Did you report your ethnic background?

[briansle]

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I was wondering how many of you listed your ethnic background on the Aadsas application? Should I report it? I was thinking about not listing mine. My last name could either be caucasian or asian. I'd have an advantage if they think I'm a caucasian male.

A dentist i know who is also on an admission committee told me, for exp: asian applicants get compared to other asian applicants, just as for instance a black or a hispanic applicant would be not be compared to other asian applicants, but compared to applicants of his own ethnicity. (Sort of a way to "level the playing field").

 

[v&andy_yankee]

i reported mine (asian american). if you've worked hard enough and you're good enough, then you will get in no matter who they're comparing you to, whether it be black, white, yellow, or purple with polka dots.

i sometimes do worry though, as it does seem that there is a high volume of asian americans applying. there is definitely not a minority advantage for asians, and we can only speculate if there is a disadvantage. even when i was applying to colleges (ie, the ivies) i wondered if there is such a thing as a ceiling quota as the asian percentage in those schools are absurdly high.

either way, you'll have to get an interview first. and from that, they will be able to tell what ethnicity you are. so why cover it up?

 

[goodcook]

.

 

[clickytop]

Nearly all schools require you to submit a picture with your supplemental application. Most say it's so they can "attach a name with a face"...but of course it's for profiling purposes. So no, there's really no hiding your ethnicity from the adcom. They'll find out at the interview anyway...

 

[litldime]

i reported what i am.... i don't care if it gives me an advantage, disadvantage, whatever.....i'm proud of who i am and what i have done...and will take what comes my way and go from there
-ld

 

[fancymylotus]

agreed w/ld 🙂

 

[goodcook]

.

 

[Regmata]

I think I only sent a pic to 1 of 10 schools that I applied to. Although, some schools do also take a pic of you at the interview

 

[rimmies]

I gave mine for the first time in an application. I'm against aa so I always put "other" however this time I didn't want to not be completely honest about anything...

 

[Toothfairy86]

even if i hadnt reported my ethnicity, i think based on the rest of my application (personal statement) they would know im not white. i think if being a certain ethnicity plays a part in who you are, it will show in your application even if you dont mark it.

 

[tony24]

If dental schools really do compare Asian applicants to other Asian applicants and so forth, I think the OP has a legitimate concern. That method is simply unfair and is an example of light discrimination. Shouldn't dental schools look at an applicant as a whole and not have race factor into the equation? I know many of you will counter by saying that "life is unfair" and to "worry about yourself." But as an applicant, wouldn't you want to get accepted into dental school because you were the best applicant amongst the total pool instead of just the best applicant in your respective ethnic pool? I just want an equal opportunity and that's all. Hypothetically speaking, If I was African American, I wouldn't want to have any advantages over other applicants because I want to get into dental school knowing that I fully earned that spot without having any leeway. And I want to be compared to all the applicants regardless of my race.

 

[crestwhite]

if you're asian, do they make you specify which type you are?

 

[clickytop]

If dental schools really do compare Asian applicants to other Asian applicants and so forth, I think the OP has a legitimate concern. That method is simply unfair and is an example of light discrimination. Shouldn't dental schools look at an applicant as a whole and not have race factor into the equation? I know many of you will counter by saying that "life is unfair" and to "worry about yourself." But as an applicant, wouldn't you want to get accepted into dental school because you were the best applicant amongst the total pool instead of just the best applicant in your respective ethnic pool? I just want an equal opportunity and that's all. Hypothetically speaking, If I was African American, I wouldn't want to have any advantages over other applicants because I want to get into dental school knowing that I fully earned that spot without having any leeway. And I want to be compared to all the applicants regardless of my race.

The admissions process is unfair and racially biased? Oh my god, when did that happen?

 

[xtractime]

if you're asian, do they make you specify which type you are?

i know UPenn does in their secondary.

 

[uclawill]

i would just report it

 

[onelove4uk]

Nearly all schools require you to submit a picture with your supplemental application. Most say it's so they can "attach a name with a face"...but of course it's for profiling purposes. So no, there's really no hiding your ethnicity from the adcom. They'll find out at the interview anyway...

Yea but the thing is, most schools don't require a picture until after interview. if you can AT LEAST GET the interview then you're fine! I don't wanna be compared to other Asians and because of that not get an interview. btw im pretty screwed if im compared to other asians only...

 

[ObliqueRidge]

Watch out for MCG...they are the worst, but they don't do aadsas..i wonder why (hmmmmmmmm)

 

[PChemGrad]

Yea but the thing is, most schools don't require a picture until after interview.

Where did you hear this?
Almost every school wants your picture when they receive your application. So they can put a face to the name. I know Colorado wants your picture when you grant you a interview, but every other school wants it before.
So from that right there they can tell what race you are or atleast narrow it down.

Report it, why hold something back? life is racially motivated, they want to give everyone a chance to be represented.

 

[PChemGrad]

Watch out for MCG...they are the worst, but they don't do aadsas..i wonder why (hmmmmmmmm)

MCG only takes applications from people who live in Georgia. So why pay AADSAS to do something when you are capable of doing it yourself. this way they get what they want for people in their state.

 

[biocmp]

if you're asian, do they make you specify which type you are?

There is more than one type? 🙂

This coming from the most bland type of white guy you can be.... I must be a racist bigot.... or just naive... or none of the above, and like to get a rise out of insecure dental students who have nothing better to do than to write bad reports and complain about AA. I'm not necessarily for it, because it implies that a minority section requires help in order to compete, but I also see the merits, because we don't live in a perfect world. Alright, my break is over, back to learning ridiculous science details....🙂

 

[zoom2smile]

cuban american wohooo! and i promise to have UF class of 2012 dancing salsa from year 1 to yr 4!!!!! lol (I know my friends at the predental club are gonna laugh if they see this one) lol

 

[vhh007]

I'm asian and I reported mine. I mean they will figure it out once you interview.

 

[Red Falcon]

Tell the truth on your ethnicity. If you mark anything else, you will look very suspicious when you walk in the door as a pacific islander and clearly look Japanese, Korean, or Chinese. The same goes for white people thinking they can pass off being black. Don't even try that silly stunt because these people are trained to nitpick during interviews to find your faults. It's so easy to make yourself look great, but it's also hard to BS your way out of a lie against these adcoms. They've seen thousands of applicants over the years.

For the poster that had issues with the current situation where asians are compared to fellow asians, caucasians vs caucasians, and blacks against blacks, you should know that the opposite method would almost certainly curb minority and female involvement in dentistry. If adcoms took applicants based on stats alone, you would have a dominating number of caucasians and asians in this field. Very few blacks, indians, and even females would have a spot at the table. Thankfully, the professionals on these committes do their best to keep everything as fair as possible and allow everyone to compete within their race instead of turning this into a beauty pageant for GPA and DAT scores of ALL races combined.

Under the current situation, black dentists will be able to serve their own communities since they offer a niche service that dentists of other races might not always take on. That's an imminent problem that dental schools are trying to circumvent right now by adding more students that are going to practice in under-served areas. It does the country no good to have predentals with astronomical DAT/GPA scores who are not going to serve in areas desperate for their services.

I think the system is working just fine if you ask me.

 

[Taxi Driver]

Just be your self. Many of the Professors doing the interviewing have teenage kids at home and years of life experience. They can see through any BS front you try to portray. They are looking for well adjusted people who have a genuine interest in going to D-school and/or super smarty researchers.

 

[Megatron77]

Tell the truth on your ethnicity. If you mark anything else, you will look very suspicious when you walk in the door as a pacific islander and clearly look Japanese, Korean, or Chinese.

Pacific Islanders along with East Indians are considered to be Asian in the AADSAS.

 

[HenryH]

Tell the truth on your ethnicity. If you mark anything else, you will look very suspicious when you walk in the door as a pacific islander and clearly look Japanese, Korean, or Chinese. The same goes for white people thinking they can pass off being black. Don't even try that silly stunt because these people are trained to nitpick during interviews to find your faults. It's so easy to make yourself look great, but it's also hard to BS your way out of a lie against these adcoms. They've seen thousands of applicants over the years.

For the poster that had issues with the current situation where asians are compared to fellow asians, caucasians vs caucasians, and blacks against blacks, you should know that the opposite method would almost certainly curb minority and female involvement in dentistry. If adcoms took applicants based on stats alone, you would have a dominating number of caucasians and asians in this field. Very few blacks, indians, and even females would have a spot at the table. Thankfully, the professionals on these committes do their best to keep everything as fair as possible and allow everyone to compete within their race instead of turning this into a beauty pageant for GPA and DAT scores of ALL races combined.

Under the current situation, black dentists will be able to serve their own communities since they offer a niche service that dentists of other races might not always take on. That's an imminent problem that dental schools are trying to circumvent right now by adding more students that are going to practice in under-served areas. It does the country no good to have predentals with astronomical DAT/GPA scores who are not going to serve in areas desperate for their services.

I think the system is working just fine if you ask me.

So why don't these three types of people just work harder to earn GPAs and DAT scores that are competitive with the Asians' and Caucasians'?

 

[Red Falcon]

I was always aware that pacific islanders (Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hmong) were considered asian minorities under the current system. Absolutely, they are asian but they are a specific subset of the asian population. It makes a significant difference in your AADAS status if you are from China, Japan, or Korea versus an underprivaledged asian in those aforementioned territories. Just to clarify.

 

[Red Falcon]

So why don't these three types of people just work harder to earn GPAs and DAT scores that are competitive with the Asians' and Caucasians'?

That's a good question, Henry. I think that's the logical way to approach that question, but logic doesn't always work when you are dealing with social issues. Remember that we're talking about minorities here. These are people that are underrepresented in our society and often come from non privileged backgrounds. It stands to reason that their scores may not always reflect those of the rest of the population coming into the dental field. However, that doesn't mean they won't be competent dentists in their own communities.

It is far better to have someone with 3.3 GPA & 17 DAT who is willing to work on an Indian reservation, Hispanic, or African American area than to have an applicant with 3.4 GPA & 18 DAT that will flock to a suburban area already saturated with dentists with similar goals and interests. That trend doesn't help the field of dentistry at large because it leaves a huge gap in health care in those communities.

The minorities must have access to affordable health care, which becomes far easier for them when they are going to dentists from their same background a few blocks up the road. Sure, these minority dentists may not have the scores of other applicants, but very few of the majority applicants with high scores have actually put their services into underrepresented areas on full-time basis. Some do, but many don't and that's why admission committees save some spots for minorities.

 

[SanOnofre2002]

I was always aware that pacific islanders (Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hmong) were considered asian minorities under the current system. Absolutely, they are asian but they are a specific subset of the asian population. It makes a significant difference in your AADAS status if you are from China, Japan, or Korea versus an underprivaledged asian in those aforementioned territories. Just to clarify.

Hate to be picky but since my wife is Vietnamese I'll have to correct you that Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam (as well Hmong people) are not Pacific Islanders. They're in Southeast Asia.
Pacific Islanders include groups like Polynesian, Samoan, etc.
Regardless, point taken that East asians tend to be more affluent than SoEastAs or Pac Isl.

 

[Megatron77]

I was always aware that pacific islanders (Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hmong) were considered asian minorities under the current system. Absolutely, they are asian but they are a specific subset of the asian population. It makes a significant difference in your AADAS status if you are from China, Japan, or Korea versus an underprivaledged asian in those aforementioned territories. Just to clarify.

I understand what you are saying but students from underrepresented Asian countries have no real advantage over students who are Korean or Chinese since they are all grouped together in the AADSAS.

 

[Red Falcon]

Good stuff. Thanks.

 

[jayjee]

That's a good question, Henry. I think that's the logical way to approach that question, but logic doesn't always work when you are dealing with social issues. Remember that we're talking about minorities here. These are people that are underrepresented in our society and often come from non privileged backgrounds. It stands to reason that their scores may not always reflect those of the rest of the population coming into the dental field. However, that doesn't mean they won't be competent dentists in their own communities.

It is far better to have someone with 3.3 GPA & 17 DAT who is willing to work on an Indian reservation, Hispanic, or African American area than to have an applicant with 3.4 GPA & 18 DAT that will flock to a suburban area already saturated with dentists with similar goals and interests. That trend doesn't help the field of dentistry at large because it leaves a huge gap in health care in those communities.

The minorities must have access to affordable health care, which becomes far easier for them when they are going to dentists from their same background a few blocks up the road. Sure, these minority dentists may not have the scores of other applicants, but very few of the majority applicants with high scores have actually put their services into underrepresented areas on full-time basis. Some do, but many don't and that's why admission committees save some spots for minorities.

Thank you for answering that in such an articulate manner. Many people fail to see the flaws in the current system and how difficult the system is if you aren't male and white.