You know, I hate to say anything, because being a non-URM I am opening myself up to all sorts of emnity here, but WHY DOES IT ALWAYS COME DOWN TO SKIN COLOR!!! Now pay attention, because I say this with respect to everyone, no matter nationality, race, religion, social circumstances, ect., ect., ect...
Everyone who is applying for medical school is working their asses off, albeit in different ways. Depending on your background, you might have to work harder on the verbal section of the MCAT or (like in my case) the physics questions. Some people have to support a family and work full time; others have to overcome a poor educational background. I think that non-trads can sometimes be more competitive than traditional grads, and sometimes less. IT DEPENDS ON THE PERSON. We are all unique and talented in our own ways, if we weren't, we wouldn't stand a chance of getting in to med school, and we wouldn't be posting our thoughts on this forum.
The admissions process is not always "fair". All of us will be judged at least somewhat subjectively through our interviewer's eyes; regardless of how impartial they try to be, they are also human and have human biases.
That being said, I appreciated the honesty of a Doctor I spoke with on a recent interview who admitted that sometimes applicants who were not truely competitive for a slot were accepted, based primarily on their URM status. I am not denigrating anyone who comes from a disadvantaged background of any sort, and the extra effort they have had to put in to reach the same goals as those people coming from a more opportune environment. However, to say that discrimination does not occur against members of the majority is just as dishonest as saying that discrimination against minorities doesn't occur.
So... for easy answers to the unjustices in life; there are none. In the meantime lets just try to see people as people. In an ideal world specific numbers and where you start shouldn't count as much as how far you've come.
I am now stepping off my soapbox... Yes folks, Elvis has left the building.