<p>Why is it generally harder for Asian students to get into college? Is it because of the whole stereotype thing or what?</p>
<p>I’m an asian female, but I’m not the typical asian person so I kind of want to know what’s up. I mean I’ve seen comments about how it’s more difficult for Asians a couple of times around here and my counselor even mentioned it to me once because she was being “blunt.”</p>
<p>Thoughts?</p>
<p>As an MIT admissions officer said after reviewing yet another asian applicant, many asians are just “another textureless math grind.”
Good thing the two of us are not the typical asian, so we can stand out from the rest of them! :]</p>
<p>The Ivies want, above all, people who will make their campuses interesting; students who will contribute to their community as leaders as opposed to students with noses stuck in their books all day. The stereotype of many asian applicants are math/science bookworms who are well-qualified, but not necessarily the outgoing people that seem more attractive to admission officers these days.</p>
<p>It’s not just the stereotype; asians are just overrepresented in colleges, which threatens how admissions officers strive to fill their campus with diversity.</p>
<p>Remember Simpson’s Paradox, guys.</p>
<p>who cares? If you’re Asian, you can’t change to be NOT Asian, and if you’re white, you can’t change to be NOT white (well, there’s surgery, but that’s a bit extreme), so why worry about petty things like this? I’d rather do all I can to improve my app rather than worry about other applicants, wouldn’t you?</p>
<p>Is “outgoing” really what they’re looking for in Asian applicants?
I’m a science (Biology) lover (but not math) who isn’t necessarily “outgoing” (I don’t take part in student government). I have a couple “stereotypical” science ECs like science olympiad, NJ Science League, SNHS, Biology Tutor, Academy of Science, and a couple of odder, nonsteretypical ECs that deviate me from the “stereotypical asian” but I don’t know how adcoms would look at them. For example, one of my favorite hobbies is fire breathing. I realized that I could actually write a unique essay on it after visiting blackrock city last year while on vacation. Easily the most insane, eye-opening, <333 collection of diverse, “extreme” individuals on Earth. BURNING MAN 2008.
But how would adcoms perceive a quirky, odd essay on attendance at burning man and my experience getting tips and fire-breathing with pros?</p>
<p>^I’m also science (Astronomy) lover,but not math 
</p>
<p>although astronomy is a science,it’s not really that common among the asian students.do you think ‘‘astronomy’’ is able to make me look a liittle different compare to other stereotype?</p>
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I don’t know, but if you did it in the middle of an interview I’m sure it would get you some attention. Maybe sword-swallowing would be a little less risky to innocent passers-by?</p>
<p>I do recall that last April, when Middlebury College released a profile of the newly-admitted class, down under the number of perfect SAT 800s and team captaincies, last but not least, was a note that their admits included 3 former circus performers.</p>
<p>I suggest you try to convince the adcoms that your special talent is expressed in socially engaging ways. Don’t let them imagine you are spending too many hours alone in your basement refining your craft. That would make you a less attractive asset to the campus community.</p>
<p>If it gives me a one up, then I care. For me it’s like scouting out your opponent who has a better record before a big game… Make sure you do best what they can’t.</p>
<p>I appreciate the reply Demiitasse! =) Hopefully my apps show more than I think it shows.</p>
<p>I´m a first-generation white male. My mother is white and was born in USA. My father is of French descent but was born in Algeria and lived there for 9 years before coming to France and eventually USA. I have Dual Citizenship with France.</p>
<p>Just to make sure, I should just check ¨White¨ on the app, right?</p>
<p>More importantly, how much will all of this help me if I apply the the top LACs/Universities?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>I guess I’m not Asian, seeing as math is my worst subject and I probably got a 1 on the BC Calc. exam.</p>
<p>English and history on the other hand though…</p>
<p>because pretty much around 90% of asians are overachievers</p>
<p>my friend is asian (indian) and wrote his common app essay on how he sucked at football and how nerdy he was and he got accepted to a couple of ivies despite low SAT scores. It was a good essay and really funny but he admitted that he thought a touchdown was like touching your toes at the end of field and talked about how he changed the senior day shirts to say “I do work w=fd” </p>
<p>Just be true to yourself ;)</p>
<p>Well, (most) French people are white, so I can’t figure out how or why you’d check anything else.</p>
<p>I don’t think it really will help you that much. Mostly, colleges are looking for underrepresented minorities.</p>
<p>Depending on the schools to which you apply, being male may help; the former women’s colleges favor male applicants, for obvious reason. Likewise, if by first-gen you mean that neither of your parents attended college (here or abroad), that will also help - - though probably not as much as being URM.</p>
<p>The private colleges have quotas for every group. The problem for Asian candidates is there are just so many qualified applicants competing for the Asian allotted spots at top schools. If you don’t apply to the big name schools the problem goes away and Asians can even be URMs.</p>
<p>Lmao, sword swallowing is NOT safe or entertaining in my opinion. Bad memories with that stuff, hahah. </p>
<p>Fire breathing for an adcom during an interview would be kind of “risky” wouldn’t it? I can usually use paraffin, but when I’m trying to really show off with long range flashballs, I use a lighterfluid, biodiesel mix of my own, but with the mainstream media/movies, I can imagine setting an admissions officer’s suit on fire or burning a tree. :/</p>
<p>As for that ^, do those shows of skill apply to all college interviews? If you have a notable physical or easily-accessible skill that you put down/featured, will admissions people ask you to show them during the interview?</p>
<p>different colleges have diff quote for races. for example, in ur college, if the asian quote is 10%, maybe 2k student, then they can not accept more than that. thing is, sad to say, but, asian students tends to score way higher than other races on test performance. there was this national internship program that designed specifically for “minorities scientists” in the US. and asians are not a part of it. reason given from the program was, too many asian scientists out there and their performance/grade is just out compete others, and they are not in need of internships. so they have to give the opportunity to other races, especially hispanic race. i don’t know if there was some kind of racism involved, but it’s a government program :/</p>
<p>i am a biology grad. to be honest, i am sick of hearing stuffs like " sry dear, we can not offer you this internship, it’s not for asian" or “u suppose to do good in school since u r asian”… i guess sometimes u just gotta accept the truth u r asian, and there are different expectations for u no matter who u r…</p>
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<p>Uhh do they really say that?</p>
<p>We have the Civil Rights Act for a reason, you know. I recommend a lawyer.</p>
<p>Why don’t you consider yourself an African-American? It worked for Obama.</p>