Does socioeconomic disadvantage count as URM? Forum

[dkt4]

It matters at Berkeley and UCLA. They aren't technically allowed to consider race under prop 209 so they concentrate on admitting URMs who are economically disadvantaged. They have long sections on their applications about your financial history and many of their scholarships are based off that information.

I suspect that it helps more to be both disadvantaged and a minority but I know they factor it in for sure.

i know the UG isn't allowed to do that, but it seems like Boalt at least has a lot of leeway with that...I don't know if they're technically not allowed to look at race, but they effectively do anyway.

[BackToTheOldHouse]

It matters at Berkeley and UCLA. They aren't technically allowed to consider race under prop 209 so they concentrate on admitting URMs who are economically disadvantaged. They have long sections on their applications about your financial history and many of their scholarships are based off that information.

I suspect that it helps more to be both disadvantaged and a minority but I know they factor it in for sure.

i know the UG isn't allowed to do that, but it seems like Boalt at least has a lot of leeway with that...I don't know if they're technically not allowed to look at race, but they effectively do anyway.

Do you have proof of this? When completing the application for Berkeley, the boxes one checks are actually whited out in the PDF version the school is sent/the applicant can download. I think they have it built into their application submission form to keep this information from the admissions folks.

[dr123]

It matters at Berkeley and UCLA. They aren't technically allowed to consider race under prop 209 so they concentrate on admitting URMs who are economically disadvantaged. They have long sections on their applications about your financial history and many of their scholarships are based off that information.

I suspect that it helps more to be both disadvantaged and a minority but I know they factor it in for sure.

i know the UG isn't allowed to do that, but it seems like Boalt at least has a lot of leeway with that...I don't know if they're technically not allowed to look at race, but they effectively do anyway.

Do you have proof of this? When completing the application for Berkeley, the boxes one checks are actually whited out in the PDF version the school is sent/the applicant can download. I think they have it built into their application submission form to keep this information from the admissions folks.

Im sure its pretty easy to determine someone's race from a diversity statement.

[Borhas]

Why not? I thought the DS was quite broad in what they considered diversity.

it's not

DS is a way for urms to express their identification, experiences etc so that schools can say they made their decision on something other than purely urm status, in reality, it's more like a "box you check" than anything more than that.

They don't care, it's a numbers game like everything else, and SES is not a number anyone cares about in LS admission

[BackToTheOldHouse]

It matters at Berkeley and UCLA. They aren't technically allowed to consider race under prop 209 so they concentrate on admitting URMs who are economically disadvantaged. They have long sections on their applications about your financial history and many of their scholarships are based off that information.

I suspect that it helps more to be both disadvantaged and a minority but I know they factor it in for sure.

i know the UG isn't allowed to do that, but it seems like Boalt at least has a lot of leeway with that...I don't know if they're technically not allowed to look at race, but they effectively do anyway.

Do you have proof of this? When completing the application for Berkeley, the boxes one checks are actually whited out in the PDF version the school is sent/the applicant can download. I think they have it built into their application submission form to keep this information from the admissions folks.

Im sure its pretty easy to determine someone's race from a diversity statement.

I must have had an RC fail. I thought he was implying that they used the "box checking" to identify URMs. If we're talking about DSs, then I understand.

[dkt4]

wasn't referring to anything specific. i don't remember what the app looked like exactly but even without a DS berkeley knew my race.

unless they just randomly have LSAD hit people up, which seems unlikely.

[dkt4]

also, i really feel like TLS in general is overly encouraging for people to write addendums. there is really no need for a DS, "Why X", or any other sort of addendum in the vast majority if cases.

even if your PS isn't specifically on your socioeconomic status, if you can't find a way to weave it in somehow...an extra essay is probably not your biggest issue.

more documents =/= better applications. in some cases its appropriate, most of the time...what's the point?

edit: more opinion than fact, but whatever

[Dany]

also, i really feel like TLS in general is overly encouraging for people to write addendums. there is really no need for a DS, "Why X", or any other sort of addendum in the vast majority if cases.

Uh, really? 9 threads out of 10 that ask whether or not they should write an addendum get a flat-out no from most TLSers.

[flexityflex86]

It doesn't help at alllllll. Schools don't care.

[shoeshine]

It doesn't help at alllllll. Schools don't care.

Read the thread. This guy primarily cares about UC schools. They do care. At least a little bit.

[dkt4]

also, i really feel like TLS in general is overly encouraging for people to write addendums. there is really no need for a DS, "Why X", or any other sort of addendum in the vast majority if cases.

Uh, really? 9 threads out of 10 that ask whether or not they should write an addendum get a flat-out no from most TLSers.

really.

[buckilaw]

I don't know about Berkeley, but UCLA does have a section on the primary app specifically for this (13h)

"Please describe the socio-economic disadvantages you have overcome (may be attached electronically):"

Berkeley has a separate sheet with a bunch of questions about socio-economic status. This sheet, as well as the optional diversity statement, help the school to understand where applicants are coming from, so to speak. Also, to my understanding, when making admissions decisions, Berkeley does not see which race/ethnicity box(es) each applicant has checked.

Boalt does indeed ask alot of questions about socio-economic status such as: how much money your parents make, their education levels, and the zip code of your high school. I don't think they would ask for this stuff if they didn't consider it. Though how much weight they give it is questionable.