<p>So I've read actual studies on how it is easier for an african american person with an 1100 SAT math/verbal composite to get into schools with Affirmative action than a white person with much higher stats. I read this two days ago and have been trying to find it. If I do I'll post it later. I'm concerned about applying to top schools because, despite the fact I have met their standards with my grades, standardized tests, and ec's, I'm concerned the fact that I'm white, from a small town in CT and go to private school will hurt me. Has anyone found this fear to become realized? Does anyone have any advice?
Will I be on the same playing field as anyone else if I chose not to report my race (though this may be futile, I'm interviewing) and don't mention anything that seems too much like it came from someone who went to prep school?
I don't want to offend anyone who sees the good side of affirmative actions because I do see the benefits to those who it helps.a</p>
<p>You know, colleges are not allowed to discriminate against race, be you an Asian / white “mix” (like me :D) , or a Hispanic/African American/American Indian mix. Colleges just want smart, all around. I’m sure affirmative action (you mean early decision/admission, right? ) will be fine, no matter what you do-just apply to the right schools for you<br>
Race will have nothing to do with it</p>
<p>^ no he means affirmative action</p>
<p>Yeah I think race will have something to do with it since that’s what affirmative action is. Thanks though</p>
<p>That fact that you are female may play a positive role for you in applications depending on what your major is. And you have more opportunities for scholarships from private companies that are specifically for women. It is just the way things are.</p>
<p>xcgrill, look at the statistics for race at the schools that you like. Look at the number of African-American and Hispanic students. Are they extremely high? Probably not. You are competing with a lot of other kids to create a class. You are more likely competing against all the other New England prep kids with similar stats. Don’t worry about the unknown URMs that might be taking your spot. Being white and able to afford prep school (which means you should be able to afford college is not something to worry about.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>If you do that, they may think that you are Asian, which is often thought to be at a disadvantage compared to being white with respect to university admissions. Whether it actually is has been debated for hundreds of pages, though the opacity of university admissions means that outsiders like most people here can only speculate and be suspicious. And if it is, it may be at some schools but not others.</p>
<p>I have no idea whether affirmative action is used at Clemson since in the Princeton Review it states that race is not a factor in the admissions process but at Clemson, race is broken up like this: 87% whites, 7% african-americans, 2% hispanic, 2% asian etc…</p>
<p>The percentage of African-Americans is significantly below the state average in South Carolina (about 30%). However, the African-Americans that I know at Clemson are some of the most motivated and self-driven students that I know. Should we be accepting more african-americans or should we be only accepting those that prove that they are worthy of acceptance? I think its a combination of both. However, the problem really starts in the K-12 system.</p>
<p>Being from CT “hurts” you if you are applying to a certain, local sports league. Being female “hurts” you in most majors (but is a big plus if you apply to engineering/business programs) and at most schools. Not checking the race box will have zero effect.</p>
<p>@ucbalumnus
Thanks, I’d never thought of the asian thing. I am part Native American so I’ll just check that box and the white one since I’m both European and Middle Eastern flavors of white. I think I’ll just put it all out there.
@MizzBee
Just because I go to prep school doesn’t mean I’m not on any sort of financial aid right now. I will need to apply for financial aid for college as well, just like the majority of other applicants. I just have to stand out against all the other white, New England kids. I am not sure how! haha</p>
<p>Part Native American? That makes a big difference, if you have documentation.</p>
<p>XC - in a sense your question is irrelevant, since you can only control what you can control, and your Ethic/Racial identification is not something you control. What really is the practical difference if you are being evaluated within admissions against 86% of the applicants vs. 100%? Not much difference, really.</p>
<p>As to the native american issue, most colleges require concrete documentation of your membership in a tribe… so if you don’t have that, collect it now!</p>