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Does anyone have any real idea how much weight being an underrepresented minority actually pulls in the admissions process at top ranked schools. I know in Michigan's case it was fairly substantial but is this typical at most schools?

By Haithman (Haithman) on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 09:14 pm: Edit

It significantly helps your chances in my opinion. As a fellow African American (well half), if you are black, with good scores you have an excellent chance to make it into the top schools. Listen to this stat....only about 190 black students got over a 1450 this year on the SAT. If you got a score in that vicinity, with a pretty good GPA and E.C.'s your golden.

By Tkoplaya1 (Tkoplaya1) on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 09:56 pm: Edit

Hey Haithmain, Where did you get these stats? Do you know how many African Americans got over a 1350 on the SAT I. I'm stressin out about my scores so I hope that being a URM will help me out. What about Africans in general? Are they considered as African Americans by adcoms.

By May_1 (May_1) on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 10:03 pm: Edit

I'm not big on AA (and I DO NOT want to turn this into an AA debate), but honestly, when I've got that gut feeling of "OH PLEASE LET ME IN!!!!" I hope for every advantage that I can get. I mean, how many published black males with a 1490 (hopefully in the 15's from Dec's test) and craploads of university classes can Stanford possibly get? I hope not many...

By Haithman (Haithman) on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 10:07 pm: Edit

i was reading an article on i think washingtonpost.com that said that

i may be wrong but only like 75 got over 1500 or 1550 i think.
Not sure about 1350.
University's are fighting over urm's with these stats.

By Minnesoder (Minnesoder) on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 10:11 pm: Edit

there was a recent article in the washington post "affirmative reaction," it has those stats.


I'm worried too. I'm black and i have a 1500+ (800v/720m) sat1, and comparable SAT2 scores, etc, but a terrible GPA. nevertheless i have a fairly tough courseload (9 APs by graduation), go to a pretty competitive small prep school, have good ECs, and surprisinly very nice recs.

what are my chances at a school like carelton, for ED?

it's nearing notification time anyway, so none of this may matter anymore, but i'd still like to know.

Carleton flew me up, and they want black students in a big way (especially black males), and they really like to snatch up ED applicants (but maybe not so much now with yield criterion change in the rankings), and they really like geographic diversity, plus my SAT easily puts me, i'm sure in the 90+% for all aplicants, probably higher for ED. i'm also nat'l achivements semifinalist...my essay was also pretty good..


my question is, do i offer them enough of what they're looking for to overlook my GPA, especially if one of my recs very aptly discussed that issue?

edit: the numbers:

1300---1877
1450---192
1500---72

By Haithman (Haithman) on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 10:28 pm: Edit

What is your GPA?

But Dude, if Carleton flew you up dont you think they must like you.....

By Minnesoder (Minnesoder) on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 10:37 pm: Edit

they flew me up along w/ about 6 other kids as part of a minorty weekend,having not seen my GPA.


given the fact that my school does not inflate at all 9a number of "low" GPAs for high scoring kids, there are no rankings, no wieghted grades, VERY high challenge index, 1409 SAT Avg, and there are only about 34 kids in my class....can you tell me what GPA would likely get me deferred...?

By Minnesoder (Minnesoder) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 12:09 am: Edit

bump

By Valpal (Valpal) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 12:16 am: Edit

Minnesoder, what's your GPA? Congrats on your great SAT score, by the way.

By Judeezy36 (Judeezy36) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 06:24 am: Edit

man, you fellas have some bangin stats, im a fellow brotha with a 1200 (640, 560) tryin to pull george washington... best of luck to you all-

1

By Minnesoder (Minnesoder) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 07:16 pm: Edit

deferral

By Princesanegrita (Princesanegrita) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 07:42 pm: Edit

sorry..gotta represent for the ladies 750m 740v holla atcha girl. Good luck to all yall guys tho..smart/ambitious black guys are a blessing from God for realz.
One.

By Culovv (Culovv) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 08:10 pm: Edit

im not black but i am hispanic so i guess ill just post here.

Minnesoder: I dont see them deferring/rejecting you unless you have less than a 2.2. Even then, you still have a chance because of your high SAT score and URM status.

Good to see that we have some URM on the board. Ive got a bit of a GPA problem too... I go to a school like yours (although there are about 150 in my class) and my gpa is low... about 3.3 UW when only I only include my HS courses. Ive got a pretty drastic upward grade trend with a 2.7 freshman year, 2.9 sophomore year, 3.7 junior year, and 3.9 this year. I didnt have time to retake my SAT, which i took without any prep (1310). Hopefully I can improve on on my ACT. Ive pretty much given up hope on my first 2 choices, but umich and uwisc are looking more attractive every day. Yea, i know my chances suck at both of those schools but its worth a shot right? Id be happy at my safety school anyways.

By Peachieva (Peachieva) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 08:11 pm: Edit

May 1:
I'm also african american and I just got in SCEA at stanford. Dude, you're in especially with that score-well as long as you've got the ecs recs and essays. My score suck but I'm in the top 1% of my HS class and i'm also a legacy from rual texas. if you're a first generation college applicant-that's even better. Good luck to you.

By Princesanegrita (Princesanegrita) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 08:14 pm: Edit

Ugh..Don't be self-defeating like that. Is there any reason why your GPA was low the first two years? adjustment? Explain that in your application. That's why you apply to REACH schools..they may not seem like sure shots..but if u never try..you'll never know..and biting regret is the most wasted emotion. Hope is never lost until you give up (gotta love them cliches lol) Study ur bum off for the ACT and go in there and "wil' out" ..do your best. Cross your fingers and ur toes and post-mark those bad-boys
holla.

By Mnm86 (Mnm86) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 08:17 pm: Edit

funnily enough after seen all these statistics...

i know 2 people who've gotten 1600's. both happen to be black (and siblings, actually)

however, they are african, not african-american (though african american in the sense that they've grown up in the US.)

one is at harvard, the other at yale.

By Minnesoder (Minnesoder) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 08:47 pm: Edit

Minnesoder: I dont see them deferring/rejecting you unless you have less than a 2.2. Even then, you still have a chance because of your high SAT score and URM status.


but i did get deferred, got the letter today...

By Princesanegrita (Princesanegrita) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 08:48 pm: Edit

be consoled.. you are by no means alone. Have you applied to any other IVY or tier-1 schools?

By Minnesoder (Minnesoder) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 09:02 pm: Edit

umm..yeah, maybe too many other tier 1 school. I think now I might not have enough safeties.

swat, wesleyan, bowdoin, nyu, emory, pomona, washU,

i'm applying to others but these are the most elite.

I applied to BC and Fordham, EA....what are my chances there. (everything now comes into question)

By Daedalus (Daedalus) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 09:07 pm: Edit

Peachieva, what were your stats, sat scores, etc.

By Princesanegrita (Princesanegrita) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 09:10 pm: Edit

oh gosh you sound very upset. You got deferred sweetie, not rejected. Calm down. It's not too late for safties, find some that do rolling admissions. I'm applying to Howard..and they would love to have you. Deadline Jan 15th. fee waived if you're a Nat. Achievement Semi-finalist. Just calm down...don't get sad, just focus your energy on making your outcome how you would have it. Pomona is very likely to accept you..so is washU you're stats are off the rocker, and regardless of how much we try to predict admissions, i think it's a true reflection of life, some things just dont make sense. All things work together for the good of those who.. I hope you know the rest.

By Minnesoder (Minnesoder) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 09:34 pm: Edit

It will be a long christmas break, especially becasue i was coutning on an acceptance to shut my parents up. instead they upbraided and berated me, and i only imagine it will get worse...should i not get into BC, i expect far worse. tonight really sucks. my parents are not understanding at all.

Hopefully some other good school will take a chance on me. when the bowdoin reps (1 alum/former admissions rep + current rep) came to my school thy really sold me on the school. and according to my guidnace counselor they were "VERY" excited (he practically called me out of class to say so), the alum wanted to take me out to dinner, and gave her number, but I failed to follow up once i got hooked on Carleton, and now that i've burned that bridge, i'm afraid.

By Minnesoder (Minnesoder) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 10:45 pm: Edit

bump

By Princesanegrita (Princesanegrita) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 10:55 pm: Edit

Look..I mean...parents are great but..they cant live your life boo, you gotta "do you"..do what you need to do to make YOUR life the bomb...not to shut people up. If you live for other people..you'll never be happy. It's christmas ..holiday time..time to relax..destress..live life. This is the beginning of something new and wonderful..not the end.

By Peachieva (Peachieva) on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 11:14 pm: Edit

Daedalus:
SATI: 1300ish retook and probably got 14+ but it really doesn't matter except for outside scholarships
SATII: writing 600, math IIC 680, chemistry 610
ACT: 27
GPA: W: 5.98 UW: 4.0
10 APs
AP Tests: hum geo 4, eng lang 3, chem 2, us hist 2
senior schedule: AP Studio Art, AP Eng Lit, AP Mirco, AP Calculus AB, AP US Govt, AP French Lang, and Pre-AP Physics (arghh-that class)
rank: 4/420
rual Texas
I wrote my big essay about art
EC's: speech/debate (state qualifier and capatin), newspaper staff, NHS (VP), Mu alpha theta, Art honor society (state qualifier in VASE), french honor society (treasurer), science club (treasuer and secretary), student exec council...yada yada yada
My recs were written by teachers that had known me a minimum of 3 years
I'm black
and a legacy
who really wanted to return to cali-i got my wish!

(I suck at standardized testing, but I guess the adcom saw past that with my strong grades. I'm really dorky when it comes to grades the majority of them were above 97 in the most rigorous curriculum at my school)

our school had another admit a couple of years ago w/a 1250 and he wasn't in the top 10%.

Best of luck-I hope this helps you

By Tkoplaya1 (Tkoplaya1) on Saturday, December 13, 2003 - 10:36 am: Edit

Princessanegrita:
Congrats on the SAT score
Represent for the Nat'l Achievement Scholars at CC!
I'm really anxious about finding out if I become a finalist. Oh yeah, I'm applying to Howard too. Where are you from? Doesn't location have a lot to do with whether or not you become a Finalist? You sound really laid back and chill so I'm guessin you're from The Dirty (down south). If not, too bad. Well anywayz, it is nice to know that CC is an ethnically diverse web site. Y'all keep postin. Let everyone know that there are some educated minorities out there who are not just ridin th affirmative action wave.

Well if any body wanted to know here are my stats:
SATI: 670v 700M
SAT II: Took them last saturday (math, latin, writing)
GPA: 3.7 UW
APs: 5 this year, none last year(i hate my school)

By Tkoplaya1 (Tkoplaya1) on Saturday, December 13, 2003 - 11:04 am: Edit

"Y'all keep postin. Let everyone know that there are some educated minorities out there who are not just ridin th affirmative action wave."
************************************************

I hope I didn't come off as if I'm against Affirmative Action or anything. I just get sick and tired of people on this site complaining about how affirmative action is racist and discriminatory and how URMs are just flunking out of these elite colleges they get into. 400 years of slavery and oppression and people have the nerve...Ugh, don't let me get started... Well just wanted to clear thigs up.

By Culovv (Culovv) on Saturday, December 13, 2003 - 06:27 pm: Edit

Minnesoder:

I am completely amazed. Everything seems to be in your favor.... SAT, courseload, URM, EC's, essay, recs, good school, ED, PLUS they flew you up... I can't believe Carleton deferred you! After reading your deferral post i took a while before i responded (drove around, ate, etc.). How bad could your GPA have been? Even if it was less than 2.5, your courseload and SAT's definately make up for it! Your deferral has depressed me even though i dont know you... i feel like going to the bookstore and not coming home until later tonight - which is what im off to do now.

You are probably one of the most qualified applicants ive seen on this board. Continue to show interest in Carleton... if they spent all the time and effort taking you to campus, they MUST be interested.

By Satman04 (Satman04) on Saturday, December 13, 2003 - 07:42 pm: Edit

could someone post a link from the washingtonpost about blacks and SAT scores?

By Bdiddy (Bdiddy) on Saturday, December 13, 2003 - 07:54 pm: Edit

Minnesoder, I hope you easily get accepted at BC because I'm applying RD there too and my stats are a lot lower then yours. 1300 SAT, Top 30% but a URM. Hopefully we both get in.

By Princesanegrita (Princesanegrita) on Saturday, December 13, 2003 - 10:19 pm: Edit

Tko...what's really good. I'm from the "so fresh-so clean" North heh. I don't really want to go to Howard, but I'm saying tho..if I don't get into my top schools..I wouldn't cry over going there..and although I would like to be a finalist..not being one wouldn't end my world.
Stats as follows:
750m 740v
5.09w/3.98uw
Ib Diploma Candidate..um truckloads of APs starting soph. year.Rep-ing for all of the URMs who made it "thru the wire" hah..only some of yall got that rite? lol HOLLA

By Tkoplaya1 (Tkoplaya1) on Sunday, December 14, 2003 - 01:25 am: Edit

"I'm from the "so fresh-so clean" North heh"

***********************************************
Fresh so clean IS outkast and they do rep the ATL
So I'ma need you to stop frontin. (j/k)(You know you wish u were down here)
Oh yeah, I don't really want to go to Howard either, but I'm gonna apply to all the schools who waive my app fee and present some interest in hookin me up financially.
Oh yeah, I was flippin thru the CC archives and i came across the essay u posted a while back (cotton shocked). Personally, I thought it was alla that but there were obviously some haters (brush em off, girl ,brush em off). Anywayz, did you end up using this essay?I hope so bcuz I though you really expressed yourself well. Well Peace and good luck. I Gotta stay up all night workin on my Stanford APP. Thats what procrastination'll do too ya

By Princesanegrita (Princesanegrita) on Sunday, December 14, 2003 - 08:33 am: Edit

Yo..for real..it's storming over here in Buffalo, I need some warm weather.
-yeah I applied for this thing called the Jefferson Scholarship..it's basically a full ride plus expenses plus stipend to UVA..and I had to use that essay! I really liked it myself...but with anything good..u gotta expect the haters to come rushin in..but my blood pressure aint up..and im not stressin. "No drama" right? yeah i tried to work on that thing last night (stanford app)..my brain hurts.

By Minnesoder (Minnesoder) on Sunday, December 14, 2003 - 03:34 pm: Edit

bump

By Princesanegrita (Princesanegrita) on Sunday, December 14, 2003 - 03:47 pm: Edit

yo Minne..will you peep my essay right quick?

By Chrisy (Chrisy) on Sunday, December 14, 2003 - 03:50 pm: Edit

not as much as recruited athletes but more than alumni.

By Northstarmom (Northstarmom) on Sunday, December 14, 2003 - 03:53 pm: Edit

Being African American can be a major tipping factor at colleges that have a hard time attracting black students. From what I can figure out, this would include places such as Bowdoin, U Wisconsin-Madison, Alma, Calvin, etc.

Minnesoder, though, if what you mean by a terrible gpa is something like a 2.5 weighted, despite your stellar scores, I doubt that most top tier colleges would admit you. They'd fear that despite your obvious brains, your lack of work ethic for formal academics would cause you to flunk out. Their fear would be very realistic because the best predictor of college performance is h.s. gpa.

Taking a rigorous courseload and having a sky high SAT do not compensate for a low gpa. Colleges realize that you're able, but very lazy.

If your heart is set on going to a top tier school, you could start at a lower tier school, do very well and then transfer.

By Princesanegrita (Princesanegrita) on Sunday, December 14, 2003 - 03:57 pm: Edit

Northstarmom..can u read my stanford essay?

By Pwiddles (Pwiddles) on Sunday, December 14, 2003 - 04:00 pm: Edit

Hey. I was wondering if you guys could give me some honest opinions about my chances to these schools: Fordham, Ithaca, UNH, UCONN,La Salle, Phioladelpia University

STATS:
High School Average: 88
SAT Score: 1100( 1000 the first time)* taking them again and hope to get at least a 1160 or 1200
I have been practicing and doing well

Academics & Awards: Highest Average in English 9R

Activities: -Congressional Student Leadership Conference on Medicine & Healthcare
- Volunteer tutor (4yrs)
-volunteer mentor(2yrs)

Clubs- International Club (3YRS) (secratary for one year)
-yearbook (2yrs)
-Literary magazine (1yr)
-yearbook for religious organization( 3yrs) (editor for 2yrs)

I also recieved Regents credit for the Greek Regents

I speak Greek, English, and Spanish

My AP score's are: 4 on the U.S History
2 on the English Language Composition

What do you think my chances are? Do you recommend any other schools?

By Northstarmom (Northstarmom) on Sunday, December 14, 2003 - 04:00 pm: Edit

Minnesoder,
I suggest that you consider going to an HBCU. With your scores, you'd probably get merit aid. You'd also enter as one of the top freshmen. More than likely, you'd be taken under the wing of some professors and strongly encouraged to work at a much higher level than you've done in h.s.

I have seen black males with similar score/grade discrepancies as yours become stellar students at HBCUs. Their high performance wasn't due to the fact that they had the ability to go to a more rigorous school.Their high performance was due to the one-on-one mentoring that they got, and the confidence boost that they got when they learned that if they really used their brains, they could be excelling in ECs (such as being top student government officers) plus graduating magna or summa, with excellent job or grad school offers in hand.

Too often, black males get the idea in secondary school that if they manage to pass or to survive with very low honors, they are God's gift to the universe. Such students often aren't pushed by parents/teachers to come up to their potential, so even though they could be valedictorians, they are pleased to simply graduate.

That's why HBCUs can be great places for such students -- who can benefit from people expecting more from them, and from people who will give them a swift, caring kick in the butt if they try to slide by.

It also can be a nice feeling to enter a college as a top student instead of feeling that one was accepted because one was black, even though one's stats put one toward the bottom of the pool.

Howard and Florida A&M would be the schools that I would suggest that you consider.They'd be expecting you to be on track for medical school, law school, or a doctoral program in a rigorous field such as the hard sciences.

By Princesanegrita (Princesanegrita) on Sunday, December 14, 2003 - 04:05 pm: Edit

Northstarmom..will u read my standford essay?

By Minnesoder (Minnesoder) on Sunday, December 14, 2003 - 04:29 pm: Edit

my terrible GPA is (much) higher than a 2.5 *weighted*

By Tkoplaya1 (Tkoplaya1) on Sunday, December 14, 2003 - 07:08 pm: Edit

Minnesoder,
I don't know how you feel about HBCUs but I think you should consider northstarmom's advice. My dad teaches at Florida A&M (Tallahassee)and it's one of the best historically black colleges. Plus they offered me a full ride + a free laptop computer + a $2000 stipend and my SAT scores are way lower than yours. (oh yeah, it had nothing to do with my dad teaching there.) ANd I don't know where you're from but Tallahassee isn't a bad place to live. Well thats just my 2 pennies. Good luck with Carleton. DOn't lose faith, I'm sure they will accept you so don't stressout too much.

By Minnesoder (Minnesoder) on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 12:09 am: Edit

a florida A&M rep actually contacted my GC about me this week. and my GC faxed her my info (test sheet + transcript), and they'll give me an admissions (and possibly scholarship) decision fairly soon.

i will consider Florida A&M, but does anyone think my other reach schools will take a chance on me, I know Bowdoin would not reject me lightly, but the others?

By Plopfkop (Plopfkop) on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 12:41 am: Edit

"minnesoder" (if that's your real name).

Why not just ask Carleton why they deferred you?

By Northstarmom (Northstarmom) on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 12:49 am: Edit

Minnesoder,
For people to offer the most useful advice, you need to provide your gpa, weighted and unweighted. With your scores, you should have been carrying a 3.9-4.0 unweighted. You are extremely bright, and no matter what kind of tough course load you have been taking, you are capable of excelling.

By Northstarmom (Northstarmom) on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 01:08 am: Edit

Minnesoder,
BTW, I am not sure, but I think that to be a National Achievement finalist, you need about a 3.5. I am not sure whether one needs that weighted or unweighted.

I do know that my older son had 1410 SATs,National Merit commended, stellar ECs including national recognition for a nonathletic one, a rigorous curriculum and a 2.9 unweighted and was told that he didn't make finalist because of a low gpa.

By Minnesoder (Minnesoder) on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 01:27 am: Edit

good idea, Plopfkop. I'll call after the english final, and tell you how it went, unless, of course, you leave too early..

By Minnesoder (Minnesoder) on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 01:34 am: Edit

Northstarmom:

Where did your son happen to go (and where was he admitted), if you don't mind saying?

By Chillinnigerian (Chillinnigerian) on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 03:56 am: Edit

Im an Afrikan(Nigerian) American with a 1420 but im takin it again in January for a 1500+. And im pro AA for African Amercans. We Nigerians on the other hand, dont need it cuz were raised like stereotypical asian kids. Still, im using it to my advantage because im broke and there's no point not being able to afford college because i didnt put my race down on my application.

By Northstarmom (Northstarmom) on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 10:00 am: Edit

My older son went to U Minn., which gave him a virtually full ride. His scores put him at the top of their freshman class. He is a big hockey fan, loves the midwest and big cities, and U Minn. was his second choice college.

He also was accepted to his first choice college, U Michigan. They didn't give him merit aid even though some is supposed to be given without reference to financial need. The reason they gave him for not giving aid was that he didn't apply for need-based aid.

He also was accepted with merit aid to U Wis. and Syracuse. He was accepted to Vandy with no merit aid. He was rejected by Columbia. He really had no interest in going to Columbia, and filled out his app very perfunctuarily such as saying he wanted to go there because it's in NYC.

Silly me. I could not believe that anyone as smart as he, with scores as high, and intellectual passion (demonstrated usually through ECs, not in class) wouldn't want to at least try to get into one of the top colleges. I feared that once spring came, if he didn't apply to top colleges, he'd be kicking himself for not doing so. He really had no interest, and did not care at all that he was rejected.

What my son really needed to do was to take some time off before applying to college. This is because he hated school. My husband and I did suggest that he do this, but my son insisted on applying to colleges, and then dropped out after freshman year.

Should anyone reading this be getting low or mediocre grades because of a dislike of school, it really can be a good move to take a structured gap year. Do a job -- any job. Do volunteer work that interests you. Do structured travel. Don't waste your profs' time and others' funds to go to college if you're not ready for it.

Taking a gap year or 2 off doesn't mean that one will never go to college. If you're a smart person, you'll probably end up going with far more focus and energy - and with far more undestanding of what college has to offer -- than if you go right after h.s.

Colleges also look at a productive gap year or two as an asset. "Productive" is the key word, though. Spending a year or two getting high and playing video games isn't considered productive.

By Tkoplaya1 (Tkoplaya1) on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 10:22 am: Edit

Chillinnigerian,

Congrats on the SAT score, Hold It Down for All the Nigerians out there. I can totally relate about the Asian kids thing. We are practically in the same boat. I got a 1370 but I'm retaking in Jan. hoping to get 1450+. Except for I'm a senior and I don't know if all colleges accept Jan. scores. Anyway, I'm glad to see my fellow AFrikans representing. Good luck on the Jan. test.
Hey, do you think that there are any other Nigerians out there on CC. Maybe we can start our own post. Well, I'm off to go fry some plaintain (Doh-Doh). O-da-boh (A very rough Yoruba translation for goodbye)

By Jem04 (Jem04) on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 01:53 pm: Edit

Minnesoder:
READ THIS.
Listen,honey, your Stats are excellent. When I read that you were applying ED to Carleton, I was honestly hoping you wouldn't get in. I am not trying to be mean but you could do so much better.
I hope you apply to stanfrod,duke,ect. I bet you will get into them all. Be agressive! Apply to any school you want!

About the HBCU- You do not need to go to an HBCU. I think you can defenitly get into other schools. If you do want to go to one, the only one I suggest is Moorehouse.

Good luck! I really think the defferal was a blessing in disguise.

By Sportsfan1 (Sportsfan1) on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 02:27 pm: Edit

WELL. I am a white guy, but you know, I have a lot of black and asian friends, and also some friends from puerto rico. I dont know what to check on my application to stanford? Can someone help me please!

By Plopfkop (Plopfkop) on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 02:59 pm: Edit

Umm seriously, "Minnesoder", your scores and race give you a chance at the top colleges in the nation. Maybe you just fell victim to the ugly, desperate chick phenomenon. You came on so strong to Carleton, that they felt they could safely reject you, then pick you up RD. On the other hand, your grades do suck. So I could be talking out my ass. You shoulda played it coy. Plenty of places would kill to have you (though they'd prefer me).

By Plopfkop (Plopfkop) on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 03:00 pm: Edit

Umm yea, also in regards to that SAT thing, the number is slightly inflated. The number is only for single-sitting results from 2003. You should multiply the number by 2-3x at any particular score in order to account for composite scores and scores from tests taken in 2002 and jan 2004

By Havardhopeful (Havardhopeful) on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 03:15 pm: Edit

Hey Sportsfan,
personally I am in the same boat as you. Althought I am also caucasian, I consider myself black because I have a lot of black and hispanic friends. On my application I checked "African American". I reccommend you do the same.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 04:37 pm: Edit

The don't ask the ethnicity of your friends, your parole agent, your priest, or anything else. They ask what ethnicity *you* are. If I were the provost or whomever of a University and discovered this kind of lie after you were admitted, your admission would be rescinded before you could blink. Fortunately, these things do happen.

By Havardhopeful (Havardhopeful) on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 04:42 pm: Edit

WoW, you might be just as foolish as me for believing this "joke". Come on man, use your head-
... are you implying that all parole agents are minorities?

By Thedad (Thedad) on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 05:26 pm: Edit

No more than priests are.

By Minnesoder (Minnesoder) on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 07:21 pm: Edit

"Hey, do you think that there are any other Nigerians out there on CC?*"

Yeah, I'm Nigerian.

Northstarmom:
- I have been considering taking a year off; it might be good for me

By Tkoplaya1 (Tkoplaya1) on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 08:27 pm: Edit

Yaaayyyyyyyy! See, you do have everything going for you.(Unless you're Ibo). I'm starting to think Nigerians account for like half of those 75 1500+ SAT scores. We Rock!! I've heard that there are mad (many) Nigerians at Ivy League and tier 1 schools. Can't wait to meet some of them soon.

Well Peace.
(mo-feh JAY Uhn) A very rough Yoruba translation for I gotta go eat.

By Tkoplaya1 (Tkoplaya1) on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 02:58 am: Edit

bump

By Sadeyedlady (Sadeyedlady) on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 08:20 pm: Edit

I'm Nigerian too. I was born in Maiduguri, can only speak Hausa. Mom's Fulani, dad is Yoruba. I'm a US citizen.

My sister said most blacks at ivies are african-born or 2nd generation immigrants because africans tend to have a high work ethic.

she also made a rather racist comment about african-americans that i won't repeat.

By Vivian (Vivian) on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 08:43 pm: Edit

I'm Nigerian, too! This is crazy! There's so many of us! =) Anyway, I speak Igbo!

I was accepted to and will attend Columbia... But the wacko thing is, is that they still need to show me the estimated financial package, i should have that info within a day or so... But really, if I don't hear by Friday, then like, I'll go ahead and submit my application to Princeton! Cuz what the hel l you know? This is finals week and my last day of school before Christmas break is this Thursday. Deadlines are the Jan 2nd, and we return back to school on like the 5th....I can't get locked into a school I can't pay for, but at the same time, I will NOT go somewhere crappy because it's free. That's just me, though. Columbia is sooooooo me, and personally, I see Pton as the next best thing. So that's my plan. I'm not going to let money like... RULE THIS DECISION etc etc etc!

Haha, sorry to ramble... I'm praying for mucho dinero, because i want to go there sooo bad, above everything else, guys...

AHHH I CANT BELIEVE MY DREAM IS COMING TRUE!!

Vivian

By Sadeyedlady (Sadeyedlady) on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 09:16 pm: Edit

vivian what were your stats?

By Minnesoder (Minnesoder) on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 10:30 pm: Edit

"My sister said most blacks at ivies are african-born or 2nd generation immigrants because africans tend to have a high work ethic."

But there are reasons for that, and while some are cultural, many more are institultional. you can't ignore the income gap between 1st and 2nd generation Africans and African Americans, the fact that so many come to America having degrees or for the purpose of obtaining hihger education cannot be ignored. It's an automatic head-start in the race.

So any comparison made is almost always one between a better off (financially) child of more-educated parents (on average), with children statistically much likelier to live in broken 1-parent homes (in sub-par -mostly rental- housing), recieve sub par education, and go on without health coverager. I very often see many Nigerians (usually adults) badmouthing African Americans, and I'm glad my father always tried to make clear the fact that I'm priveleged. so many ignorantly fail to realize, that even though black, they do benefit from more social priveleges than do most African Americans. It's dangerous not to make that reaization.

By Derelict (Derelict) on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 10:40 pm: Edit

does anyone have any proof or evidence of all these assumptions about black people and ivy league schools?

By Minnesoder (Minnesoder) on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 - 09:29 pm: Edit

"does anyone have any proof or evidence of all these assumptions about black people and ivy league schools?"

I would definitely not say half, becasue that sounds so ridiculously exaggerated, but is a disproportianately high percentage.

By Princesanegrita (Princesanegrita) on Thursday, December 18, 2003 - 02:13 am: Edit

I said this before on another thread, but I want to make sure that any African Americans..that aren't 1st or 2nd generation are represented. All of my family..back to my great great grandmother are either black american or native american. I've been low-income all of my life, and my parents never went to college, I've spent most of my life in a 5 mile radius. While I may not represent a high portion of the blacks aiming for IVYs..I want to represent the group that seems most likely to be forgotten about. Inspite of what most people think..there are TONS of smart black kids who just don't have resources. the kids in my neighborhood haven't heard of SAT2s or AP courses. I've seen kids get very nice SAT scores..and then just decide to go to our community college because they didn't know what to do for the application process. Very hard for some of us on this board to imagine.I was not raised with a strong work ethic. I was told that education was valuable..and I believed it. "But for the grace of God there go I." Something all of us should keep in mind when we are successful. Sorry for preaching..but I had to ;)

By Tkoplaya1 (Tkoplaya1) on Thursday, December 18, 2003 - 02:19 am: Edit

Can I get an Ammmennn?


tko

By Northstarmom (Northstarmom) on Thursday, December 18, 2003 - 09:27 am: Edit

PrincessN,
In "Cotton Shocked," you described what your grandmom did in order to get her family ahead after she moved North. That sure seemed like she demonstrated a strong work ethic for you.

It's not like she moved North, then took pains to teach her descendants how to milk the welfare system. Believe it or not, I actually have seen some very dysfunctional families (such as drug addicts' families) in which that kind of instruction is what they teach their kids about making it in life.

And didn't you also get a strong exposure to Black Muslim's self determination principles?

By Northstarmom (Northstarmom) on Thursday, December 18, 2003 - 09:31 am: Edit

TKOplayer,
Where else are you applying beside Howard and presumably FAMU? I see you posting on the Harvard board, too. Are you trying to follow your brother there also? What's the Harvard competition like where you are?
Your stats & ECs?

By Tkoplaya1 (Tkoplaya1) on Thursday, December 18, 2003 - 05:28 pm: Edit

NorthStarMom,

I'm Applying to Harvard, Stanford, Duke, Emory, Columbia, Univ. Of Fla, FSU, and Oberlin.

I feel like I might be on the borderline of Accept/reject for some of these schools based on my stats and the average stats of admitees for these schools. I am hoping that I will have a killer essay that will show the adcoms what stats do not show. I think that really helped my brother get in, whose stats were similar to mine.
Also, he is very musically talented, which I am not.

Stats:
SAT I: (1370; 670V, 700M)
However, I am taking it again on Jan. 24 so once I finish all my college apps., I'm going to lock myself in a room somewhere and study my hindparts off so that I can get a 1450. (Seriously. If you don't hear from me between Jan. 1 and Jan. 24, just know that I am somewhere mastering the art of the Standardized Test)

SAT IIs: I find out tomorrow, I took MathIC, Writing, and Latin

GPA: 3.7 Unweighted, 3.85 w/o 9th grade, My school doesn't weight grades but it is probably in the 4.15-4.3 range.

Courseload: As rigorous as my school gets, Taking 6 out of the 7 AP classes my school offers this year (No art studio for me)

ECs: Four Years of football
Lots of volunteer web design work (FSU Museum of art webpage)
National Rural Elec. Co-Op Assoc. Washington youth Tour winner (elected as Fla. Rep. on nat'l Youth Leadership Council while in D.C.)
Math Team Captain
Co-Editor of Christian Teen magazine(Esteemed)
NHS
Lots of Latin Awards (1st place in state vocab comp.)
And some other stuff..

P.S. What are some of the things that you think helped you get into Harvard? And did you choose Harvard over other prestigious schools? If so, why?

Peace.

tko

By Tkoplaya1 (Tkoplaya1) on Thursday, December 18, 2003 - 05:39 pm: Edit

Oh yeah
Class Rank: 5/126

peace.

tko.

By Tkoplaya1 (Tkoplaya1) on Thursday, December 18, 2003 - 07:00 pm: Edit

bump

tko.

By May_1 (May_1) on Thursday, December 18, 2003 - 07:14 pm: Edit

Just got my SAT scores back. 1530!!!

800 V/ 730 M

I'm so glad I finally crossed the 1500 mark. This is certainly a relief. Now to finish those 6 apps...

By Sadeyedlady (Sadeyedlady) on Thursday, December 18, 2003 - 08:29 pm: Edit

congratulations, may!

where are you applying?

By May_1 (May_1) on Friday, December 19, 2003 - 03:46 am: Edit

Well, I've already applied to Berkeley, UCSD, and Stanford...now I just have to get Swarthmore, Northwestern, and [cough]harvardyaleprincetonmit [cough] done.

By Northstarmom (Northstarmom) on Friday, December 19, 2003 - 09:40 am: Edit

Tko,
I applied to Harvard back in 1968, when "only" one in 4 females and one in 3 males got in, so you must put my info into that context. At the same time, due to the Baby Boom, at the time that I applied to college, it was the most competitive year in history. Still, admission was far easier than it is now.

I think that I got in with the hooks of being black with an unusual background (very white small community, strong classical music background). I also demonstrated intellectual passion.

I attended an excellent public school that was known for producing the best students in the region, and sent several students to Harvard each year. This was in a 99.9% white village of 6,000 in Upstate NY. As far as I can tell, my family also integrated that village, and I wrote my essay about what it was like to be the only black person in my h.s. class of 400.
I had taken a tough curriculum, and had done well though I wasn't valedictorian.
I had high scores.
I had a very strong demonstrated interest in pursuing classical music. When I applied, this was far rarer than it is now (many Asian applicants now have pursued classical music in depth). I had taken piano for 12 years, and played at the concerto level. I played violin in a local college orchestra and in my school's orchestras.

I had focused career objectives (wanted to be a poli sci prof), and had spent some time with a local poli sci prof, and had done in depth research on a political science issue. This included traveling to NYC, 3 hours away, to do reseach (seeing Kwame Ture, then known as Stokley Carmichael,of SNCC speak).

I had a strong on campus interview (Back then, anyone willing to go there could get one), and also had an optional (then) alumni interview in which I spoke passionately about my research interests.

Because my mom worked at a local Little Ivy and even had been part of admissions decisions there, I had a fairly sophisticated idea of what adcoms looked for, and tailored my essay and application accordingly.

As for why I picked Harvard: I loved Boston, and I thought Harvard was the best college in the world. When I had visited there, I had been taken around by some impressive black women upperclassmen (one of which was Lani Guinier), and I hoped that I could grow up and be like them.
I was accepted to Wellseley, Brown, Cornell and GW. I wasn't interested in Cornell because it was in the sticks in NY State, and because armed black students had that spring taken over a building there.

GW was my safety. I was tempted to go to Brown because I had such a great time when I visited it. It's a friendly campus that seems to emphasize teaching. I almost picked it, but then remembered that Brown adcoms had said that most students who turned it down went to Harvard. I figured they must have good reason. I loved Wellsley, too, but wanted guys to be more accessible.

I think that Yale and possibly Princeton decided to go co-ed the year that I applied, but I didn't apply because I didn't want to be in their first class of women.

By Princesanegrita (Princesanegrita) on Friday, December 19, 2003 - 10:16 am: Edit

wow..Northstarmom I also live in upstate NY..very cool. I admire you..I hope someday I can be like you...you've accomplished a lot. Thanks for sharing that stuff with us..it's really encouraging

By Outsideinsider (Outsideinsider) on Tuesday, December 23, 2003 - 11:49 pm: Edit

Minnesoder:

I am a Carleton alumnus and I have to say I am surprised by your deferral. If there was a specific reason you will be told if you call. Talk to Jillian if you haven't already. It probably won't make you feel much better but about 50% of all Carleton alumni would not be admitted today. Interest in the school has risen dramatically in the past 5 years.

To the person who said you were deferred because you were so eager they felt secure in deferring: that's nonsense.

As far as the deferral being a blessing, that remains to be seen. It *IS* a good opportunity to reevaluate which school is your first choice. If Carleton still remains a top pick then you would be wise to develop a relationship with Jillian in the Admissions Office, starting with a conversation about the reason your deferral.

By Kunle66 (Kunle66) on Monday, January 12, 2004 - 02:08 pm: Edit

plz help me i just had my SAT1 and i have a total score of 1020