The Reality URM Admissions

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I am a rising senior and an URM (African American male - 2nd generation Ethiopian American) and am not quite sure what this status means for me. I think I have a shot of Yale but dont know what being a black male has to do with it. Without going in too much detail, here are some facts.</p>

<p>School - Suburban Md., best school system in the state, one of the best in the country, lots of high level courses available (which I have been taking). Pretty darn competetive.</p>

<p>GPA - 3.8 UW/ 4.3W
GTs and APs - have taken 5 APs so far, have 1 result - American Gov. - 4
SAT - 2170 combined
SAT IIs - N/A will take: Math 2C, World Hist. and ??? (suggestions)
ACTs - Fall '06</p>

<p>Classes taken:
English 9,10,11 GT
US Histor GT
Am. Gov AP
World Hist. AP
Alg. II GT
Precalc GT
Calc AB AP</p>

<p>Next year my schedule is:
Art II
Aiding
English AP
Comp Gov AP
Stats AP
Bio AP
Mentorship GT</p>

<p>I am not taking another language (Spanish - I got up to 3) because I am already fluent in Amharic. nd my essays will be very good and unique. My reason for pursuing Public Health stems from me visiting Ethiopia and witnessing the poverty and suffering. It allows me to make a huge difference. Also, my campaign for the Board Position will be a good topic - it was a big risk.</p>

<p>Recs. - Will be great:
Principal - loves me
Math teacher - will have known me as a student (Precalc Gt & Stat AP) and is my SGA Advisor - great things
Mentor - is a MS/MD very accomplished in her field, founder of certain genes and functions, respects my intellect and drive equally</p>

<p>A lot of extra Curriculurs - SGA Class President, SGA at school, county and state levels, NHS, County NAACP, Black Student Achievement Program, Newspaper Editor, Internships, Ran track (1 year - not very good lol), Math Tutor, Best Buddies, Mock Trial, Summer@Brown HIV/AIDS mini-course etc etc. holding leadership positions in most if not all</p>

<p>I think I have two things going for me that are special:
1st. I am the Student Member on my board of education which, to this point, is my biggest accomplishment. I was voted by 27,000+ eligible voters (6-11th grade) across the county. I am currently serving on the Board and its been an awesome experience) [I will include my flier and DVD of the speeches in my app)</p>

<p>2nd. I am conducting research at Johns Hopkins Hospital in genetics. Worked in lab setting and am set to get a great reccomendation from my mentor (who is well regarded in her field). It was a great experience and I think I can sell it. I went in 5 hours a week in her lab which was about 45 minutes away. Next year I will be getting a mentor at Bloomberg (Hopkins) School of Public Health, which is what I really want to do.</p>

<p>Also I have been in contact with a prof at Yale School of Public Health and have helped with their initiative with the Clinton Foundation to create health infrastructure in Ethiopia. I created a reference English to Amharic dictionary for the postdocs, MDs etc going to the country. (Amharic is the official language). A possible leg up??</p>

<p>My ultimate goal is to get into the BA-BS/MPH program (I know its after your Freshman year).</p>

<p>Sooooo....What do you think my chances are. If I get in, I am sure some bitter people who didn't will immediately point out my race. I accept that there may be truth to that but I just want to know what the deal is. And if I do get into Yale because of it, you certainly won't hear me complaining. </p>

<p>Thanks in advance for anyone who can help in answering this nagging question.</p>

2

<p>Assuming youre from Montgomery County (the best public school system in Maryland) and you are student member of the board (which is impossible because our last student member of the board was black, and he already graduated). The SMOBS that ran for presidency that are rising seniors were two girls (one white, one indian) so your story doesn't make a whole lot of sense.</p>

<p>If you are Sebastian J. then you've already graduated.</p>

3

<p>I am from Howard County. I know Sebastian, he is going to Georgetown. Howard County is, in my opinion, the best school system in the county.</p>

4

<p>
[quote]
Howard County is, in my opinion, the best school system in the county.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Well, if Howard County school system serves the whole of Howard County, it is by default the best and worst school system in the county. :) j/k I know it was a typo.</p>

<p>Honestly, I think you stand a chance at any school in the country.</p>

5

<p>Thanks for the encouragement Nathan. I might apply Early Decision. Penn is a close second but yales 5 year program in Pulic Health is very attractive. </p>

<p>Someone stated that being a 1st generation African American (meaning your parents are born in Africa, as mine were) does not make yo a viable URM candidate. I hope that is not true.</p>

6

<p>Yes, you have a great shot at Yale, and anywhere else. You have very impressive ECs. You would have a great shot regardless of race. I like the Amharic dictionary EC a lot- yes, it should be a good leg up. Unless you are positive that your parents can afford 40 to 45K per year, please look into the financial aid aspect of this. Most top schools do not give merit based aid. Many schools admit minorities, but don't go overboard offering them aid- treat them pretty much like everyone else. So, if you want or need aid, planning and research is in order. But really, you are a great candidate regardless of race and I want to stress that, although I still think that Montgomery County has Howard beat.</p>

7

<p>anyone else?</p>

8

<p>Just a shoutout from one habesha to another. Denanish Tenaistalin and good luck with everything.</p>

9

<p>I am also applying to:
Yale
Harvard
Penn
Cornell
Brown
U. Maryland
Hopkins
Georgetown</p>

<p>And my updated GPA is actually a 3.76 (not 3.8).</p>

<p>I think I need some more surefire safeties.</p>

10

<p>low gpa for ivies. low sat. great ECs. URM. i say you are in.</p>

11

<p>Even if you were white or Asian, you'd still have a chance. Your ECs, especially being the elected representative of 27,000 students, are very impressive.</p>

<p>One big question that I have: What have you accomplished or are you working on accomplishing in your elected position? That will be very important as the top colleges aren't impressed when students use top positions simply as resume dressing. Those colleges want students who'll exercise leadership on campus and in the nation/world, etc. after graduation.</p>

12

<p>Well we are working on acheiving partial voting rights for my predecessor. In the fall, I will have to go to the state house Annapolis to testify regarding the policy on voting rights. Acheiving suffrage for the student member is a foregone conclusion, as the board has unanimously passed the policy. I hope to draft a few pieces of legislation to be introduced by the end of the year. I am working on them.</p>

13

<p>what school do you go to?</p>

14

<p>That's very impressive. Having the guts to lobby the legislature is a big deal.</p>

15

<p>anyone else have anything to add?</p>

16

<p>how about PLME</p>

<p>dun dun dun</p>

<p>Just wondering.</p>