<p>So, Molly, I agree with you that race can be a social construct that powerfully affects the lives of individuals. But how the construct is played out varies hugely across the country. So to me it makes little sense to take a national population percentage, compare it to the numbers at MIT and use that as guidance for admissions. </p>
<p>As the OP pointed out, it doesn’t help him that somebody of the same color, origin or whatever, across the country has parents that highly value education if that is not the experience in his community. The same national origin can be a help in one place, a hindrance in another, and have no effect in a third.</p>