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Would my being an Egyptian be considered an advantage in terms of minority? Anyone know how many middle-eastern/African students go to Columbia/ivy-league schools? btw, happy new year's everyone!

By Mmccullough (Mmccullough) on Thursday, January 01, 2004 - 07:36 pm: Edit

it probably depends which box you check...i don't know any of those exact numbers, but middle easterners are not usually considered urms, while black africans are. does that help??

By Libsters (Libsters) on Thursday, January 01, 2004 - 09:06 pm: Edit

Yeah, It is not really considered minority, but it still adds to diversity and shows that you are different. I am Israeli, so I am middle-eastern, and I know middle - eastern is considered caucasian by many schools, but put down that you are Egyptian anyways - it makes you seem more interesting =)

By Otterpop (Otterpop) on Friday, January 02, 2004 - 02:10 am: Edit

Theali00, I'm Egyptian too! (male) Wow, I haven't met an Egyptian in years... Where do you live? By the way, being Egyptian, I think, probably helps a bit -- it's more attractive than being Asian/White, but not more attractive than being African-American/Latino. Good luck.

By Theali00 (Theali00) on Friday, January 02, 2004 - 12:30 pm: Edit

Hey otter, whassup man, i live in NJ. We should talk more sometime, awesome to see another egyptian!

By Otterpop (Otterpop) on Friday, January 02, 2004 - 09:28 pm: Edit

yea, sure, I'll e-mail you soon. It'd be fun to talk to you.

By T_Hash (T_Hash) on Saturday, January 03, 2004 - 09:05 pm: Edit

Yeah, I'm Egyptian also and I think it will help. Are both of u guys applying to Columbia?

By Theali00 (Theali00) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 12:02 am: Edit

I'm applying in two years, T Hash. We gotta help each other out as fellow egyptians! =D

By Mnm86 (Mnm86) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 03:40 pm: Edit

you guys should mark the "other" box and specify. some schools call middle-easterners caucasian but i find it remarkably ignorant on their part to call arabs or other middle-eastern ethnic groups caucasians from both a purely ethnic and a cultural standpoint.

By Theali00 (Theali00) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 11:40 pm: Edit

I think the key is not to put it down on the application, but to show your culture and heritage through your EC's and whatnot, *shrugs*

By Otterpop (Otterpop) on Monday, January 05, 2004 - 03:48 am: Edit

Yea, I mentioned being Egyptian a lot in my essays. I've lived in many different places, so it was natural for me to talk about being Egyptian.

I'm not applying to Columbia, though. I have marked the "other" box and put in, "middle eastern (egyptian)" I think that's the best thing to do.

However, none of my ECs relate to my culture/heritage