<p>what if youre half japanese and half filipino? is that URM?</p>
<p>your URM asian status is going to help all that much. honestly the only URMs (the real ones) that really matter are african americans, hispanics, and native americans.</p>
<p>the other 'URMs' tend to do better in school, test scores, etc, to where they don't get the big bonus that the real URMs get.</p>
<p>maybe if you're lucky you'll be poor/your parents will own a business and be able to declare losses on their taxes so you can write about how you've hurt by poverty in your essay.</p>
<p>Although MIT's MITES program still has Minority in the title, being a URM is only one of several factors that MIT considers for selecting participants. From the MITES website:</p>
<p>All individuals who are selected must be US citizens or permanent residents, and must demonstrate bright promise of ability and interest in science, engineering and technology. Additionally, they must demonstrate that they would benefit from and contribute to the program. These factors are assessed based on all or some combination of grades, PSAT or SAT test scores, extracurricular activities, essays and letters of recommendation.</p>
<p>Additional factors that are considered for selection as plus factors (not entry requirements) include whether: </p>
<p>the individual would be the first in the family to attend college; </p>
<p>there is an absence in the individual's family of science and engineering backgrounds; </p>
<p>the individual's high school has historically sent less than 50% of its graduates to 4-year colleges; </p>
<p>the applicant attends a school that presents challenges for success at an urban elite university (e.g., rural or predominantly minority); and/or </p>
<p>the individual is a member of a group that is under-represented in the study and fields of science and engineering (African American, Latino or Native American).</p>
<p>Members of all races and ethnicities are considered. We look particularly for students who come from challenging backgrounds and those who must overcome significant odds to pursue their dreams of becoming an engineer or scientist.</p>
<p>Do you have to do something special to mark yourself as a URM or you just put your ethnicity on the app and they'll consider it if you are?</p>
<p>i think south asians are considered URMS</p>
<p>No I doubt South Asians (ie Indians and Pakistanis) would be considered URMs at most schools. Southeast Asians (Thais, Vietnamese, Filipinos etc.) may be considered URMs at some schools.</p>