<p>I hate to think it, but I really feel that I now have a grudge against any URM I meet at a top school. I know it's horrible to generalize like this, but I can't help it. Some of them just don't deserve to be at the same place as me just because of their race. And I know a few kids who are undeniably weaker candidates than I am...significantly lower GPA's, scores, courseloads, EC's, Essays (I read a bunch of them) EVERYTHING, who got into schools I was rejected from.
There's nothing more I could've done. I worked so hard for college, and there's not much more that I could've done. The fact that people who have done so much less than I have got into schools that didn't accept me for something they DIDN'T DO...something they were born with, is horrifying to me. I feel powerless.</p>
<p>In the end, I did get into my 1st choice, but still, if my 1st choice could easily have been one that rejected me and accepted much less qualified minorities that I know...I'm just bitter. But I feel like I have reason to be.</p>
<p>Well, I'm extremely happy to be done with this process, and hopefully the students I meet at college will prove me wrong and the grudge will go away.</p>
<p>You may have worked hard and have gotten better results. But can you think of them? What are some of the things that they've gone through? Probably an education is worth very little to what they've experienced in life. Some of them defied expectations, pushed the limits, and worked possibly harder than you. Have you ever thought of that? Diligence should be rewarded, not merit (albeit you would need a minimum).</p>
<p>Well, the ones I know specifically go to my private school, at which I am the disadvantaged, scholarship student, and the ones I am referring to are much better off than I am. I've faced a lot more adversity. Colleges didn't care, though. They like their little diversity statistics too much.</p>
<p>Many URM's are broke as hell, and sure as hell don't go to a damn private school. Just you complaining from a private school is ridiculous. I know that URM's have to deal with many things that you haven't even ever had to deal, or things that you can't even think of. While all URM's aren't poor, they still have to deal with many things that you don't, such as the stigma that America has of them for just being a certain race, for starters.</p>
<p>I understand your concern. I am personally an URM who went to a crappy high school where most kinds were minorities. I have compared my grades and scores with white non-hispanic kids and they rnt any different, but that is just my case. You have to understand that colleges, even though they dont say it, have a certain bias towards school with strong curriculums. I know kids from my high school who were URM, very hard working, and intelligent, but who didnt get into some good schools b/c of that bias, and ive met kinds from those top high schools who were B students there and have been accepted and dont perform as well in college. Life is sometimes unfair. I go to an ivy league and sometimes I am amazed at the number of kids who get in just b/c their parents came here. College admissions are not totally merit based.</p>
<p>Remember that no one is owed admission to an Ivy League school. They must admit people who they feel will make the best class, and that includes diversity wise. If they feel the person you say you look down on was a good addition to THEIR school, then by definition that person deserves to be there. </p>
<p>Do not harden your heart to people by buying into the bitter assumption that anyone does or doesn't "deserve" to be at these schools. They simply cannot take all the applicants who perceive to deserve it. As for me, I didn't get into Ivy League schools, but I don't really care anymore. That is just the way things are. I did everything I could, so it doesn't really matter. The truth is, I'd do it all again even knowing this outcome. There is nothing more valuable than education, and if you don't do what you're capable of, you're left with nothing but regrets. If you allow the cutthroat competitiveness of this process to change you as a person, then you aren't surviving with your dignity intact. If you get to know some of these people you will see the beauty inside that made them compelling admits out of a larger pool. I bet they have some amazing stories. You never know, one of these people could be your best friend, they could be the president someday. You never know. Life is too short. You will have a great time at college.</p>
<p>I understand your feelings quite well. I have tons of different URM's at my high school which, by the way, happens to be private. They all pay full tuition. Few of them are on work scholarship... the ones who are = NON-urm. I, too, am upset that some of them got into specific universities due to their race. Maybe they do have something unique to offer... I just cannot see it. I take classes with a few of these people too... they're no different from the rest of us...</p>
<p>well i feel the same way. well not to burst ne one's bubble but it gets worse. </p>
<p>i heard that grad schools have a point system they assign which favors inner city/ rural kids, people whose parents have little education, low home values, # of people living in a house.</p>
<p>And as said previously, blame the rules not the players. In basketball do people complain and hate other people just because that even though they MIGHT<a href="make%20that%20a%20real%20big%20might">/b</a> have worked a little harder than another player, they are not as sought after because their not as tall. **NO. They realize that that is the way the game is played and that is how the other person was born so because of what happened in the past and how the rules are set up that person is at an advantage. Instead they work harder in their OWN WAY not comparing themselves to others so that they can get where they need to. And some may argue that a player getting into the NBA is just as hard as getting into a HYP just in a different type of work.</p>
<p>I know this is a stupid example, and is full of holes, but you should get the general gist of what I'm saying. And I don't know why people assume just because a URM is at a good school they are worse than all the other people their and that is the only way they got in. If an ivy league picked them it is obvious because they think they can succeed.</p>
<p>I've never read a study of how URM's in HYP underachieve a lot more than their white counterparts so the schools must be doing something right. And their perceived inferior academic capability of success is just that, PERCEIVED</p>
<p>They're ok because everyone who applies to ivies can cope with the work-load, just some people would be more successful than others. While I think it's ok to give advantages to disadvantaged people, URM does not = disadvantaged. You say that they have to cope with overwhelming prejudice in society? Well first of all I don't think that exists too much anymore. And if it does, you're just excarberating the situation by assuming all minorities grew up in economically disadvantaged households, are unable to perform as well as other races... Is there any problem with just analysing parent's college credentials and income for fairness? If there's a white kid and a black kid, both living in ghettoes and working at mackers for lunch money then I really don't think any discrimination from society, if any even exists, is going to be the deciding factor making the black kid worse off than the white one. Same goes for if they're at an expensive prep school, neither will be any worse off. To say otherwise is racist...saying there's actually something about their ethnicity that makes them underperform.</p>
<p>What exactly is your beef? Your into your #1 school. Get over yourself. </p>
<p>Does the phrase, "Sense of entitlement," ring any bells???</p>
<p>You know what? Out in the real world (outside the private schools and Ivy Leagues) lots of stuff is unfair, or appears to be random. For your own good, learn to swallow it and move yourself forward. And don't take it out on individuals that you really know nothing about.</p>
<p>So, do you feel the same anger at white or Asian legacies, athletes or offspring or large donors who were accepted at top colleges? What about white or Asians who got a tip for having a strong background in a major that needs students? What about males of any race who got tips into LACs because LACs are desperate to find males willing to attend them?</p>
<p>You need to face facts: The college process didn't make you racist. You always have been racist, but are using college applications as a reason to find your racism acceptable.</p>
<p>The understandable reaction of the thread starter puts the lie to the "diversity" rationale for race preferences. Of how much benefit is so called "diversity" when it means that white or asian students are looking at their classmates who received preferences with full knowledge that they wouldn't be there but for their special status? Given the well documented cascade effect of preferences that leaves miniorities as the rump end academically at any given school, doesn't it only enforce negative stereotypes and attitutdes in the minds of whites and asians when they see that their minority classmates, almost to a one, are among the weaker students in the class? So-called diversity when accomplished through preferences only hardens the attitudes of those it purportedly will enlighten.</p>
<p>Here's my take on things (and I recruit for my Ivy alma mater at my inner city school district):</p>
<p>While some majority (white) students without any "hooks" (URM status, legacy, athlete, etc.) are upset because the road for them into the ultra elites is made harder, the fact is that schools DO exist where only GPAs and other metrics are main factors used to determine entrance.</p>
<p>If one is so concerned that they want to attend such a school, then by all means, go for it. They exist and they're there for you. </p>
<p>However, then don't turn around and rail against a private institution that, due to its own research, traditions, perceptions, whatever -- choose to have a diverse student body. They have the right (and utilize that right) to have a diverse student body that isn't solely based on metrics (GPAs, scores).</p>
<p>Well guess what. For some crazy reason, everyone thinks their diverse student body is one of the main reasons why they get rated so highly in everyone's eyes. Their admissions policies are one reason why they are the so-called "best" schools.</p>
<p>So you can't turn around and complain about their admissions criteria. You want to attend the "best"? Then you better be prepared to dance to their tune.</p>
<p>You want GPA/SAT based admissions only? They're available. But they aren't the most elite schools. That's just how it is.</p>
<p>Their definition of "best" students includes things besides metrics.</p>
<p>You can't have it both ways.</p>
<p>(I'm aware BTW of the controversy surrounding Public schools like UMich -- I'm only referring to the privates like Ivies)</p>