ahh it's the AA debate again...
I see a lot of people are saying that a poor URM and a poor non-URM should be on the same level or that AA should be based on SES...for the most part I agree. However the one thing people are forgetting is that discrimination exists and that is why AA programs are needed. Sure two people may have grown up on the same block, but who do you think is going to be followed in the grocery store? profiled by the cops? coincidently brushed over for a job opp? etc.
To those that really feel AA gives that much of an advantage, let me ask...Would you like to switch? You grow up and live in the country as a URM just for what may be a slight advantage in med school admissions.
What are the chances you would have even made it this far?
2nd everything you said. Plus, there are other benefits to AA.
Yes, black and latino docs are more likely to return to their neighborhoods to serve but also when minorities in health research = more research on issues that affect minorities (ie. see the funding disparities in sickle cell anemia research vs. cystic fibrosis). Also, when minority docs do clinical trials, minority patients are more likely to participate. A lot of people like to claim that AA is a failure but these are all huge problems which AA is actually doing something about and you can look up the stats on the AAMC website if you want. Do you really think that white people having an 8% chance of getting in to X med school as opposed to a 7% chance is more important than getting minority docs who will focus on the particular understudied issues of minority patients?
Also, I know that black and latino docs do go back to underserved neighborhoods at higher rates. I've seen those numbers. I don't know if poor white people generally do. Anyone have the stats on this?