<p>Just wondering of how big of an influence on your admission it will be if you apply as a URM instead of a non-urm. If its a huge influence are there strings attached to it?</p>
<p>Also, what are the qualifications of an URM. If im half-italian, half-latino, am I able to apply as an URM. </p>
<p>In addition, will/could law firms ever find out that you were admitted as a URM?</p>
<p>I don't know how much it will help you, but it is my understanding that it will--how much, again, I don't know.</p>
<p>Being half latino, should qualify you as URM. However, take a few things into consideration (I believe these are more important than merely qualifying as an URM):</p>
<p>-Are you a US resident or citizen? (You have to be at least a resident in order to benefit from AA.)
-Are you the son of immigrants? Or an Immigrant yourself?
-what's your socio-economic background? Are you the son of an Argentinan Banker? or the son of Mexican Farmworkers?
-what's your ethnicity? I understand Mexicans and Puerto Rican receive more <em>brownie points</em> in the process.</p>
<p>Some law firms even have diversity initiatives (i.e. they look for qualified minority lawyers.)</p>
<p>And, why would they care how you gained admissions to ls? I'd be much more concerned with how I do in LS. Think about it, would you really wonder and care if a Summa Cum Laude Harvard Law Graduate gained admissions b/c of affirmative action? (Ok, may be not the best example, but you get the idea.)</p>
<p>"-Are you the son of immigrants? Or an Immigrant yourself?
-what's your socio-economic background? Are you the son of an Argentinan Banker? or the son of Mexican Farmworkers?</p>
<p>WF,
With regard to the above paragraph, I'm not in any way rich or dirt poor.. my family makes around 45-50k a year (I dunno where that qualifies me) and my father is an immigrant. I'm the first in my family (including extended family) to graduate HS, much less college.. Do I need those qualifications for AA or do you consider them more important when evaluating a candidate. Should I write about them for my personal statement?</p>
<p>I'd write about those factors. I'd tell them precisely what you have told us, and let others worry about whether it qualifies you for affirmative action. </p>
<p>There will be nothing on your transcript that specifically identifies you as the recipient of affirmative action. My guess is that future employers will care more about how you did in law school than they will about how you got there.</p>
<p>Just wondering of how big of an influence on your admission it will be if you apply as a URM instead of a non-urm. If its a huge influence are there strings attached to it?
- It's a significant influence (worth a couple of LSAT points) at most schools except those in heavily Hispanic states like Texas. You get a bigger boost at top schools because they have fewer URMs to choose from (roughly 5 LSAT points).</p>
<p>Also, what are the qualifications of an URM. If im half-italian, half-latino, am I able to apply as an URM.
- Yes, half URMs count.</p>
<p>In addition, will/could law firms ever find out that you were admitted as a URM?
- No, but law firms also use AA in hiring, so that's also to your advantage.</p>
<p>"I'd write about those factors. I'd tell them precisely what you have told us, and let others worry about whether it qualifies you for affirmative action."</p>
<p>Very well said. Do your best, as if AA didn't even exist, but be honest and forthcoming about your background.</p>
<p>From the Boalt Hall (Cal Berkeley) site:</p>
<p>"Race, religion, sex, color, ethnicity and national origin are not used as criteria for admission to Boalt Hall. No weight is given to the political or ideological views of the applicant, how an applicant intends to use his or her legal education, or an applicant's need for financial aid or employment during law school."</p>
<p>and</p>
<p>"Socioeconomic Questionnaire
The law school seeks to identify students whose ability to overcome disadvantages or obstacles promises success in law school and in the profession. To this end, applicants are invited to complete the Socioeconomic Questionnaire included with the application. Completion of the questionnaire is optional and will in no way adversely affect an applicant's candidacy. If a questionnaire is submitted, it will be used to augment the other factors considered during the evaluation process."</p>
<p>Of course, they have constraints under California law that don't necessarily apply elsewhere.</p>
<p>Boalt's policy is unique to the University of California.</p>
<p>True. But, some other law schools emphasize socioeconomic factors rather than race / ethnicity as such for various reasons and in varying degrees.</p>
<p>"True. But, some other law schools emphasize socioeconomic factors rather than race / ethnicity as such for various reasons and in varying degrees."</p>
<p>It seems to me that the shift of focus from race to socio-economic diversity will reform AA, as we know it, in the future. However, not yet. Personally, I agree with such change. (Not surprisingly, ethic communities are, usually, the least privileged ones, and often the ones in need.)</p>
<p>Here in Washington, an initiative similar to the one in California passed a couple years ago; basically banning the use AA from public schools. To counter this, the UW (the most selective school in the state) asks its applicants to discuss barriers, obstacles, and hardships (academic, social, financial, etc ) that they may have faced in their life. Under hollistic review, they give strong consideration to those factors. Personally, I like this approach. I think that's what AA will become in a not-so-distant future.</p>
<p>But we are not there yet; AA should give you a significant leg up in the admissions process (or so I've been told.) -- Especially at private schools.</p>
<p>For Michigan law:</p>
<p>"(Optional) U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens only, if you wish to so identify yourself, please mark the one race or ethnicity that you think best applies to you. Your decision to answer or not answer this question will not influence the Law Schools decision on admission."</p>
<p>But, </p>
<p>"To aid in constructing a diverse and interesting class, we require a personal statement. This statement provides you with an opportunity to demonstrate the ways in which you can contribute your talents and experiences to the Law School. Successful applicants have elaborated on significant personal, academic, and professional experiences; meaningful intellectual interests and extracurricular activities; factors inspiring them to obtain a legal education; and significant obstacles, challenges, or disadvantages met and overcome."</p>
<p>Not too much different from Boalt or, apparently, Washington. No state law but a bit of scrutiny from the US Supreme Court.</p>
<p>On all previous forms Ive filled out, I always put down whiteincluding the SAT form and other undergrad application forms. Will law schools find out which race I said I was on previous tests? Should I include some addendum addressing the situation? Or am I overblowing the situation entirely.</p>
<p>A recently-discovered identity is probably totally unimpressive to any school that does more than notice whether you checked the box. Can you come up with an essay about how this discovery changed your life? Or maybe how you overcame the obstacles that this imposed? I don't think so.</p>
<p>The University of Michigan Law school was at the center of a Supreme Court ruling regarding racial discrimination in law school admissions. Might be worth a read. </p>