<p>Hi everybody!</p>
<p>I've been on the threads for a while and things are definitely getting tense. I've been wondering, what kind of impact does URM status (hispanic) actually have on the whole admissions process, if any?</p>
<p>I’ve been wondering the same thing. I’m hispanic from Iowa and did well on the SATs, have a 4.0 out of 4.0, got two great recommendations and good extracurriculars but I didn’t get an interview and Harvard is in a league of its own.</p>
<p>It’s a significant benefit, not as much as the benefit for black and native american applicants, but better than the being white or asian.</p>
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<p>Whether or not you get an interview is not an indication of your chances</p>
<p>How much of a detriment is it to be Asian? Also, I was wondering if socio-economic status counts – like I’m Asian, but I know that my family’s income is (wayyy) lower than the family income of the white, black, and hispanic kids in my school who have applied to the same places I have…</p>
<p>Oh my gosh, no. Being a URM is not a significant factor. What affirmative action mainly concentrates on socio-economics much more than race. They definitely “consider” race, but they group it much like whether or not you have worked or not. In the perspective of things, there are 4 degrees of importance. In order of decreasing importance: Very important, important, considered, ignored. Race is considered, but GPA, SAT, rank, ECs, talent, character, essays, and recs are all “very important”.</p>
<p>@bluesweatshirt: It’s not. While it may not be beneficial/as beneficial, but it is not a detriment either. Supreme Court rules race can be considered positive on an individual basis, but it can’t be considered detrimental.</p>
<p>Race is not something that would “get you in,” but it is a significant factor in the admissions. Whites are neutral, URM’s get an edge and Asians are disadvantaged int he process, at least looking at numerical factors. </p>
<p>For example, a hispanic or black applicant with a 2300+ SAT and good grades is pretty much guaranteed admission at many ivy league schools (can’t imagine such a person not getting into at least one HYPS), while many asians with the same grades get rejected all the time. </p>
<p>I once went on several ivy league schools’ decision threads and guessed whether an applicant was URM, white, or ORM just by looking at their SAT scores and decision. Got more than 40 out of 50 right.</p>
<p>@impetuous: Exactly how do numbers show whether a group is disadvantaged or advantaged? Or rather, exactly how do the numbers you are viewing show this? </p>
<p>I know it is just an example (though the comment about blacks rests on an actual claim, not just an example), but many blacks and Hispanics with 2300+ are rejected from Harvard and other top institutions, not just Ivies. However, Asians and Whites, just as a URM “should” get into at least one ivy, so too do we see Whites and Asians with such scores getting into at least one top institution. </p>
<p>I admit, I had done the same thing and came back with the same results. However, I did not only look at ethnicity, but also socio-economic bracket. The majority of those with a certain set of scores and who were URM were also of a low socio-economic background. You seem to be using a slight confirmation bias not seemingly taking into account other factors that AA applies, in which socio-economics is of considerable importance and I argue to a much greater degree than race nowadays.</p>
<p>Well, my mom makes <65k and my dad is missing. Tight financial situation.</p>
<p>Do you think that would help me?</p>
<p>I think that would be a significant thing to place on an application in its own merit, so yes. :}</p>
<p>They are need blind, so being poor won’t hurt you (or help you).</p>
<p>Really? I thought that was only for FinAid. Anyways, maserrano, did you discuss your situation in any of the two essays?</p>
<p>Yep. My optional one.</p>
<p>curious if anybody could QUANTIFY the impact of a URM, like you’re a lock for ivies (i know nobody is a lock … but let’s just pretend) if:</p>
<p>ethnicity: gpa (unweighted) SAT</p>
<p>white/asian: 4.0 2300</p>
<p>hispanic: 3.9 2200</p>
<p>black: 3.8 2100</p>
<p>native american/others: 3.7 2000</p>
<p>^i have NO IDEA if these are right, but am wondering if someone could make an educated guess as to this ‘scale’ or if there even is one like this, because I know all the colleges deny it, but honestly ethnicity DOES make a difference in the admissions process</p>
<p>Ethnicity does NOT make a difference, or at least as much of one as you give it. It gives you a step or two up, but they do not expect your ethnicity to have a lowered “competitive” score. It will mainly help you amongst applicants (URM and ORM) that are roughly equal in scores. They do not lower expectations of you by ethnicity consciously.</p>
<p>race does make a huge difference-I know several URMS who are just as qualified as other asians at my schools-but they have an upper leg in admissions in the past. Look at the past college decisions, and you’ll notice that being a URM makes a huge difference. I dont quite understand why it makes someone more qualified-but colleges like diversity now-a-days.</p>
<p>Race makes a difference, but not a huge difference.</p>
<p>Race is not an issue unless you can show that you’ve been hurt by it, but overcame it.
Lack of money hurts everything involving academics and ECs (ever added it all up?), but you can still show how you overcame it.
A bad school hurts everything (academics, ECs, everything!), but you’ll still need to show how you overcame it.</p>
<p>Guys, please realize that HYPSM knows EXACTLY what they are looking for (winners). If all you did was as expected (4.0 unweighted, 2200+ SAT, 750+ on all SAT IIs, and you are well rounded) . . . what the hell makes you so darn special? You are not.</p>
<p>You’ll need to show you are special. It does not matter what it is, but you better excel at SOMETHING beyond your many peers.</p>
<p>Now the kid that equaled, or bested you academically or EC wise, without your enormous advantages . . . well . . . that was their “specialty”.</p>
<p>Simple and real.</p>
<p>@bluesweatshirt: I believe so, but they also look at the type of school you go to. They know the environment of the home and the school are quite important.</p>