Minority status

[PsychPremed]

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I'm middle-eastern(persian to be exact) and was wondering if that counted as a URM? My health advisor actually said that being persian you can argue for URM status because they aren't that represented in the medical community. Just wanted to see if anyone had experience with this. I've known a few persians who actually graduated from Howard...😕

 

[DoctaJay]

Although it is quite true that Persians are underrepresented in medicine, unfortunately they are not really considered to be so from the AAMC . Also graduating from a HBCU unfortunately doesn't help with the URM label. But the definition of what a URM is to the AAMC has become more flexible as populations change, so fill out your AMCAS honestly, listing your race and let the medical schools decide what category to put you in (although its quite probable that they won't --at this time-- consider you to be a URM)

 

[xxmarkxismxx]

I am in a similar situation but I guess mine would be a little more up in the air. I am of 100% Egyptian descent and my ancestry goes many generations back. Because Egypt is in Africa I often times find it difficult with which ethnicity to choose. When applications provide an other option I usually select that and specify Coptic Egyptian, however the AMCAS doesn't give us such an option. I have called Med Schools and asked them about their opinion and they said it is not inappropriate to select African American for that, but I guess I wanted to get your guys opinion on that? Although I do not possess the distinct Egyptian features, I by no means consider myself "white". Any opinions?? Thanks.

 

[doctorperez]

The "african-american" ethnic group comprises the black people of the U.S. who share a common U.S. culture and history. The african part should not be construed to mean of african [the continent] descent in general. Hope that helps.

 

[riceman04]

The "african-american" ethnic group comprises the black people of the U.S. who share a common U.S. culture and history. The african part should not be construed to mean of african [the continent] descent in general. Hope that helps.

Well then I guess being a first generation sub-saharan AA would not count either....I do not fit that specific category...but I do want to point out that many of them elect to carry that title...and are thus treated as URM's (according to AAMC)