Status of Minority Student College Admission and Why it may be Important
“Are You a Minor Applying for this College?”
The very question holds a lot of controversy with one side saying it is unfair to the majority, and another side saying it is fair and compensates for years of oppression by the majority through the Affirmative Action law. Unfortunately, there are also those who simply enjoy watching the two sides fighting. The truth of the matter is many minority student college admission policies are least likely to be focused, currently, on their minority status alone. Granted the controversy is with the possibility of a related law. Some believe it may be linked with the No Child Left Behind Act, implying that a university must accept a certain number of minority students. Others argue that is not the case and no one gets an upper hand in the end.
Although there is much controversy over this issue, being part of the minority student population has one firm advantage: A minor on a campus which is predominant in one culture has more chances of standing out and gaining the interest of professors due to their unique nature. For example, in a class of all Caucasian females, being a Native American male can be most advantageous.
Minority Status and its Importance in College Applications
Colleges seek out diversity for reasons other than the most controversial ones. A college may seek out more minority students to attend certain programs to create a more understanding of that course. For example, a course such as Multiculturalism, the study of improving relations between different cultures, may actively seek out a diverse student body in order to learn through personal experience as opposed to learning straight out of a textbook. In most instances, it may seem unfair to the majority, but every college is different when it comes to accepting minority students into their student body.
When applying for a college, listing yourself as an under-represented minor may make your application stand out a lot more. This is especially true if you meet their requirements on SATs and GPA first. Regardless of the controversy, if you are a minor, you may have a much better chance at gaining admissions to a college as long as you meet their requirements first. Many colleges want to experience diversity because the current world is becoming more diverse every day through immigration and travel.
What it Could Mean for You as a Student
How is the minority student college admission process different from a regular admissions process? Being an under-represented minor, URM, can have the advantage of standing out especially if the colleges you apply to are not very diverse to begin with.
Students can easily use collegeboard.com to access the vast amount of information on the demographics of the colleges they wish to apply to, and determine how being an URM will allow them to benefit from studying at this certain college. Colleges such as Guilford College and Yale University boast about a diverse student population, but the majority of their students are still Caucasian.
The minority student college admission process is not different and one can apply for a minority status very easily based on ethnic background. Colleges enjoy a more diverse campus so minors do have a higher chance of getting accepted or considered over their peers who fall in the majority status side.
