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Author Topic: Possible Consquences about lying that you are a URM?  (Read 24833 times)

sc3pt0r

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Re: Possible Consquences about lying that you are a URM?
« Reply #120 on: August 08, 2007, 02:13:54 PM »
But honestly, I think the whole thing about affording a prep course is a sham.  Every year in college my Expected Family Contribution was 0.  I received a full Pell Grant annually, and student loans.

1500 bucks is a lot to dish out, but it is worth taking out a student loan out to take the prep course.  I honestly think that nearly everyone who wants to take the prep course, could do so.
"I am prepared to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter." Winston Churchill

sc3pt0r

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Re: Possible Consquences about lying that you are a URM?
« Reply #121 on: August 08, 2007, 03:01:32 PM »
Now you are asserting that credit card companies provide equal opportunity in credit approval for minorities.  :D
"I am prepared to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter." Winston Churchill

sc3pt0r

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Re: Possible Consquences about lying that you are a URM?
« Reply #122 on: August 08, 2007, 06:27:09 PM »
University of Houston
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Diecisiete

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Re: Possible Consquences about lying that you are a URM?
« Reply #123 on: August 08, 2007, 11:40:38 PM »
Not too sure if this is a state or district thing, but I worked in a California school district where we kept records of every student, including their ethnicity. They were listed with a numerical code (700-white, 600-black, 500-hispanic, 400-asian, etc.) Every student that passed through our elementary, middle, or high school had a profile. I'm sure that if you were a bit suspect in your self-classification (and I'm not talking about the marginal "I can't tell what the heck he is" scenario) the bar could easily dig some of this up.

Also, whenever a minority student accepts an offer at a law school, one of the first people to hear about it are the student leaders of the certain group. Since every year the number of blacks or hispanics at a law school is between 0-15 (looking at NALP stats) each student receives a lot of attention. If you were clearly white as the fallen snow and your name went to the black law students group, I could only imagine the reaction when you show up to orientation. I heard of a student group in CA (at the undergraduate level) that called out someone in a scenario just like this and I'm pretty sure there was a stink at CLS about a female applicant who checked black but didn't look it. I'll try to find more info about it.

Finally, let us not underemphasize the importance schools place on your diversity statement and the effect your race has had in your life (in your PS for example) not to mention factors such as if you were a minority and the first one in your family to go to college, economic status, etc. It is here where you might find yourself in some trouble.   
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Diecisiete

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Re: Possible Consquences about lying that you are a URM?
« Reply #124 on: August 08, 2007, 11:56:44 PM »
Just checked: California birth certificate lists your race...fyi.
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sc3pt0r

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Re: Possible Consquences about lying that you are a URM?
« Reply #125 on: August 09, 2007, 01:19:42 AM »
I talked to the Bar Examiner's Office (Texas), and they said that they would request a copy of my law school application, and the addendum to the application where I disclosed the traffic tickets that I had received in my life.  They told me that I did not have to include a copy of the personal statement or the resume that I sent to the school.  Perhaps you could just not check any box, and just join the NAACP or a minority group of some sort, and just put in on your resume.  Also, you could, in your personal statement, talk about how you have overcome diversity.  They might make the incorrect assumption...yet you remained honest.
"I am prepared to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter." Winston Churchill

queencruella

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Re: Possible Consquences about lying that you are a URM?
« Reply #126 on: August 09, 2007, 08:21:26 AM »
Not too sure if this is a state or district thing, but I worked in a California school district where we kept records of every student, including their ethnicity. They were listed with a numerical code (700-white, 600-black, 500-hispanic, 400-asian, etc.) Every student that passed through our elementary, middle, or high school had a profile. I'm sure that if you were a bit suspect in your self-classification (and I'm not talking about the marginal "I can't tell what the heck he is" scenario) the bar could easily dig some of this up.

Also, whenever a minority student accepts an offer at a law school, one of the first people to hear about it are the student leaders of the certain group. Since every year the number of blacks or hispanics at a law school is between 0-15 (looking at NALP stats) each student receives a lot of attention. If you were clearly white as the fallen snow and your name went to the black law students group, I could only imagine the reaction when you show up to orientation. I heard of a student group in CA (at the undergraduate level) that called out someone in a scenario just like this and I'm pretty sure there was a stink at CLS about a female applicant who checked black but didn't look it. I'll try to find more info about it.

Finally, let us not underemphasize the importance schools place on your diversity statement and the effect your race has had in your life (in your PS for example) not to mention factors such as if you were a minority and the first one in your family to go to college, economic status, etc. It is here where you might find yourself in some trouble.   

Sometimes the school will make assumptions about you even if you don't mark anything on the application. I have one friend who constantly got pestered to be in a club on the basis of his last name alone and he didn't identify with that group at all.

As for people claiming to be black but not looking it, I wouldn't be surprised if that happened at a lot of schools. I know we had a person claim to be black who didn't look it and I have a friend at another school who says it happens at her school too.

Matthew

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Re: Possible Consquences about lying that you are a URM?
« Reply #127 on: August 09, 2007, 09:26:16 AM »
This has also been a problem for froups that use politically correct terminology.  The person would check the African American box and turn out to be a white person who is actually an African American.
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sc3pt0r

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Re: Possible Consquences about lying that you are a URM?
« Reply #128 on: August 09, 2007, 10:00:21 AM »
Actually, now that I think of it, I've received an invitation to join the SBLA.  Don't know if they send it to all of the incoming students, but I did receive one.
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MahlerGrooves

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Re: Possible Consquences about lying that you are a URM?
« Reply #129 on: August 09, 2007, 12:27:27 PM »
This has also been a problem for froups that use politically correct terminology.  The person would check the African American box and turn out to be a white person who is actually an African American.

Then that's not REALLY lying, now is it?