<p>I think legacy and URM should cancel each other out. Your parents went to a great school, presumably got a great job and educated you well enough. You have much more opportunities than a lot of ORM kids whose parents work at minimum wage. I don't know why legacy and URM can be uttered in the same sentence. It's actually quite ridiculous.</p>
<p>I think the point of accepting URMs is that they bring diversity. I don't think it matters what socioeconomic their from. </p>
<p>Also, only my dad went to a "great" school. My mom's college actually doesn't even exist anymore! My dad owns a small company while my mom holds an ok corporate job; thus we're not exactly taking in the millions. I go to an ok public school and we're just as middle class as many others, we're not by any means the wealthy American elite who send their children to top private schools. I may have "much" more opportunity than kids living at minimum wage, but by your logic (that income = opportunity) many many many people have an abundance more opportunity than I, therefore I'm not at any more of an advantage than many others.</p>
<p>eating food- yes, legacy+black male+high test scores is an unusual combination. Of course that will be attractive to Yale and to many other schools where you are not a legacy. However, as many have stated, there is no such thing as a shoo in. You need a true safety. Right now, it doesn't seem like you have one. Fordham would be a safety- I think you mentioned it on your other thread. Better to be safe than sorry. Did you ever read the story of Andi and her son on CC? He had no acceptances despite high test scores and grades. He wasn't a URM, but you do not want to be in that position next year. Tell your dad to read some of the threads on the Yale board to see the stats of some of the kids who were rejected. Even if your SAT score is in the same range as your PSAT, I think you should add some safeties.</p>
<p>Middsmith- why is it ridiculous that someone can be a legacy and a URM? Should being a multimillionaire legacy and being white also "cancel each other out"?</p>
<p>High scoring URMs (particularly black males) are a rare commodity, no matter what their SES. If your SAT scores are consistent with your PSAT and you don't shoot yourself in your foot with arrogant essays (it doesn't look like you will given your responses on this thread), I think you will do very well next spring.</p>
<p>That said, I'm a firm believer in a real safety school. So, are you applying EA/ED to any of your schools, or are you interested in a school with rolling admissions? If you are doing either of these and you get an early admission, you could then keep your list as it is. If you get a deferral or deny, you could look for more safeties at that time.</p>
<p>lies lies lies</p>
<p>I would worry that legacy and urm would cancel eachother out at top schools like Harvard, Yale, and Penn. In that you obviously dont come from a traditional african american background and you are tellingly advantaged...</p>
<p>You're in a great spot. I'd be very surprised if you didn't get into Yale or any of the other good schools on your list.</p>
<p>Eating food- I, too, am a Maryland resident and know African American students like you. While I concur that your achievements are notable, I do not agree at all with the suggestion that you must be a liar unless you are directly descended from Caribbean or African parents. I find that suggestion to be quite offensive and you shouldn't feel compelled to defend or justify yourself to ppl that spout that kind of nonsense.</p>
<p>With that out of the way, let me chime in. I think you're in a good position with respect to the schools you've identified but I think Northstarmom's advice is well taken - there are a lot of students that will be applying to the top schools over the next few years, especially since several of the schools have liberalized their aid policies. It would be a good idea to identify a few more safety schools.</p>
<p>I fully agree with the above post. To question your stats because of your race was more than just obtuse and ought not to even be credited with a response. Onto your chances, I'd say they are good but don't consider yourself a shoo-in at any of these top schools. I think you have a good, if not great shot at these top schools however. Definitely throw in a safety or some matchier schools and you'll do alright.</p>
<p>eating food, you are considered a legacy at Penn. However, Penn only states that being a legacy gives you an advantage in the ED round. It is questionable how much it helps (if at all) RD, but all that is clear is if you want full legacy consideration, apply early. Please note that many legacies are admitted RD so it is not like Penn only admits legacies ED.</p>
<p>I would still recommend having a safety too like UMD or American. GW would probably be a match too (and probably a scholarship for being black and having a good SAT score).</p>
<p>To update people!</p>
<p>URM + Legacy = Acceptance (for Yale SCEA, anyway)</p>