URM's: Preferred or Rejected?

Colleges & Universities A-Z Johns Hopkins University
1

<p>I am an URM. I noticed the stats on JHU's site. 6% of the admitted students were AA. What got me nervous was this shockingly low number.</p>

<p>Although I have the indicated passion, interesting outlooks, and dedication for an acceptance, I hope my ethnicity won't hinder my chances.</p>

<p>However, depending on the pool of applicants, some of my anxiety may be relieved. If out of the 14,000 applicants, 13,500 were caucasian or asian, I would be a little more happy.</p>

<p>In general though, I'd like someone like Admissions Daniel or Mark (preferably Admissions Daniel) to inform me of JHU's views on accepting URM's.</p>

2

<p>First, I am not sure where you are finding your statistics. For this year's admitted class - 9% of the admits were black/African-American.</p>

<p>Please do not consider this as a sign that it is more difficult for an URM to be admitted to Hopkins, nor is it an indication that ethnicity hinders a person's chances for admission. It is more a sign of the pool of applicants. I think if you look at a lot of elite schools, these numbers are pretty consistent. </p>

<p>Hopkins actively recruits URM students. Two of the admissions staff members are actually in charge of recruitment activities for URM students (Colors of Hopkins in the Fall, Discovery Days in the spring) and also chair a special Admissions Committee that review our URM candidates specifically.</p>

<p>You should come and visit and determine for yourself whether Hopkins is the right place for you. And if you choose to apply understand your race will not have a negative impact at all, and may play as a positive since we have special goals to increase diversity of the student body.</p>

<p>Hope that helps.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

3

<p>Thank you, AdmissionsDaniel ^_^.</p>

<p>Your feedback definitely helps. I'm really greatful for your reply.</p>

4

<p>Sorry to be crude, but being black will not hurt you in admissions whatsoever. Ever heard of Affirmative Action???</p>

5

<p>affirmative action = reverse discrimination. It's a shame that hopkins and other colleges follow such a racist policy. I understand helping out people who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, but it's so shallow to judge this by the color of a person's skin.</p>

6

<p>Well it's not necessarily the skin that makes the difference.</p>

<p>A majority of URMs, such as myself, follow different cultures and traditions. We have certain foods, music, holidays, , etc., that would be considered unique or interesting in the US.</p>

<p>I'm not sure, but I don't think affirmative action colleges try to create a diversity of color on campus. I think it's the culture and background that the people with color have. So I'd say they're interested in having less uniform a population.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, whether it's skin or culture, it's still going to hurt the other races if a college is affirmative action, making it difficult to distinguish the applicants among a pool full of ORM's. So you could say it's biased and unjust.</p>

<p>If less applicants are URM's, it may put on the pressure enough to accept a few kids, even if they do have lower GPA's or SAT's than the ORM's. However, I'm sure the decisions aren't going to be a choice between a dedicated white kid and some hispanic kid that met bare minimum requirements for college acceptance. It may depend on the pool. Overall, that's my opinion, but I may be biased myself since I am an URM O_O.</p>

<p>I know some schools, like MIT, were AA. Since JHU is pretty much my first choice school, I'd be happy to know that my ethnicity puts me in a positive light for my application.</p>

7

<p>All elite universities including JHU seek competent African American students. Some schools will take African American students with significantly less ability than the ability of the average student. That's not true at JHU. I have yet to meet an African American JHU student who did not impress me because of his or her academic skills. Entry into and graduation from JHU is earned!</p>

8

<p>I do intend being as dedicated, if not more so, as any other ORM applicant to earn that entry as well. Regardless of the advantages I have based on my ethnicity, I actually study and do my best at school for a personal interest pursuit rather than a chore. I've already gained a passion for my desired major (neuroscience), and am doing my best at school and on the standardized tests I've yet to take. As a person, not a URM, I think I have the dedication, competence, and charismatic character to be accepted ^_^. Hopefully my confidence won't be looked upon as arrogance. I know JHU has a lot of prestige and over 70% of the applicants get rejected, but I can't help but feel that I stand a chance against the numerously tasteless applicants, who show ambition, but not interest.</p>

<p>I'm a nice, reliable person though, with interesting philosophies on life that I share with people, who enjoy them a lot. I'm by no means burnt out from high school unlike the countless other applicants who took an AP souly to have a courseload that a college would like, rather than taking an AP that reflects their interests. However, I'm sure there are plenty of people out there like me, so I'll do my best to distinguish myself from these similar applicants.</p>

9

<p>Very well stated JHURocks, I couldn't have said it any better. </p>

<p>There is a huge difference between stated affirmative action policies (which do not exist at JHU) and having a holistic admissions approach that takens into account diversity goals and a student's demographic background into account. No students is admitted to Hopkins just because of their race, gender, ethnicity, creed, religion, etc. -- and quotas do not exist.</p>

10

<p>I don't want this thread to turn into another AA bashing haven, but it still boils my blood that in this day and age, institutions of higher learning, those society looks upon for enlightenment, would even consider socioeconomic status. It is simply *not*what makes up the identity of any individual!</p>

<p>I'm glad that JHU looks beyond merely socioeconomic status and looks at the bigger picture of the student, but the practice of considering race, wealth, or anything that the student HAS NO CONTROL OVER, in my opinion should be severely limited, if not banned. </p>

<p>(Again, sorry to be crude, I've had a tough day.....)</p>

11

<p>You're not being crude. I'm sorry if I offended anyone with this thread.</p>

<p>I was just curious to see if my being a URM would have a negative effect on me. That was my intention. I hope I haven't started conflict or won't in the future through this thread.</p>

<p>I do believe in getting admitted due to qualifications, not due to ethnic background.</p>

<p>Try to remember that I'm not an affirmative action college, since I don't want to leave the JHU boards with a reputation of being disliked. I'm a friendly, hard-working guy, and I can assume you guys are too ^_^.</p>

<p>I'd like to thank all of you, especially Admissions Daniel, for taking the time to reply to my thread and hear my concerns. ^_^</p>

12

<p>i definetely believe in aa =D...though i don;t quite benefit from it lol...personally when i see that some of the students i know who got boosts for the ucs for just being first generation college attendance, economic disadvantages..., i really come to see that nothing is wrong w/ aa to alleviate the effects of some past injustices =D gl!</p>

13

<p>
[quote]
personally when i see that some of the students i know who got boosts for the ucs for just being first generation college attendance, economic disadvantages...

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I agree that helping first generation students and people who are ecomonically disadvataged is important, I just don't assume that all african americans, hispanics, etc are those things. That is my problem with AA. It chooses to help people based on indicators that are different than what actually creates hurdles for students.</p>

14

<p>not all first generation college students are disadvantaged in anyway, so i'm sure that not all african americans, hispanics, american indians, etc. are disadvantaged in anyway...
anyhow i'm just saying that if some colleges give boosts to first generation college students, why shouldn;t some others practice aa?
edit: anyhow, it's not like jhu practices blind aa, i think admission daniel commented regarding jhu's practices on this b4.</p>

15

<p>In California at least, schools recieve a large part of their funding from local property taxes. That's why rich areas tend to have better schools and poor areas tend to have worse schools. </p>

<p>And well, if you're poor, you tend to live in a poor area- thus you have a school that basically sucks. Not to mention the fact that your family <em>can't</em> afford for you to take SAT classes (lower SAT scores), go do volunteering or allow you much time to study. If you have to work, not so you can go out on the weekend, but so that your family can EAT, I'm pretty sure colleges will be more forgiving of lower than median grades.</p>

16

<p>(I am not pro-AA. I hope this post prevents the conflict that I can see coming.)</p>

<p>Unfortunately, that's not the case for all URM's, including myself. I happen to be a URM with a more than stable family, both financially and socially. Although I am not a spoiled teen, I do have the privelege of my parents wanting, and being able to pay for my full tuition, along with other expenses.</p>

<p>Don't get me wrong though. It's not as if I were some kid who goes out and parties every weekend, or spends 14 hours a day listening to music and updating a Myspace. I've worked incredibly hard myself. My school justly placed me in AP courses for my senior year, especially when I self studied Physics and Pre Calculus.</p>

<p>I actually have an interest in the field I'm pursuing. I've read great books by Steven Rose. I've made arrangements for neuropharmaceutical research at a local medical college, lab experience.</p>

<p>I've done: A) Put in interest and dedication to my courses, A1) Have been on team A of the math team since 10th grade [although I am not captain, but even so, there are four teams of competetive matheltes altogether], B) Am doing science research outside of school, C) Have constructive hobbies, D) Play a sport, E) Have obtained a passion and already preempted a realistic head start on fulfilling it, F) Meet the grade and score criteria for every school I am applying to.</p>

<p>I'm sorry if this sounds like a rant, but it's not fair to complain if someone like me gets into an affirmative action school since it's not as if I was that kid who wouldn't care for the oppurtunity, nor put in effort nor interest into his studies both in and out of school.</p>

<p>My point is that if people are applying to a top school, especially the small percentage who are AA that are accepted, the chances of them having the dedication and interest for the school are surefire. So please, try not to get angry at URM's or the colleges themselves for accepting a small percentage of URM's that apply, when chances are they work as hard, care, and are as competent as the ORM's that apply.</p>

17

<p>^ uhh maybe a better version of my point would be that:</p>

<p>(By the way, sorry for the double post O_O)</p>

<p>Application systems MAY seem less corrupt when you take a look at the qualifications of the applicants.</p>

<p>And don't get me wrong, it's not as if I'm a depressed URM kid, who studies for no reason and has no friends. Not only am I a reliable and friendly person, I care and am excited for my studies (hence the reason I self studied science and math courses).</p>

<p>Not that I'm trying to brag, or make an impressive name for myself. I'm just trying to come across with the idea that not a majority of the URM applicants aren't qualified.</p>