Culture essay question. Feels like a trap

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think these schools want to hear about Asian culture, including Indian.

I don’t think they want to hear about middle eastern/North African.

I don’t think they want to hear about any Caribbean culture.

I think they’re only looking for (American) Black, Hispanic, indigenous, and rural, and first gen (but only if no specified ethnicity or one of the above).

The whole thing feels like a trap w college still stuck with their own implicit bias or not so implicit box checking.

Am I wrong? Wouldn’t you advise a kid with strong ties to, say, Egypt or China to pick a “culture” (club, neighborhood etc) that isn’t so impacted in this process?

yes, who you call American blacks, we have a special place in this country. We have been here since 1619, before the revolution, we have never been immigrants. At the same time we were not treated as fully human till the 1960s after war (where yes, white americans sacrificed many lives and that cannot be forgotten) and battle in the courts. if it were noy for this American struggle to recongize the rights of all man you would not be in this country, the flood of immigration after 1968 would not have happen if not for the civil rights movement. so yes, if colleges want to hear about how people have overcome in a society in which their not to distant ancestors, many who are still alive, were literally treated as second class citizens, take time to understand that. This country has a history, the sum of the United States is not equal to being a place people can come to espace where they came from.

So you’re not disagreeing.

so I am not disagreeing with what? please explain. honest question, i do no know what you are referring to.

DP here. You are agreeing that this question is there to low key give a preference to blacks and hispanics and you think that's a good thing because of past injustices

why hispanics? why would they get special consideration? No reason for them to be included.

regarding OP, maybe some people resent all the immigration that we have had since the 60s, because that means there are more people applying for the same limited spots in the colleges. So your complaint isn't one needing sympathy if you think about it.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think it’s at all a disavantage to write about carribean, middle eastern, North African (eg egyptian), Indian culture. When it’s a disadvantage to highlight Chinese, Korean, or Japanese, or Jewish culture….i just don’t know. My instinct is no, if it’s a really good essay. Maybe if it’s just a “this is my ethnicity and it’s special to me because o love my parents and my community” type essay. But they probably already know you are Korean/chinese/jewish/japanese so it’s probably not the essay that will affect as much as your name (unless you’ve got an ambiguous name, eg Chinese mom married Irish dad and your name is Jack Moynihan….). At some point, you can’t control for all the randomness.

FWIW, my kid has a very Jewish name but isn’t Jewish. Did the name hurt? Who knows. I don’t even know what they wrote their culture essay about — they wouldn’t tell me!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think these schools want to hear about Asian culture, including Indian.

I don’t think they want to hear about middle eastern/North African.

I don’t think they want to hear about any Caribbean culture.

I think they’re only looking for (American) Black, Hispanic, indigenous, and rural, and first gen (but only if no specified ethnicity or one of the above).

The whole thing feels like a trap w college still stuck with their own implicit bias or not so implicit box checking.

Am I wrong? Wouldn’t you advise a kid with strong ties to, say, Egypt or China to pick a “culture” (club, neighborhood etc) that isn’t so impacted in this process?

I mean you sound like a paranoid loon. Listen to yourself. And then seek psychiatric help.

OP is right.

+1 Write about the culture of excellence. Rarely read that anymore in statements.

[Anonymous]

Write about bro culture and how you plan to get involved in a fraternity on campus. Amid all the protests and campus activism, colleges are starving for traditional bros (and chicks) who just want to have a great college experience like in the old days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think these schools want to hear about Asian culture, including Indian.

I don’t think they want to hear about middle eastern/North African.

I don’t think they want to hear about any Caribbean culture.

I think they’re only looking for (American) Black, Hispanic, indigenous, and rural, and first gen (but only if no specified ethnicity or one of the above).

The whole thing feels like a trap w college still stuck with their own implicit bias or not so implicit box checking.

Am I wrong? Wouldn’t you advise a kid with strong ties to, say, Egypt or China to pick a “culture” (club, neighborhood etc) that isn’t so impacted in this process?

yes, who you call American blacks, we have a special place in this country. We have been here since 1619, before the revolution, we have never been immigrants. At the same time we were not treated as fully human till the 1960s after war (where yes, white americans sacrificed many lives and that cannot be forgotten) and battle in the courts. if it were noy for this American struggle to recongize the rights of all man you would not be in this country, the flood of immigration after 1968 would not have happen if not for the civil rights movement. so yes, if colleges want to hear about how people have overcome in a society in which their not to distant ancestors, many who are still alive, were literally treated as second class citizens, take time to understand that. This country has a history, the sum of the United States is not equal to being a place people can come to espace where they came from.

So you’re not disagreeing.

so I am not disagreeing with what? please explain. honest question, i do no know what you are referring to.

DP here. You are agreeing that this question is there to low key give a preference to blacks and hispanics and you think that's a good thing because of past injustices

why hispanics? why would they get special consideration? No reason for them to be included.

regarding OP, maybe some people resent all the immigration that we have had since the 60s, because that means there are more people applying for the same limited spots in the colleges. So your complaint isn't one needing sympathy if you think about it.

Not complaining. I’m trying to understand what helps kids and what doesn’t. I know some MENA and Caribbean who think this question answered honestly does help them. I think they’re right; They’d be better off talking drama club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it’s at all a disavantage to write about carribean, middle eastern, North African (eg egyptian), Indian culture. When it’s a disadvantage to highlight Chinese, Korean, or Japanese, or Jewish culture….i just don’t know. My instinct is no, if it’s a really good essay. Maybe if it’s just a “this is my ethnicity and it’s special to me because o love my parents and my community” type essay. But they probably already know you are Korean/chinese/jewish/japanese so it’s probably not the essay that will affect as much as your name (unless you’ve got an ambiguous name, eg Chinese mom married Irish dad and your name is Jack Moynihan….). At some point, you can’t control for all the randomness.

FWIW, my kid has a very Jewish name but isn’t Jewish. Did the name hurt? Who knows. I don’t even know what they wrote their culture essay about — they wouldn’t tell me!

I think Indian and MENA is a disadvantaged. Chinese too. Japanese less so. I’d be less worried about a jewish name but I wouldn’t double down on using the culture essay to underscore this.

All this is annoying and sad. I’m not sure the race box wasn’t better. I don’t like the kids thinking about how to game this.

[Anonymous]

I don't see evidence that backs up what you're saying when I look at students on college campuses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it’s at all a disavantage to write about carribean, middle eastern, North African (eg egyptian), Indian culture. When it’s a disadvantage to highlight Chinese, Korean, or Japanese, or Jewish culture….i just don’t know. My instinct is no, if it’s a really good essay. Maybe if it’s just a “this is my ethnicity and it’s special to me because o love my parents and my community” type essay. But they probably already know you are Korean/chinese/jewish/japanese so it’s probably not the essay that will affect as much as your name (unless you’ve got an ambiguous name, eg Chinese mom married Irish dad and your name is Jack Moynihan….). At some point, you can’t control for all the randomness.

FWIW, my kid has a very Jewish name but isn’t Jewish. Did the name hurt? Who knows. I don’t even know what they wrote their culture essay about — they wouldn’t tell me!

I think Indian and MENA is a disadvantaged. Chinese too. Japanese less so. I’d be less worried about a jewish name but I wouldn’t double down on using the culture essay to underscore this.

All this is annoying and sad. I’m not sure the race box wasn’t better. I don’t like the kids thinking about how to game this.

I review applications (not for college admissions) and most of the Indian applicants say the same thing. Unfortunately they’re getting bad advice, but I think the tide is turning and the students/families are becoming more cognizant that they need to differentiate themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it’s at all a disavantage to write about carribean, middle eastern, North African (eg egyptian), Indian culture. When it’s a disadvantage to highlight Chinese, Korean, or Japanese, or Jewish culture….i just don’t know. My instinct is no, if it’s a really good essay. Maybe if it’s just a “this is my ethnicity and it’s special to me because o love my parents and my community” type essay. But they probably already know you are Korean/chinese/jewish/japanese so it’s probably not the essay that will affect as much as your name (unless you’ve got an ambiguous name, eg Chinese mom married Irish dad and your name is Jack Moynihan….). At some point, you can’t control for all the randomness.

FWIW, my kid has a very Jewish name but isn’t Jewish. Did the name hurt? Who knows. I don’t even know what they wrote their culture essay about — they wouldn’t tell me!

I think Indian and MENA is a disadvantaged. Chinese too. Japanese less so. I’d be less worried about a jewish name but I wouldn’t double down on using the culture essay to underscore this.

All this is annoying and sad. I’m not sure the race box wasn’t better. I don’t like the kids thinking about how to game this.

I review applications (not for college admissions) and most of the Indian applicants say the same thing. Unfortunately they’re getting bad advice, but I think the tide is turning and the students/families are becoming more cognizant that they need to differentiate themselves.

What’s the (same) thing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't see evidence that backs up what you're saying when I look at students on college campuses.

This. You go on the campuses of top schools and they feel overwhelmingly Asian and South Asian. Clearly these kids are getting in.

[Anonymous]

They still mostly white. Do they feel overwhelmingly white?

[Anonymous]

Can you get into to college without a culture essay?
Can you check a box that says "white/Asian male, evaluate me on merit with the standard -3 handicap?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They still mostly white. Do they feel overwhelmingly white?

Harvard is 50+% white and 30% Asian per one survey.

MIT is 40% white and 40% Asian , but double counts 10% of the school that is multiracial

Yale is 33% White , 17% Asian, and 23% international (nice trick!) which I guess is mostly Asian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it’s at all a disavantage to write about carribean, middle eastern, North African (eg egyptian), Indian culture. When it’s a disadvantage to highlight Chinese, Korean, or Japanese, or Jewish culture….i just don’t know. My instinct is no, if it’s a really good essay. Maybe if it’s just a “this is my ethnicity and it’s special to me because o love my parents and my community” type essay. But they probably already know you are Korean/chinese/jewish/japanese so it’s probably not the essay that will affect as much as your name (unless you’ve got an ambiguous name, eg Chinese mom married Irish dad and your name is Jack Moynihan….). At some point, you can’t control for all the randomness.

FWIW, my kid has a very Jewish name but isn’t Jewish. Did the name hurt? Who knows. I don’t even know what they wrote their culture essay about — they wouldn’t tell me!

I think Indian and MENA is a disadvantaged. Chinese too. Japanese less so. I’d be less worried about a jewish name but I wouldn’t double down on using the culture essay to underscore this.

All this is annoying and sad. I’m not sure the race box wasn’t better. I don’t like the kids thinking about how to game this.

I review applications (not for college admissions) and most of the Indian applicants say the same thing. Unfortunately they’re getting bad advice, but I think the tide is turning and the students/families are becoming more cognizant that they need to differentiate themselves.

Thank you for admitting that you still illegally discriminate based on race.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see evidence that backs up what you're saying when I look at students on college campuses.

This. You go on the campuses of top schools and they feel overwhelmingly Asian and South Asian. Clearly these kids are getting in.

The top grades at those schools were under the old policy AND at that time those that self identified as minorities were considered minorities.