Roma as URM?

[Phenol312]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Ok...so heres the story im half italian and half roma (gypsy).

Will I be able to claim URM status? Basically, I have no way to prove it my deceased uncle did the family genealogy and hes long since passed away and any paperwork he might have had is well...lost to the sands of time i suppose. Also, roma do not keep birth records or anything of that sort but have had a very rough time and have a long history of discrimination and legislation against them in europe. So...is this even worth pursuing?

Also, I've already filled out the AMCAS for this year and whatnot. I've always put myself down as being Caucasian since thats how I have been raised and have suffered no disadvantage due to my race but I am proud of my heritage and if it can help me get into med school then all the better i suppose.

 

[njbmd]

Please read this threadDefinition of Underrepresented Minority

 

[Phenol312]

I have read that thread...if I felt I got the information I needed I wouldn't have started this thread.

"Underrepresented in medicine means those racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general population."

-and-

"The Roma are among the best known ethnic groups ... "

It seem the romani are seen as a legitimate ethnic group. I do not plan claiming URM status since a) I have not suffered at all from my ethnicity and b) i am only half romani by descent. However, there might be someone out there who is romani and is curious as to whether or not their background will give them an edge in the application process.

 

[Sarahgelatinano]

I was under the impression that YOU don't claim URM, you check your race in the box and the medical schools will determine if that is URM or not.

You can claim yourself as disadvantaged and write an essay about why this is so, but not URM.

 

[aaj117]

I have read that thread...if I felt I got the information I needed I wouldn't have started this thread.

"Underrepresented in medicine means those racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general population."

-and-

"The Roma are among the best known ethnic groups ... "

It seem the romani are seen as a legitimate ethnic group. I do not plan claiming URM status since a) I have not suffered at all from my ethnicity and b) i am only half romani by descent. However, there might be someone out there who is romani and is curious as to whether or not their background will give them an edge in the application process.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS CLAIMING URM STATUS. I know most of us have written this approximately 10,000 times each, but somehow no one ever sees it. THere is no URM checkbox on an app, no way for you to decide if you are or not. You just check the box of whichever race and ethnicity you are. Roma is not a choice. It would not be considered underrepresented in healthcare because there is not a large romani population in the united states.

 

[Phenol312]

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS CLAIMING URM STATUS. I know most of us have written this approximately 10,000 times each, but somehow no one ever sees it. THere is no URM checkbox on an app, no way for you to decide if you are or not. You just check the box of whichever race and ethnicity you are. Roma is not a choice. It would not be considered underrepresented in healthcare because there is not a large romani population in the united states.

ok well then. im sorry to have mislead you with my statement. I understand that there is no offical "urm status."

where are you finding evidence that there is not a "large" romani population in the united states? Like many cultures the romani have adapted to life in the united states. The romani population was heavily oppressed throughout europe and some migrated to the United states to escape this persecution.

"Roma began immigrating to the United States in colonial times, with small groups in Virginia and French Louisiana. Larger-scale immigration began in the 1860s, with groups of Romnichal from Britain. The largest number immigrated in the early 1900s, mainly from the Vlax group of Kalderash. Many Roma also settled in Latin America"

yeah i got it from wikipedia ... o well. If the aamc doesn't recognize my heritage thats fine. Your last sentence sounded kind of ignorant though.

 

[gordman]

Well Rome might be the perfect place for that, my brother in law is there for to years now, finishing his doctoral stage and so far I only hear good things about his career perspectives.

 

[Bobbyj654]

ok well then. im sorry to have mislead you with my statement. I understand that there is no offical "urm status."

where are you finding evidence that there is not a "large" romani population in the united states? Like many cultures the romani have adapted to life in the united states. The romani population was heavily oppressed throughout europe and some migrated to the United states to escape this persecution.

"Roma began immigrating to the United States in colonial times, with small groups in Virginia and French Louisiana. Larger-scale immigration began in the 1860s, with groups of Romnichal from Britain. The largest number immigrated in the early 1900s, mainly from the Vlax group of Kalderash. Many Roma also settled in Latin America"

yeah i got it from wikipedia ... o well. If the aamc doesn't recognize my heritage thats fine. Your last sentence sounded kind of ignorant though.

Hello, I am full blooded Romani gypsy. I found your thread by googling roma as URM. I find most people believe they shouldn't even be considered because they don't think they are oppressed people and they don't exsist in large enough numbers.

It's a shame how people can think these things and even worst speak like they know everything. Also, it's a shame that there is a clear definition of what a URM is, and if you don't meet that, you're just a white person?

Anyway, I was just wondering what your process was like, I know this thread is kind of old. But did you have any advantage? What was it like, did you mention you are Roma, did they ask any follow up questions about it? Was it even a factor? Or did they just totally ignore it?

I'm very closely related to the kalderash people, although we consider ourselves from a different status, like the Indian caste system. We are called muchwaya and considered to be of the highest status. But we come from the same group called VLAX Romani.

We face oppression from every angle

 

[HipChick]

I'm learning a ton from this thread... I had no idea.

 

[Bobbyj654]

I'm learning a ton from this thread... I had no idea.

Did you know anything about Roma previously?

 

[HipChick]

Did you know anything about Roma previously?

Very little. I know a guy who was a "gypsy" in high school. We met at summer camp. But I never know the intensive history. Now I'm intrigued...

 

[Bobbyj654]

Very little. I know a guy who was a "gypsy" in high school. We met at summer camp. But I never know the intensive history. Now I'm intrigued...

He was most likely not a full blooded gypsy; probably similar to the OP. Full blooded gypsies rarely put their kids in school, they usually go until about the age of 10.

This is why most outsiders never get in; and this is the mentality they have throughout their whole lives. You communicate with people you have to but you are considered dirty if you hang out with "gadro" that means non gypsy.

It's a shame they don't know all the possibilities of life. Just think to yourself, what if Adam or Eve didn't eat the forbidden fruit? I compare our lifestyle to that.


Until recently, there hasn't been much study on gypsy and where they came from. If you want I'll give you the names of an interesting documentary.

I think it's called "Curse on the gypsies" I could be wrong, it's something similar to that though. It's about how we aren't recognized as an ethnic group. Mainly because they were always hiding and running because they were always being prosecuted and whatnot.

 

[HipChick]

He was most likely not a full blooded gypsy; probably similar to the OP. Full blooded gypsies rarely put their kids in school, they usually go until about the age of 10.

This is why most outsiders never get in; and this is the mentality they have throughout their whole lives. You communicate with people you have to but you are considered dirty if you hang out with "gadro" that means non gypsy.

It's a shame they don't know all the possibilities of life. Just think to yourself, what if Adam or Eve didn't eat the forbidden fruit? I compare our lifestyle to that.


Until recently, there hasn't been much study on gypsy and where they came from. If you want I'll give you the names of an interesting documentary.

I think it's called "Curse on the gypsies" I could be wrong, it's something similar to that though. It's about how we aren't recognized as an ethnic group. Mainly because they were always hiding and running because they were always being prosecuted and whatnot.

Now that you say it, he didn't go to school! His mom sent him to camp to meet new people. I lost touch with him (as 14 year old do) after camp was done because he moved. I never really thought anything about it. But it all makes sense now.

I find the "culture" incredibly intriguing and fascinating. To be a part of such a strong and mysterious people.