<p>On a lot of college applications, it seems that marking race is optional. I am Indian, therefore an overrepresented minority, and was thinking about not bothering to mark my race. My name actually does not sound Indian at all. I have an English first name and a last name that sounds North African, maybe. The thing is that most people who are URMs would mark their race, obviously because it would help them. The only people who would be unlikely to mark their race would be ORMs. If I don't mark my race, would the admissions committee automatically assume that I am an ORM?</p>
<p>I doubt they would assume anything. And because your indian i can assume your applying to IVY's?(see) if thats the case most ivys dont care about race. Im white so im kind of a super represented majority so in my applications i leave it blank</p>
<p>I don't think it'll really matter unless you're a URM. Which you're not. So go ahead and mark it, that way it won't look like you're trying to hide something.</p>
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most ivys dont care about race
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hahahahaha</p>
<p>lol r u kidding me? why do u think a 1900 SAT person gets into harvard? no offense...</p>
<p>anyway, i would say normally just mark your race...but in ur case...ur name might not give it away...so don't mark it?</p>
<p>lol im indian too but my name really sounds indian.</p>
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most ivys dont care about race
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<p>A very naive statement.
You get + points for being the "academically disadvantaged race" such as African American/Native American/Hispanic. You get 0 point for being a Caucasian, and you actually get a - point for being Asian (to give chances to less qualified candidates). This is true, because I've talked to a person who works for Harvard Admission, and he showed me this sheet where the Adcom adds/subtracts points for certain criteria (He forewarned me that I might get a little angry after seeing the list).</p>
<p>For example, if you just participated in sports in HS, you get like 200 points. For being in Varsity Team captain, you get 500 points. For participating in Olympics or any other professional sporting event, you get 5000 points.
You also get points for living in certain part of neighborhood - rich neighborhood such as Beverly Hills gets + point.</p>
<p>There are also factors like donation to school (one of the main factor for determining your admission), your parents being Harvard graduate, your income level, rank in HS, SAT score, Activities, etc.</p>
<p>It made me angry after seeing the list.
It was so unfair and injust.</p>
<p>oh and as for AP:</p>
<p>If you took less than 5 AP courses, you get NO point.
Yes, it doesn't give you any advantage because pretty much EVERYONE who applies to Harvard takes 7, 8 AP courses, so taking 3 or 4 AP coureses became nothing special: They expect you to take 7, 8 AP courses and do WELL on them.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions!</p>
<p>i know an indian girl who got into harvard with SATs in the 1900s...she had good grades and good Ecs though</p>
<p>I'm white and I'm marking the box, I don't think its going to matter much. The adcom isnt going to sit there and try to think up which race you are, and weigh it in his decision that much.</p>
<p>if you werent good enough to get in asian, you probably wont get in without a race. also, people who get in with URM status are either good enough for the school already, or on the bubble and the race was one factor that got them in. legally, race cannot be the determining factor so it shouldnt matter what race you are in the end, but looking at that harvard points system, just compete in the olympics to make up for being white/asian.</p>
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It made me angry after seeing the list.
It was so unfair and injust.
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You might want to learn how to spell unjust before claiming anything is unjust.</p>
<p>Those people possibly have something to add, plus I've never heard of the system you described. Maybe you made it up? No where has that been discussed on these boards or anywhere on the web...I mean, unless you're special or something, tell us more....how did you come across the supposed "Harvard Admission System"? They don't even release the common data set. You really were allowed into Harvard's Admission Room to see their system? so you must have connections...not just any random visitor such as us...which according to that system, probably gives you some "points" also. do you think thats fair? Do you think you're in a position to critique how the #1 university in the united states determines their admission system? </p>
<p>i swear .... the random bs statements from people on this board.</p>
<p>+1 point versus +5000... in the whole scheme of things, it doesnt look like race really matters at all dhl3!</p>
<p>to OP: Well, is your name Indian-sounding? If it is, might as well mark it. Though I dunno how the process goes, and I don't think too many admission officers give away <em>everything</em> he or she knows.</p>
<p>But yeah, I really wished I wasn't so disadvantaged because of income, race, HS, etc. Oh well, I guess it does help the peole who aren't as advantaged as me, and makes for a better incoming class.</p>
<p>I'm half-white, half black. Lol I think I already know the answer to this one but do you guys think I should mark the boxes for both or just the obvious one?</p>
<p>^ Mark either black or biracial. I believe colleges like biracials in addition to URMs. But...if you want to be honest, mark the box for the race that you feel you identify yourself best with.</p>
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i swear .... the random bs statements from people on this board.
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<p>Why the hell would I make such thing up? Do you think I just sit here all day thinking of some random BS trying to act all smart and all?
I told you in my previous post that I met with a person who works for Harvard Admissions.</p>
<p>Just because it was never mentioned in this board doesn't mean it doesnt exist. Well now it is mentioned, so ppl know.</p>
<p>and no there is no +1.
They mulitply it by either 100 or 1000, based on which category weighs heavier than the others.</p>
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Those people possibly have something to add, plus I've never heard of the system you described. Maybe you made it up?
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<p>and what makes you think that you know everything about college admissions system? And why are you so confident that if you never heard of such system, it doesnt exist?</p>
<p>Maybe you should go get some connection and all meet those people instead of searching for it in some website. you will never find it in those site because if they release such info, it would be a disaster.</p>
<p>You realize that such information is highly confidential? Sorry, but I just don't buy it. Harvard admissions is much more subjective than that. Race is more like a "Hmm, I'll give him extra consideration / This'll make up for this other lacking area," but it's not a point system. I call BS.</p>
<p>seconded.</p>
<p>dhl3, you have no right to deride skeptics for being skeptical. you're making these enormous claims, so you tell us why we should believe you/them.</p>