
<p>[FindLaw</a> | Cases and Codes](<a href=“http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=438&invol=265]FindLaw”>http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=438&invol=265)</p>
<p>There is also an easier “wikipedia” version if you are so inclined.</p>
<p>vociferous is right.</p>
<p>Any admissions office admitting ppl to “increase diversity” is in the wrong IMO (U Florida, I’m looking at you :mad:) Pick the best applicants.</p>
<p>I’m not that well introduced to the admission process. Though Asian Americans definately dominate the UC’s by far.</p>
<p>Lyndon B. Johnson perhaps said it best at Howard University in 1965, ““You do not take a person who, for years, has been hobbled by chains and liberate him, bring him up to the starting line in a race and then say, ‘you are free to compete with all the others’, and still justly believe that you have been completely fair.”</p>
<p>That being said, it’s quite clear that the true, sustainable reach towards greater diversity (for which there is a great case to be made) must occur before students reach college age. The challenge presented by the achievement gap in K-12 education is ominous, but not insurmountable. For the moment, AA is at worst ineffective and at best a partial, short-term solution to the achievement gap between races.</p>
<p>No, I don’t think so.</p>
<p>If colleges don’t want a bunch of people that do things because the things look good on resumes, than by all means, they can rightfully reject the Asian Americans in hoards.</p>
<p>At the medical center I volunteer at, there is a high school department and an adult department. There are no Asian Americans in the adult group out of 100+, yet Asian Americans make up over half of the high school group. It’s not just a coincidence that the adults did not need ‘resume’ items…</p>
<p>It’s possible. I don’t really bother myself with it, though…I feel that I’ve probably had more opportunities than most URMs, so I don’t complain. Secret<em>Asian</em>Man said it best…just become better, even though the bar may be higher.</p>
<p>Are you kidding me. Asians are study mongers. It’s the Asian parents that force their kids to undergo rigorous education in order to get a leg up on the competition.</p>
<p>Admissions are not unfair to Asian Americans… We are simply overrepresented at many of the top 50 universities in the nation… Minus Yeshiva of course…</p>
<p>My Asian friend got a URM scholarship at the University of Wisconsin - Madison…</p>
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<p>huh?</p>
<p>uh, to the above poster…thats probably because its in wisconsin…most asian people live on the coasts or for some weird reason…texas O.O</p>
<p>@12: Not all Asian parents are like that. Some are, but not all.</p>
<p>@14: Nothing wrong with Texas, except its sporadic weather. It’s not all cowboys down here, fyi ;)</p>