Am I considered URM?

[darmabimm]

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I am 1/4 Hispanic (grandfather from Mexico), 1/4 White, and 1/2 Asian (father was an immigrant). I am also a male. I have not been able to find a clear answer about whether I am considered URM in medicine or not.
I know being URM boosts my chances for admissions, but I want to be honest. I don't want it to seem like I am counting on this status being a driving force in getting me in. If my ethnicity boosts my chances, then great. If not, I feel pretty comfortable with my application that I am submitting this upcoming cycle so it'll be ok.

 

[Cyphix]

No

 

[OchemOficionado]

Do you speak Spanish? Experts here say that language skills are always appreciated. Does your application demonstrate dedicated service to Mexican and/or underserved communities? Or are you just 25% Mexican?

 

[darmabimm]

Do you speak Spanish? Experts here say that language skills are always appreciated. Does your application demonstrate dedicated service to Mexican and/or underserved communities? Or are you just 25% Mexican?

I speak Spanish and Vietnamese. Yes, I have many volunteer hours with underserved communities.

 

[OchemOficionado]

I speak Spanish and Vietnamese. Yes, I have many volunteer hours with underserved communities.

Maybe so then. Definitely can’t hurt if you walk the walk.

EDIT: welp, disregard this. @Goro has spoken!

 

[Goro]

I am 1/4 Hispanic (grandfather from Mexico), 1/4 White, and 1/2 Asian (father was an immigrant). I am also a male. I have not been able to find a clear answer about whether I am considered URM in medicine or not.
I know being URM boosts my chances for admissions, but I want to be honest. I don't want it to seem like I am counting on this status being a driving force in getting me in. If my ethnicity boosts my chances, then great. If not, I feel pretty comfortable with my application that I am submitting this upcoming cycle so it'll be ok.

No

 

[Lexdiamondz]

No.

 

[Dwan]

I know someone who checked the box under these conditions and they did really well...

 

[DelayedGratification]

If you have to ask, no

 

[LizzyM]

If you identify yourself as Hispanic and White and Asian in the US Census, then list those three on the AMCAS. Let the chips fall where they may. Schools will do what they choose with the information but if it is true, don't hesitate to identify yourself as you do in other circumstances (like the census).

 

[darmabimm]

If you identify yourself as Hispanic and White and Asian in the US Census, then list those three on the AMCAS. Let the chips fall where they may. Schools will do what they choose with the information but if it is true, don't hesitate to identify yourself as you do in other circumstances (like the census).

Thanks for the feedback. I plan on listing all three. Should I be concerned that some schools might view this as me trying to pad my application to improve my chances?

 

[precisiongraphic]

Thanks for the feedback. I plan on listing all three. Should I be concerned that some schools might view this as me trying to pad my application to improve my chances?

No. Listen to @LizzyM. It might be different if you didn't speak Spanish and have didn't many volunteer hours with underserved communities.

 

[darmabimm]

No

I don't know if this changes anything, but my grandmother was Caucasian but ethnically Mexican. She and my grandfather immigrated to the US just prior to giving birth to my mother. So that is where my 1/4 white is from. Sorry for not being more clear in the original post. But does URM solely depend on racial and not ethic factors?

 

[3toedsloth]

I don't know if this changes anything, but my grandmother was Caucasian but ethnically Mexican. She and my grandfather immigrated to the US just prior to giving birth to my mother. So that is where my 1/4 white is from. Sorry for not being more clear in the original post. But does URM solely depend on racial and not ethic factors?

Each school determines what is URM a little differently. Just put what’s true and don’t worry about it.

 

[Lucca]

Represent yourself on your app is you do in everyday life and let the adcoms do their part.

 

[LizzyM]

Hispanic is an ethnicity while white is a race. Hispanics can be of any race. You'll often see white shown as "non-Hispanic white" so as to tease out Hispanic whites from Anglos. From that standpoint you are half Hispanic and half Asian. Answer to the best of your ability and the adcom will understand.

 

[3toedsloth]

Hispanic is an ethnicity while white is a race. Hispanics can be of any race. You'll often see white shown as "non-Hispanic white" so as to tease out Hispanic whites from Anglos. From that standpoint you are half Hispanic and half Asian. Answer to the best of your ability and the adcom will understand.

I dunno. I'm of Hispanic heritage but am white, but I speak English as my primary language. I feel the term Hispanic is more of a native language descriptor. And Latino is a country of origin descriptor. I was born in the US and I speak mostly English (even though I am fluent in Spanish), so I just put white.

 

[LizzyM]

@3toedsloth read the following and tell me which boxes you'd check.

Census considers new approach to asking about race – by not using the term at all

 

[DokterMom]

I dunno. I'm of Hispanic heritage but am white, but I speak English as my primary language. I feel the term Hispanic is more of a native language descriptor. And Latino is a country of origin descriptor. I was born in the US and I speak mostly English (even though I am fluent in Spanish), so I just put white.

I have two relatives who are each half Hispanic (one parent white, the other born in South America of multi-country Hispanic ancestry). One of these relatives absolutely perceives herself to be Hispanic and identifies very strongly and most closely with a particular part of her heritage. She is Hispanic because that's just who she is at her core. The other relative enjoys both of his parents' cultures but identifies most closely as 'plain ole American, mixed genealogy like everyone else', so he'd say he's not really Hispanic. Interestingly, of the two, his appearance and name are much more Hispanic - it's just not his self-identity.

 

[3toedsloth]

@3toedsloth read the following and tell me which boxes you'd check.

Census considers new approach to asking about race – by not using the term at all

Ugh, I hate filling out these forms.

I'd probably check "white" as I do have some Italian and maybe even some German ancestry. I'd maybe check the "Hispanic/Spanish/Latino" box. The Hispanic/Latino box isn't that inclusive though -- what happened to all the countries below the equator? Neither of those boxes are really that good for me. This wording might prompt me to just check "some other."

Question 8, yes under one of those boxes
Question 9, white.

 

[Oso]

Thanks for the feedback. I plan on listing all three. Should I be concerned that some schools might view this as me trying to pad my application to improve my chances?

I don't know if this changes anything, but my grandmother was Caucasian but ethnically Mexican. She and my grandfather immigrated to the US just prior to giving birth to my mother. So that is where my 1/4 white is from. Sorry for not being more clear in the original post. But does URM solely depend on racial and not ethic factors?

Dude just list the 3 things like LizzyM mentioned then move on to the next part of the app.

 

[LizzyM]

If you identify as whatever on the census and then don't identify that way on the AMCAS, it perpetuates the notion that your group (that you don't identify as belonging to on the AMCAS) are Under-represented in Medicine.

 

[The Buff OP]

@darmabimm
Frank's RedHot or Tapatio?

 

[darmabimm]

Dude just list the 3 things like LizzyM mentioned then move on to the next part of the app.

I'm sorry me wanting clarifications inconvenienced you. Move on to the next forum if it's too bothersome "dude"

 

[Oso]

I'm sorry me wanting clarifications inconvenienced you. Move on to the next forum if it's too bothersome "dude"

It’s ok