Are Cubans considered a minority?

[CpPrep16]

I was just wondering whether Cubans are considered a minority? I've heard that in some cases it doesn't really make a difference, I was born in Cuba and have lived in Miami since I was 5, just wondering if you guys thought that would help with admissions.

[cali444]

According to the Stanford Dean of Admissions (as quoted in Montauk's book), Cubans are usually not judged as "true" URMs because they are generally believed to be the descendants of wealthy Cubans who've moved to the U.S.  If, however, you lived in poverty in Cuba and your family doesn't have money, I think you could spin that into a great PS and definitely get a boost in admissions.

[john6675]

in my book, a "minority" is anyone who would solicit weird glances from the white boys at the local hardware store.

So yes, you would count.

[cali444]

in my book, a "minority" is anyone who would solicit weird glances from the white boys at the local hardware store.

So yes, you would count.

"Soliciting" weird glances sounds dirty...  Might want to get a dictionary.  And stop being obnoxious while you're at it.

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[CpPrep16]

Thanks...I'm trying to put together a good ps, what do you guys think about those editing services, are they any good?

[lucky7]

Cuban is def. a minority. I'm Cuban (well, I was born in Jersey, but my family wasn't), and I got offered minority/ Hispanic scholarships at more than one ugrad I  applied to. I'm sure it counts in law school too. And I agree, you could write a great ps about it. The politics, family issues, culture, etc. Good luck!

[alphalyrae]

Yes, absolutely.

Here's the thing, look at the percentage of the population that is, for instance hispanic. Now compare that percentage to the percentage of lawyers who are hispanic, and to the percentage of hispanic students at top law schools.

There are a lot of schools that at least claim to be interested in lessening that great disparity.
Okay, Stanford and Boalt and UCLA aren't going to make sure that 1/3 of the class if Latino, in order to more accurately reflect the community that surrounds their universities, but still, it makes it harder for them to pass on a qualified applicant that can help them get closer to double digit percentages.

Unfortunately, unless you are Mexican or sometimes Puerto Rican, you'll probably get lumped in with "other hispanic." It's kind of annoying, but they'd have to have a hundred different boxes if they specified each hispanic group seperately.

[BAFF213]

I just want to put in my two cents:  This whole URM thing is really complex.  Some people say it's based on color - that one cannot understand what it is like to be a minority because of the color of their skin (they get discriminated against, etc.).  A wealthy black person would fit in as a URM under this classification scheme.

Others say it's based on economic disadvantage, therefore, a poor white person would fit this criteria.

Now, some of you are claiming that simply because of the fact that one is Cuban, they are a URM.  I know a Cuban Jewish kid who I grew up with and went to Hebrew school with.  He is the whitest kid you ever knew, and I really doubt he experienced either requirement for socio-economic disadvantage (neither social nor economic).  But, he is Cuban.  So, according to some of your classification systems, he is a URM, however, this does not make much sense to me.

[alphalyrae]

I just want to put in my two cents:  This whole URM thing is really complex.  Some people say it's based on color - that one cannot understand what it is like to be a minority because of the color of their skin (they get discriminated against, etc.).  A wealthy black person would fit in as a URM under this classification scheme.

Others say it's based on economic disadvantage, therefore, a poor white person would fit this criteria.

Now, some of you are claiming that simply because of the fact that one is Cuban, they are a URM.  I know a Cuban Jewish kid who I grew up with and went to Hebrew school with.  He is the whitest kid you ever knew, and I really doubt he experienced either requirement for socio-economic disadvantage (neither social nor economic).  But, he is Cuban.  So, according to some of your classification systems, he is a URM, however, this does not make much sense to me.

Yeah, unless that guy can explain how being Cuban has shaped him, given him a different perspective, or created obstacles he's had to overcome, he shouldn't play the race card too hard or the admissions people will laugh him into the rejection pile.