NY Times on new application essays dabbling in so-called "identities"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people opposed to this only do so because they think race or gender are the only way people identify and they are afraid that being white and cis may hamper their kid's college app.

But it is BS because there are so many ways your identity is defined. Physically, racially, culturally.

My husband wrote his essay on being an only child.


When I read the question from the article, “Tell us about an aspect of your identity or a life experience that has shaped you," I immediately thought of how much of my life has been shaped by my physical disability (missing a limb). In fact, I wrote about this in my college app essay in 1994.

Sorry if it offends you that I was shaped by this, and that I shouldn't have written about it. I know some of you want to believe or downplay the experiences of others as cashing in on "trauma," but you are so far off the mark.

Yup. As always, the people who claim not to want to talk or think about race and gender can’t help but show that they are actually obsessed with it.

white/hetero/athletic/intelligent male:
People look at me and before they know anything about me or my background they think: 'toxic masculinity', 'privilege', 'racist', 'misogynist', 'homophobic', etc. They see the root cause of all that is wrong with society these days apparently. I am a walking billboard for them to direct their hate.

Give us some specific examples of how it's impacted your life.

NP here. If you asked any middle or UMC black person the same question, they are unlikely to have glaring examples to point to, like lack of homeownership or difficulty getting into colleges (on the contrary actually, they benefit). What they would point to were probably many small micro aggressions and insults to their personhood that accumulated over their life. This now happens to white cis males all the time, and if you can't see that you are blind.

My DS is a white cis male and I've just asked him if he's experienced many small micro-agressions and insults to his personhood during his lifetime of 21 years, and he gave me a quizzical look and said, what??? Has no idea what I'm talking about.

So in his case it's not "all the time." In fact I dare say it's been quasi-never. And he has always gone to and still goes to diverse schools. Think Silver Spring/PG county. He also got into a T40 university, with a scholarship.

Schools today are one long unending microaggression against white cismales. If your story is even true (doubtful) your son is obviously brainwashed into believing it’s not legitimate for him to notice that he’s public enemy number one.

[Anonymous]

Any straight male will just use chatgpt to write an essay describing their trans experience and coming out. How could you not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“It's the 21st century, folks. The world our kids will enter is stunningly multicultural”

Exactly, but that should make identity LESS important, not MORE. The alumni magazine should read “Suzy X (class of ‘15) climbs Mount Everest,” not “First trans Albanian Suzy X overcomes unique challenges to go where nobody like her has gone before.”

If the identity is relevant, fine. Like if it’s “First Muslim appointed to be Pope’s bodyguard,” that’s great, because the identity is key to the story. But don’t make identity the story when it has nothing to do with the achievement.

We should be working towards a society where those sorts of characteristics aren’t THE STORY, but we are swimming upstream as long as so many people have to interject identity where it isn’t relevant.

+100
I think millions of Americans are sick to death of this trend. Enough, already.

[Anonymous]

So many 3rs Baseites offended by people pointing out that 1st Base and 2nd Base exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many 3rs Baseites offended by people pointing out that 1st Base and 2nd Base exist.

Are people on 3rd just supposed to quit and stop playing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea what it means not to partake in "identification". Are you saying that your kid refuses to answer questions about their gender, or religion, or nationality, or family status or hobbies?

Everyone I know identifies as something.

If you're a white male, cis/het, not religious, UMC, family been here a long time and intermixed (generic European), truly what is there to say?

I'm not in this category but I feel like these Qs should be optional. Otherwise it is very cringe and fake.

It's viewed as an acceptable way to screen out certain applicants who don't fit one of the college's or university's "desired student identity" categories.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many 3rs Baseites offended by people pointing out that 1st Base and 2nd Base exist.

Are people on 3rd just supposed to quit and stop playing?

NP here. Depends who you ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea what it means not to partake in "identification". Are you saying that your kid refuses to answer questions about their gender, or religion, or nationality, or family status or hobbies?

Everyone I know identifies as something.

If you're a white male, cis/het, not religious, UMC, family been here a long time and intermixed (generic European), truly what is there to say?

I'm not in this category but I feel like these Qs should be optional. Otherwise it is very cringe and fake.

It's viewed as an acceptable way to screen out certain applicants who don't fit one of the college's or university's "desired student identity" categories.

For example, if they don't fit in the "desired student identity category" of "writers" or "people who are intelligent enough not to fall for FOX news nonsense", they might be rejected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“It's the 21st century, folks. The world our kids will enter is stunningly multicultural”

Exactly, but that should make identity LESS important, not MORE. The alumni magazine should read “Suzy X (class of ‘15) climbs Mount Everest,” not “First trans Albanian Suzy X overcomes unique challenges to go where nobody like her has gone before.”

If the identity is relevant, fine. Like if it’s “First Muslim appointed to be Pope’s bodyguard,” that’s great, because the identity is key to the story. But don’t make identity the story when it has nothing to do with the achievement.

We should be working towards a society where those sorts of characteristics aren’t THE STORY, but we are swimming upstream as long as so many people have to interject identity where it isn’t relevant.

Genuinely curious — truly — how you (and others!) might design a system, in a world with massive disparities many of which stem from historic injustices, that can (a) measure the academic potential of individuals from a pool of candidates who had different starting points and inputs, and (b) assess these individuals’ level of introspection about who they are and how their perspectives were informed, such that you can have confidence in their ability to work effectively, constructively, and equitably, across cultural, socioeconomic, etc., divides.

Maybe it’s not the “identity” essay, I don’t know. But then what is it? What is the better system?

I am interested in hearing a different/better approach, but if it doesn’t acknowledge the society we’re in, and it doesn’t acknowledge goals (a) and (b), how is it not just more of what has been?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea what it means not to partake in "identification". Are you saying that your kid refuses to answer questions about their gender, or religion, or nationality, or family status or hobbies?

Everyone I know identifies as something.

Most people who say they don’t identify as anything ARE from the dominant group.
They don’t experience their identity because they live in a society where it is the default. Like background. It is the assumption. What is most comfortable. Others stand out, but they blend in. It is a form if privilege.

[Anonymous]

Why ALL the agita?????

Every single essay / interview / dinner date has the "So, tell me about yourself" question.

[Anonymous]

You are all part of the problem. This wouldn’t be an issue if top colleges had feasible numbers of applications to consider. But every snowflake with a flawless high school record needs to go to an Ivy. So damn stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea what it means not to partake in "identification". Are you saying that your kid refuses to answer questions about their gender, or religion, or nationality, or family status or hobbies?

Everyone I know identifies as something.

If you're a white male, cis/het, not religious, UMC, family been here a long time and intermixed (generic European), truly what is there to say?

I'm not in this category but I feel like these Qs should be optional. Otherwise it is very cringe and fake.

It's viewed as an acceptable way to screen out certain applicants who don't fit one of the college's or university's "desired student identity" categories.

For example, if they don't fit in the "desired student identity category" of "writers" or "people who are intelligent enough not to fall for FOX news nonsense", they might be rejected.

Meh

[Anonymous]

My deep condolences go to:
1. The families who have to put up with the ever changing admissions game
2. More importantly, our country which is valuing identity politics over achievement

Anyway, older kid is in good college because we solved the post-COVID game and got lucky

Younger one is in elementary school

I think things will shake out in the meantime. Next 5 years will be a wild ride in admissions.

Sadly, older one's legacy she created likely will not help the younger one get into college as that concept will be dismantled. That honestly is likely good for the country, but bad for our family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea what it means not to partake in "identification". Are you saying that your kid refuses to answer questions about their gender, or religion, or nationality, or family status or hobbies?

Everyone I know identifies as something.

If you're a white male, cis/het, not religious, UMC, family been here a long time and intermixed (generic European), truly what is there to say?

I'm not in this category but I feel like these Qs should be optional. Otherwise it is very cringe and fake.

It's viewed as an acceptable way to screen out certain applicants who don't fit one of the college's or university's "desired student identity" categories.

For example, if they don't fit in the "desired student identity category" of "writers" or "people who are intelligent enough not to fall for FOX news nonsense", they might be rejected.

Can you post a comment without mentioning Fox news or Trump? I'm guessing not.