<p>I must call you out on your comment that " i know without affirmative action, schools will be swamped with asians and whites only." This is patently untrue and racist. Do not fall into the mindset, often seen here on CC and elsewhere, in which your lack of success in the application process is blamed on factors beyond your control. On the one hand, you are a solid candidate; on the other, there are many like you. Apply to a range of schools, do your homework, and do your best work–and do not let yourself off the hook by scapegoating others. </p>
<p>@marysydney He wasn’t complaining, he was accepting of the fact that AA policies exist to give others a chance.</p>
<p>Yes, that is true. The UCs try to get around AA policies (which they’re not allowed to use) by heavily weighting GPA so that those from underprivileged areas (often URMs) will have a fighting chance to get accepted. Even with that policy in place, the top UCs still don’t have the URM numbers (particularly male URM numbers) that they should. The numbers would be worse if they didn’t at least do what they’re doing. </p>
<p>If you think that if the UCs just strictly used test scores and GPAs equally to admit and the results wouldn’t be top UCs “swamped with Asians and Whites,” then you need to go look at the current numbers. lol</p>
<p>The OP didn’t say that Affirmative Action exists to give “others” a chance; he or she implied that without affirmative action, no persons of color would be admitted, and that is simply wrong. To use it as an excuse for one’s own lack of outstanding achievement is self-serving and self-defeating. GPA is more heavily weighted than SATs at most schools, by the way, not merely at UCs, because it is felt to better predict college performance than SAT scores; one can argue whether that is really true, but enough schools have made that choice that it is hard to believe it is only to keep out Asians and whites. I feel strongly that encouraging kids to resent their fellow students on the basis of race is wrongheaded.</p>
<p>@marysidney I hope you know that the first thing most colleges look at is your SAT. I know this because one of my mom’s friend is one of the adcoms for an ivy school. The reason is because GPA cant give schools a real picture of a candidate… for ex a 4.0 at a crappy school compared to a 4.0 at the #1 private school is a big difference. Thats why the SAT (and also AP exams btw) exists. Its so they can compare everyone at the same level. So although GPA is important… without a solid SAT they wont really give you a second look. Also… it is a FACT that AA is why you see African-Americans and ESP. Native Americans accepted to such great schools when there plenty of Asians and Whites that score miles ahead. The OP wasn’t saying that NO people of color would get in… he is saying that there would be a HELL lot less of them. Which is without a doubt a true fact…</p>
hey guys, i was busy with college apps and didnt swing by to look at this. Thanks for all of your feedback, but i didn’t mean to start a mini argument. With that said, I am conflicted with AA because quite simply, selfishly, it is against me. But, it helps those who need it to break the cycle of poverty and give better opportunity. Diversity, I believe, is a good thing and it would be bad if the top colleges were simply one or two races, but then again, another part of me, makes it so it should be more based off merit. Regardless, i did not mean to sound racist @marysidney, my apologies. Again, I am deeply conflicted, and i appreciate your enlightenment.
Reading both your comments, you guys are kinda both right on how i feel, lol. hypothetically, if i were a urm, I just have the gut feeling that my chances will be boosted (by i don’t know how much). you get what i mean? My dad is fairly conservative and thinks it is unfair, but my sister who is extreme liberal/left (goes to Berkeley) is like me and has mixed feelings.
@sadlarry Ur chances would have sky rocketed. And thats not even an exaggeration. Last year, a Native American from my school got into 3 ivies with a 1800 SAT. XD
people get into ivies and the best schools because of ALL their qualifications and the needs of the schools. unless you’re prepared to speak to all a candidate’s qualifications and a school’s needs (and who among us can do that?), please don’t assume that YOU know why a college chose or turned down this or that candidate.
more importantly, @cottonkk, don’t suggest on CC that you know for certain what you cannot know. There’s no place on CC for one to broadcast one’s ignorance.
jkeil, are you suggesting that colleges are race-blind in admissions? That would be news to me.
@jkeil911, i understand that the “needs of the schools” is diversity and that unfortunately/ fortunately means that there is a quota for certain races and lowering/heightening standards for certain races. Look, i know what you’re getting at, and like i mentioned before, I think AA is actually beneficial and a promoter of diversity. Don’t accuse me of racism, I am just observing a somewhat, in my opinion, discriminatory policy, that promotes diversity hence its name “affirmative” action or “positive action.” I know i can’t assume but I also can’t pretend it doesn’t exist.
Ummm… May I ask what college you got into?
Please use old threads only for research. The OP hasn’t been on CC in over a year.