"Race" in College Admissions FAQ & Discussion 3

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<p>Invoyable -</p>

<p>So why do the Ivies have enough space for “supergenius, overqualified Jews” where they make up roughly 25% of the IL student body (as high as 30% at Yale and Penn) - even though Jewish students make up less than 2% of the college age pop. and Asian students make up more than 5%?</p>

<p>And why does Princeton, which has the most holistic admissions policy, the one Ivy where there are more Asians (just barely) than Jews?</p>

<p>And why do the Ivies fall over hand and foot for the children of African immigrants (who make up 40% of the black student pop.) who are known to be “study grinds”?</p>

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<p>choco -</p>

<p>So having more Asian students who come from a multitude of ethnicities, cultures, religions, etc. is “less diverse” than having a quarter of the student body being Jewish?</p>

<p>And do the Ivies really care about diversity (except when they can use it to defend their admissions practices) when the majority of Asian students they do admit are “whitewashed” and culturally no different from a typical white student?</p>

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<p>Uhh, Jews overwhelmingly are located in the NE and yet the Ivies seem to have no problems taking a disproportionate amount of Jews.</p>

<p>Plus there are large Asian pops. in states like Virginia, Texas, Maryland, Washington, etc.</p>

<p>Also - w/ regard to what Asian-Am students study and major in, it’s really no different than the rest of the student pop. w/ the biggest chunk going into some area related to business.</p>

<p>The irony of all of this is that American universities don’t have enough students going into sciences, mathematics and engineering - which is why they are importing students from Asia and elsewhere (such as Eastern Europe).</p>

<p>But heck, universities in Japan and Korea are cutting their science programs for the lack of student interest.</p>

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<p>Playing a varsity sport doesn’t help much if one isn’t a recruited athlete.</p>

<p>Sorry I just skimmed what you wrote, and I was confused- what point are you trying to make? That Asians are being discriminated against?
I don’t care about affirmative action, we’re not talking about a.a. here. I just want good, specific advice on HOW an Asian (Chinese, Korean, Indian) can distinguish himself/herself from other smart, math/science “average” Asians who are also applying to HYPSM. Personally, I think I have really good credentials in math/science (see my other posts), but besides that, I have nothing unique. What can I do? Write a unique, philosophical story for my essay? Or talk about my leadership in the community? Or varsity sports (and my dedication/commitment?) ? Thanks.</p>

<p>^ My post wasn’t directed at you, but rather to some of the other posters.</p>

<p>As for you, unless you have steller everything, it’s going to be a tough road.</p>

<p>The best thing for you is to write several funny/witty, endearing, intelligent essays where your personality and character stands out.</p>

<p>But then again, pretty much every Asian-Am (as well as non-Asian) applicant applying to HYPSM is trying to do the same.</p>

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I’m not really sure why you’re bringing up the Jews (isn’t this thread on Asians?), and my original post was all in speculation - I never claimed to be against otherwise. I’ll never know the exact things going on (probably), and it was just an idea that I’ve seen throughout CC. And as for your question, I can’t answer it since I don’t know. Mind you, I didn’t necessarily agree with the opinion of my original post (if that makes any sense), and actually happen to agree more with you on this one. (I’m an ORM too, btw.)</p>

<p>does being asian pretty much destroy your chances for UCLA?</p>

<p>^ Lol no…we are talking about HYPSM. UCLA is easy to get into, just work hard, get a good GPA, and good test scores…UCLA has a LOT of Asians.</p>

<p>MODERATOR’S NOTE: </p>

<p>Recent thread merged into main FAQ thread because it revisits many of the same issues discussed in the FAQ posts at the beginning of this thread.</p>

<p>haha, in princeton review’s book, it talks about how to hide being asian at all costs, and how to play up URM minorities at all costs. makes me chuckle, sadly. (I’m indian.)</p>

<p>^^ i never saw that. this whole thing gets dumb after a while. it’s all pretty easy to understand. colleges want diversity but not overrepresentation. if you don’t have enough representation, your chances go up, but not as much as you would think. if you are overrepresented your chances go down, but not as much as you think.</p>

<p>Also there is a lot of talk about socioeconomic aa instead of racial. even if they did it that way black students would still be the most sought after since their average income is lower than any other race and higher numbers live in poverty.</p>

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<p>But you have to put the circumstances in the proper context (i.e. - compare and contrast the admissions situation for Asians w/ other like groups) in order to get a proper understanding of the issue.</p>

<p>Just stating that Asians are overrepresented at some schools is a misleading way of looking at things.</p>

<p>Jews were already “overrepresented” at USC and yet, USC hired an admissions officer specifically geared to recruiting more Jewish students.</p>

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<p>So much much “diversity” is having a student body made up of 30% Jewish students? Not to mention overrepresentation?</p>

<p>And why is having a student body that is say, 40% white, instead of 60% white any less diverse? That’s still plenty of white students (just b/c whites don’t make up a strict majority doesn’t mean there is any less diversity).</p>

<p>Also, a UCLA admin who was for limiting the % of Asian students on campus changed his mind and now states that UCLA is more diverse than ever before, w/ students from a wide range of ethnicities, cultures, religions, etc.</p>

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<p>Nope - if admissions were based on solely socio-economic background, black students from underprivileged backgrounds would lose out to Asian and white students from underprivileged backgrounds (btw, for example, Asians in NYC have a higher poverty rate than blacks in NYC).</p>

<p>Yea…exactly, if it were solely based on socio-economic background…I would actually have an advantage…</p>

<p>Who is considered an “Asian?” (for college purposes)</p>

<p>Anyone from the continent of Asia? Or just the East “Asians”?</p>

<p>Are Armenians or Iranians or Indians or Turkish people considered Asians?</p>

<p>unfortunately, yes. students dont consider east Asians Asian unless they have white skin and oriental characteristics, but in college admissions, all Asians are Asian.</p>

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<p>See the FAQ posts at the beginning of this long thread. They link out to official federal definitions. Turkish, Armenian, and Iranian people are “white” by the federal definition, and people from the Indian subcontinent (whatever country) are “Asian.” </p>

<p>Any college applicant is welcome to omit mentioning any “race” category. The question is OPTIONAL. See [post</a> #4](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1061808252-post4.html]post”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1061808252-post4.html) for a list of colleges that admit students of unknown race. Many students are admitted to many great colleges without checking any box on the ethnicity questionnaire.</p>

<p>I never thought we were a minority family and didn’t plan to indicate that status, but a friend said one side of the heritage is from Spain that means my son is–is that true?</p>

<p>Since when are Caucasians from Spain a minority? What’s the difference between someone from Spain, France or Italy?? If this is considered a minority than something is radically wrong!</p>

<p>You’re son is lucky then.</p>

<p>No, your child will not be considered as a minority by most schools. While many may be glad to include him as a statistic for some purposes, but not for merit or FA consideration. However, he can say he is Hispanic on the PSAT legitimately.</p>

<p>DocT, I hope your ? regarding differences between the three cultures you mentioned was not serious. Do you really not know the difference? Would you wonder the same about Poles, Austrians and Germans?</p>

<p>A person from Spain is not ethnically Hispanic under U.S. census definitions. To put that down on a college application would be highly misleading.</p>

<p>here is the official definition:

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<p>People of Brazilian origin are sometimes lumped in even though they speak Portuguese. and don’t consider themselves Hispanic. Conceivably descendants of the original Spanish settlers in the Southwest may qualify, but definitely not recent immigrants from Spain.</p>