Slightly OT, but this URM designation has always puzzled me. Does the designation encompass both URM and low income? Or is URM sufficient?

For example, if a kid has a parent born in a Latin American country, who immigrated to the U.S. after graduating from a US college, didn't have refugee status or need political asylum, but instead came for education and job prospects, currently lives a solid middle class lifestyle, has STEM job and decent salary, an American spouse - does their kid have URM advantage simply by checking the box, even though their life on the whole has been more than comfortable? Are they allowed to check the box if one parent is American ?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Whether they are a URM (AAPI) would depend on the field/school.

I don't see why it would depend on field/school. Are there any fields or schools giving admissions preferences to refugees such as Rohingya/Hmong/Uyghurs? IME, Race-based admissions preferences are based on if you check one the Black/Hispanic/Native American boxes.

Here is what I mean. There are certain scholarships/programs aimed at attracting URM into their field or school.

The list of groups eligible to apply can depend upon what groups are under-represented there.

So, my AA daughter was recruited heavily by second tier SLAC's because they struggle with attaining a diverse ethnic mix. She has been eligible for URM internships in the natural sciences but not medical sciences, because the under-representation of Asians is not the same in different STEM fields. Do you understand now?

The notion that being LGBT is some kind of admissions advantage seems ridiculous to me. My son is gay, and as far as I can tell, a HUGE percentage of the kids in his school are too. Is there any evidence for this claim?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Whether they are a URM (AAPI) would depend on the field/school.

I don't see why it would depend on field/school. Are there any fields or schools giving admissions preferences to refugees such as Rohingya/Hmong/Uyghurs? IME, Race-based admissions preferences are based on if you check one the Black/Hispanic/Native American boxes.

Here is what I mean. There are certain scholarships/programs aimed at attracting URM into their field or school.

The list of groups eligible to apply can depend upon what groups are under-represented there.

So, my AA daughter was recruited heavily by second tier SLAC's because they struggle with attaining a diverse ethnic mix. She has been eligible for URM internships in the natural sciences but not medical sciences, because the under-representation of Asians is not the same in different STEM fields. Do you understand now?

+1. The "asian" population in the US is 5.7%. There are hundreds of colleges across the country that have low representation of "Asians". My daughter's bff is Indian and received a full scholarship to a school in the midwest because she is "Asian".

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Whether they are a URM (AAPI) would depend on the field/school.

I don't see why it would depend on field/school. Are there any fields or schools giving admissions preferences to refugees such as Rohingya/Hmong/Uyghurs? IME, Race-based admissions preferences are based on if you check one the Black/Hispanic/Native American boxes.

Here is what I mean. There are certain scholarships/programs aimed at attracting URM into their field or school.

The list of groups eligible to apply can depend upon what groups are under-represented there.

So, my AA daughter was recruited heavily by second tier SLAC's because they struggle with attaining a diverse ethnic mix. She has been eligible for URM internships in the natural sciences but not medical sciences, because the under-representation of Asians is not the same in different STEM fields. Do you understand now?

Anonymous wrote:Unless you’re black or Hispanic, college admissions simply don’t care.

Wrong

Playing up tenuous Muslim claims if you are Asian is an edge

There is wide disparity between south Asian and east and south East Asian Muslim diaspora in the us vs non Muslim diaspora

I used to date someone who worked at Penn’s ao and they did make a distinction between Indian Americans and Pakistani/Bangladeshi Americans

If you do go down this route you have to go all in….talk about being half uigher or half Pakistani and also non-binary or lgbtq as well

These are things ao’s really can’t verify or even cross reference with college board/old school records

Anonymous wrote:Unless you’re black or Hispanic, college admissions simply don’t care.

FALSE narrative pushed by right wing ethno-nationalists. Don't believe the Model Minority hype.

First Gen/Low Income regardless of demographic is, rightly IMO, the diversity priority for higher education. The barriers most FG/LI students face have has gotten higher as applicants work resources and/or privilege apply to more and more schools, simply because they can (qualified or not). Thus inflating the volume of applicants and while acceptances barely budge. Et voila, single digit acceptance rates that make schools appear "competitive" when it's actually more like a lottery than a race.

Anonymous wrote:Are the Rohingya/Hmong/Uyghur diaspora considered URMs for college applications? What if the kid is a refugee or son/daughter of a refugee? Or are these groups lumped in with "Asian/Pacific islander"?

In a related question, how would an applicant belonging to one of these diaspora relay this in their college application? Through the essay is the only way I can think of. Is it enough of a hook to focus on a refugee status rather than a "made Varsity soccer captain" in the essay?

Insider here.

Bottom line, schools care more about HOW your identity has impacted you than what boxes you check. Do use Activities, Writing (essay and Additional Information (also 650 words).

That said, focus on the Common App student profile to make sure colleges understand the student's unique status of coming from a family facing genocide and ethnic oppression.

Under Demographics, select Race, then Asian and a list of 10 countries (not ethnicities, but better than generic Asian) and sub regions will come up. With your examples, Cambodia, Vietnam, China or "Other Southeast Asian" could apply.

Contrary to popular belief, colleges DO care about diversity WITHIN the "Asian" catchall term. That's why national options were putl on the personal profile. It's the same for "Hispanic" category which has Cuba, Mexico, Spain etc.

Geography and Language sections could also be used to specify background. Depends on the student.

In the Education section add any Comunity based college access support like mentoring, refugee relocation, etc. This shows the student is trying to overcome the barriers their family faces. Also, some schools have relationships or track record with college access organizations.

Use as many tools as possible to tell the student's story. Children of refugees carry burdens others don't. Persistence in facing often invisible hurdles, like the Model Minority Myth, is what schools are looking for.

Anonymous wrote:

Whether they are a URM (AAPI) would depend on the field/school.

I don't see why it would depend on field/school. Are there any fields or schools giving admissions preferences to refugees such as Rohingya/Hmong/Uyghurs? IME, Race-based admissions preferences are based on if you check one the Black/Hispanic/Native American boxes.

Anonymous wrote:Why you call it a diaspora fool

Because that’s what it is. Do you not understand what the word “diaspora” means?

If you’re part of a refugee community I would definitely write about that.

Unless you’re black or Hispanic, college admissions simply don’t care.

They’re considered Asians. Reason 2,643 why the Asian category is overbroad and useless.

Yes.

Those are subgroups of Asians (or Asian-Americans, if that applies).

Of course a child can write about how their culture/family story has impacted them.

They may also do volunteer work to help members of their community.

Whether they are a URM (AAPI) would depend on the field/school.

Are the Rohingya/Hmong/Uyghur diaspora considered URMs for college applications? What if the kid is a refugee or son/daughter of a refugee? Or are these groups lumped in with "Asian/Pacific islander"?

In a related question, how would an applicant belonging to one of these diaspora relay this in their college application? Through the essay is the only way I can think of. Is it enough of a hook to focus on a refugee status rather than a "made Varsity soccer captain" in the essay?