<p>I'm considered an Asian/Pacific Islander and I heard that being that can hurt my chances for admission...then again, when I tell them that I'm a Filipino, they tell me that it actually helps me. Can anybody clear this up because now I'm confused. I heard that if you're Indian or Japanese or something like that it hurts but I'm Asian...how does being Filipino/Asian help me while being Japanese/Asian or whatever combination doesn't?</p>
<p>it helps to think about it in stereotypes (it sucks, but it's pretty true) eg. japanese, indian and chinese people are usually considered to be ridiculously smart overachievers who are not only the valedictorian, but who have mastered three varsity sports, are musical prodigies, and feed and clothe the homeless in their spare time. But other Asians (such as filipinos) do not really have that stereotype. Asians are the trickiest minority when it comes to college decisions. it's so technical. try to specify that you are filipino. it may in fact help you more than just being Asian. </p>
<p>hope this helps!</p>
<p>Hmm...my theory on this is that since Fillipinos are descended from people of spanish origin, that somehow Fillipinos are also hispanic/spanish, which would also make them URMs? Again, just a theory...</p>
<p>I was thinking about that, too...we also have a lot of our blood from the polynesian groups...what do you think about that?</p>
<p>when I think of URM i think native american/hispanic/african-american, but Filipino never occurred to me. But now that u mention it, I do agree that Filipinos may not be as represented in the collegiate circles as some of their Asian counterparts. But i'm as clueless as u are on how the whole race thing factors into admissions.</p>
<p>i'm aware that i have no authority on the matter, and i dont mean to offend, but...i'm kind of and 'urm' because i'm multiracial. i'm only a junior but ppl have already told me to my face that this'll get me into college. And that really ****es me off. i have indian friends and people have told them that because theyre not white, theyll get in too. thats not true either. I dunno, i just feel that ppl put an unecessary amount of emphasis on urm status if you ahve it. according to them, if youre an urm and get in, its because of your race. and if you dont, then you must be extremely unqualified or something. i think thats so messed up and wrong.</p>
<p>I agree...and I don't like the idea of AA either...in the process of remedying one problem it creates another. However, I admit that I am weak and if it can help me then I guess I'll use it. Just know that my conscience is bugging me when I do. You know what else ****es me off? When people say, "Hey, you're the valedictorian! You'll get into whatever college you want." (frowns and sighs)</p>
<p>check other. then write in filipino</p>
<p>Aretsuya, I know the feeling...I feel like telling everyone that there are thousands of valedictorians applying to Yale and that "title" doesn't mean a thing outside of my school district :)</p>
<p>the average person doesn't know how competitive college admissions is these days...</p>
<p>Even some teachers don't realize how cutthroat college admissions is! My physics teacher is absolutely certain I'll be accepted, but he's been teaching for 37 years and he doesn't seem to accept that things have certainly changed since the 70s.....</p>
<p><em>gives the "high-five of understanding" to jli2006</em> Yes! That's exactly what I'm talking about!</p>
<p><em>high-fives you back</em> Glad to share my frustration with someone else :)</p>
<p>Bump…Does being Egyptian count as being an URM?
And I’m sure this doesn’t affect much but i just had to ask. I filled out all my nationality details blah blah blah as Egyptian, reside in Egypt , but under ethnicity i put white, Caucasian cause generally Egyptians arent considered Middle Easterns. So will that affect?</p>
<p>From what I understand according to Federal standards, blacks from Africa who reside in the US are considered African American. North Africans of non-black heritage and descendants of European colonizers do not qualify under African American. You won’t be conferred any special consideration because of your Egyptian heritage.</p>
<p>zero affect. Good luck to you</p>
<p>Aretsuya, I think being Filipino can only help. Are you also Pacific Islander e.g., Polynesian, Melanesian, or Micronesian? Pacific Islanders are URMs. I agree with others that “Asian” can be tricky.</p>
<p>The OP put this up in 2005. I was replying to the other person who dredged this ancient thread up</p>