Have you or your student interacted or met any AOs that are Asian?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My asian DS noted that he has never seen one single AO for any of schools he is vetting who is of asian descent. The vast majority are white women, but there are some men too and some (far fewer) Black and/or latino/latina. But zero asians work as AOs and read applications. I wonder if this unconsciously impacts the "holistic" application process.

That's because it's a stupid job and Asians aren't stupid enough to be in the field.

Bingo. Lazy stupid people are usually better suited for this waste of time.

[Anonymous]

there aren't many but there are a few

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My asian DS noted that he has never seen one single AO for any of schools he is vetting who is of asian descent. The vast majority are white women, but there are some men too and some (far fewer) Black and/or latino/latina. But zero asians work as AOs and read applications. I wonder if this unconsciously impacts the "holistic" application process.

That's because it's a stupid job and Asians aren't stupid enough to be in the field.

Yeah, restaurants and dry cleaners are better!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My asian DS noted that he has never seen one single AO for any of schools he is vetting who is of asian descent. The vast majority are white women, but there are some men too and some (far fewer) Black and/or latino/latina. But zero asians work as AOs and read applications. I wonder if this unconsciously impacts the "holistic" application process.

That's because it's a stupid job and Asians aren't stupid enough to be in the field.

Yeah, restaurants and dry cleaners are better!

Please stop the microaggressions!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IMO the holistic process dings some Asians because American values are very different from Asian values.

I tried writing up a bit about my Asian student’s essays but even though I am Asian myself, I thought it could be perceived as racist. So I deleted it. I am more assimilated into American culture so can understand both cultures. All I will say is that this kid did not get into 50+ summer programs whose apps involved essays and with me telling her what to avoid, she was able to get into HYPSM. No editing — just advice.

Another Asian student refused to take my advice and ended up at state school despite having impressive stats. The essays really matter if you’re Asian.

Can you share some of your essay advice here?

Sure. https://asiannetwork.yale.edu/news/letter-yale-student-chinese-american-community

lol this was not me who replied! I am the poster who gave my student the advice. Here goes. It is written with the best intentions and I hope it is perceived that way.

A lot of us (Asian Americans) value education and academic accomplishments. That’s a good thing. But what I am seeing is that many value education because it is going to make them rich, many are obsessed with prestige — this is very different from the kind of kids who do get admitted — they want to go to college to learn and do cool things with their education. The focus is not on money or prestige. In fact the Asian Americans who do well in college admissions usually have aspirations to do social good.

The other thing is many of us like to get things cheap! If we can think of a clever way to do that, we might tell our friends who might admire us for getting a good deal. If we are stuck in a sticky situation and can grease someone’s hands to get out (trust me this is what my student wrote about that I had to nix!) we tell our family and friends and they admire us for it. However when things like bribes make it into a college essay, it raises questions in an AO’s mind, KWIM? So it’s crucial that the Asian-American kids get their essays (main and supplemental) reviewed by someone they trust.

The other thing I would caution about is to make sure that all activities, positions and honors are accurate. If a co-president, say that instead of president. Small things like that matter. Hope this helps!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My asian DS noted that he has never seen one single AO for any of schools he is vetting who is of asian descent. The vast majority are white women, but there are some men too and some (far fewer) Black and/or latino/latina. But zero asians work as AOs and read applications. I wonder if this unconsciously impacts the "holistic" application process.

That's because it's a stupid job and Asians aren't stupid enough to be in the field.

Yeah, restaurants and dry cleaners are better!

Please stop the microaggressions!

You mean like calling POCs who have these jobs stupid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IMO the holistic process dings some Asians because American values are very different from Asian values.

I tried writing up a bit about my Asian student’s essays but even though I am Asian myself, I thought it could be perceived as racist. So I deleted it. I am more assimilated into American culture so can understand both cultures. All I will say is that this kid did not get into 50+ summer programs whose apps involved essays and with me telling her what to avoid, she was able to get into HYPSM. No editing — just advice.

Another Asian student refused to take my advice and ended up at state school despite having impressive stats. The essays really matter if you’re Asian.

This kind of self-flagellation is pathetic. Reducing complex challenges in college admissions to some imagined flaw in “Asian self-reflection” is not only intellectually lazy, it’s self-hating drivel. You’re so eager to pander to what you think admissions officers want that you throw your own community under the bus. Ironically, while ranting about the need for “big-picture” thinking, you miss the actual big picture: systemic bias, performative diversity, and a process that punishes nuance unless it fits a narrow mold. If anyone’s embarrassing here, it’s you.

Rubbish! I am very self-aware which is why I did not post what I had written as I realized it could be perceived differently than I intended.

When the kids so have helped have passed off others projects as their own, others’s awards as theirs — I found this when I cross-checked and written about bribing someone as a way to solve the biggest problem they encountered for the MIT essay, what would you call that? I have not seen this behavior in other races — it might be there, but I have not experienced it myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IMO the holistic process dings some Asians because American values are very different from Asian values.

I tried writing up a bit about my Asian student’s essays but even though I am Asian myself, I thought it could be perceived as racist. So I deleted it. I am more assimilated into American culture so can understand both cultures. All I will say is that this kid did not get into 50+ summer programs whose apps involved essays and with me telling her what to avoid, she was able to get into HYPSM. No editing — just advice.

Another Asian student refused to take my advice and ended up at state school despite having impressive stats. The essays really matter if you’re Asian.

Can you share some of your essay advice here?

Sure. https://asiannetwork.yale.edu/news/letter-yale-student-chinese-american-community

lol this was not me who replied! I am the poster who gave my student the advice. Here goes. It is written with the best intentions and I hope it is perceived that way.

A lot of us (Asian Americans) value education and academic accomplishments. That’s a good thing. But what I am seeing is that many value education because it is going to make them rich, many are obsessed with prestige — this is very different from the kind of kids who do get admitted — they want to go to college to learn and do cool things with their education. The focus is not on money or prestige. In fact the Asian Americans who do well in college admissions usually have aspirations to do social good.

The other thing is many of us like to get things cheap! If we can think of a clever way to do that, we might tell our friends who might admire us for getting a good deal. If we are stuck in a sticky situation and can grease someone’s hands to get out (trust me this is what my student wrote about that I had to nix!) we tell our family and friends and they admire us for it. However when things like bribes make it into a college essay, it raises questions in an AO’s mind, KWIM? So it’s crucial that the Asian-American kids get their essays (main and supplemental) reviewed by someone they trust.

The other thing I would caution about is to make sure that all activities, positions and honors are accurate. If a co-president, say that instead of president. Small things like that matter. Hope this helps!

As an Asian myself, this is all true!