Vanderbilt requested jewish applicants

[TakingBakSunday]

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So I was told by someone who is a medical student at vanderbilt that an email was sent out recently (possibly within a week or two) to some people associated with the school (including students) that they wanted to encourage jewish applicants to apply if they had not already done so. anyone else hear of this email coming out? i'm not questioning the validity of the statement, i'm just wondering why vandy might have made this request? i think their deadline for amcas receipt was november 15th.

 

[DblHelix]

What!? Those B*****s, I'm Jewish and they rejected me...

 

[afterthought]

Well, everyone has standards. 😉 No, just kidding--I don't know anything about you. 😀

But seriously, I know Vandy undergrad gives preference to Jews. Here's an article about it: http://paste.lisp.org/display/12638

Perhaps that effort has moved to the med school office, as well.

 

[Cirrus83]

Wait...Vandy is also looking for ASIANS it says!?
DAMMIT! Should have applied there, haha.

I know up at Dartmouth they built a pretty nice Jewish center and apparently they have nice free dinners all the time-at first I thought it was kinda just like the Hillel dinners at my school, but my brother says everyone goes, so it's largely non-Jews. I don't really get it either, but when he went up people were telling him that he'd probably be eating a lot of meals there (and he's asian, lol). Not entirely sure what that's about.

*sigh* one day they'll woo the Asians...one day...
That would be pretty funny, if by the time I had kids schools were openly trying to boost asian enrollment....it'd be so damned ironic.

 

[anonpremed]

it's pretty obvious that they're interested in higher yield rate, competing with schools like columbia... it doesnt meant that they would lower their standards just because you're a jew(it wouldnt make sense).

 

[Cirrus83]

it's pretty obvious that they're interested in higher yield rate, competing with schools like columbia... it doesnt meant that they would lower their standards just because you're a jew(it wouldnt make sense).

lol yeah it seems like they're trying to recruit jews because they think jews are smarter, not cut jews slack since that would defeat the entire purpose of their plan.

 

[anonpremed]

lol yeah it seems like they're trying to recruit jews because they think jews are smarter, not cut jews slack since that would defeat the entire purpose of their plan.

this is false. it's about yield rate, not acceptance rate.

 

[dopaminesurge]

Is this really true? I'm Jewish, but it's sort of offensive. Not to Jews. Just generally.

 

[stiffany]

Is this really true? I'm Jewish, but it's sort of offensive. Not to Jews. Just generally.

Is Vandy a traditionally "Jewish" school like Einstein? It just seems strange to me since it's not like Jews are underrepresented/disadvantaged minorities in general. It also strikes me as odd since, although it depends on what sect your in and one can certainly debate whether being Jewish is a separate ethnicity/just a religious difference, following Judaism can be a choice in modern Western society as opposed to being Hispanic, Black, et cetera.

 

[Dr Durden]

Vandy is definitely NOT a traditionally Jewish school. Since its founding, it has always been very Christian. Yet I wouldn't say it's an oppressive religious majority, and students are certainly not being "fed the New Testament for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even snacks" as was said in a Miami editorial a few years ago.

The article Afterthought cited is just one of many though that tells of recent increased Jewish recruitment efforts, at least on the undergrad side. As a result, the Jewish center here is very new and posh (and popular as it's the only consistently edible food on campus).

However, I have to agree with a quote in that article that "a positive stereotype is just as pernicious as a negative one." That's as far as I'm going to wade into the diversity debate.

 

[Nasrudin]

Well...things are definitely changing. Who would have thought a generation ago it would be advantageous to be jewish and/or Asian down in Tennessee.👍

 

[anonpremed]

There are not as many Jewish girls in the south as in new york. And the Waspy southern girls don't like Jewish guys in contrast to new england Waspy girls.

 

[MossPoh]

There are not as many Jewish girls in the south as in new york. And the Waspy southern girls don't like Jewish guys in contrast to new england Waspy girls.

That isn't what I've experienced, but then I'm not really much of anything and am just a trainwreck of religion.

 

[Caristra]

There are not as many Jewish girls in the south as in new york. And the Waspy southern girls don't like Jewish guys in contrast to new england Waspy girls.

You tell me this now? After the AMCAS deadline for Vandy has passed? I knew I should've applied there, I mean how can I not pitch in and do my share to end gender disparity?

Seriously though to the Vandy people: the best way to recruit jewsih people is to serve decent food on the interview. You'd be surprised how many schools, many of them ivy league, do not do this. I am not sure what they do know since alas, I did not apply to Vandy but It would leave a very positive impression.

In other news, to the poster who commented that Jews are not underrepresented in medicine, perhaps not but they are a historically discriminated against minority when it comes to med school admissions. That's why Einstein is a historically Jewish achool, it was supposed to give Jews a chance when other schools had quotas. There is no preference for Jews in their admissions process but there is no discrimination either. Nowadays that is standard at most schools but Einstein just did it first.

 

[xylem29]

Well, I guess if Jews were URM at these schools - it wouldn't hurt to increase their enrollment just like how traditional URM efforts seek to increase enrollement of the disadvantaged groups - but there's big difference here, some of the statements made in this article sorta demans the traditional URM groups - especially the motive for why they would like to increase their jewish student body.

Also, what are these schools doing to 'reassure' blacks, aboriginals, and hispanics??

 

[Hednej]

That article disgusted me. I'm offended by Vandy. A stereotype is a stereotype, good or bad 😡

 

[bubbachuck]

That article disgusted me. I'm offended by Vandy. A stereotype is a stereotype, good or bad 😡

i'm impressed that vandy had the guts to come out and be truthful about it. especially since they are simply getting their name out to potential jewish students who otherwise would not consider vanderbilt, as previous posters noted. it is obvious that they are not going to lower admissions standards for jews. it makes sense since Vanderbilt is in the south and is competing with ivy leagues from the northeast, which has higher jewish population.

and yea, it would be ironic if one day schools actively recruited asians 😀

interestingly, Duke's Asian population used to be 12% only a few years ago (when I was applying, it is the number I remember). Now it is 18%.

 

[TakingBakSunday]

But seriously, I know Vandy undergrad gives preference to Jews. Here's an article about it: http://paste.lisp.org/display/12638

Perhaps that effort has moved to the med school office, as well.

this is one of the best responses i've ever received to a post on here. thanks 👍 also the two people i know at vandy med school are both jewish...never thought about it before.

 

[TakingBakSunday]

2x post.

 

[Nasrudin]

That article disgusted me. I'm offended by Vandy. A stereotype is a stereotype, good or bad 😡

I agree. I also found it peculiar that these three private southern schools vandy, emory, st. louie, in the article, are not cited for their altruistic recruitment of diversity, but for their self-interested pursuit of higher rankings and higher test scores.

 

[anonpremed]

That isn't what I've experienced, but then I'm not really much of anything and am just a trainwreck of religion.

but are those hot Waspy undergrads that like you? also, it's possible to confuse between when a girl likes you and when she's just being nice. only if you date hot girls, do u prove something.

 

[anonpremed]

this is one of the best responses i've ever received to a post on here. thanks 👍 also the two people i know at vandy med school are both jewish...never thought about it before.

so what are their gpa/mcat? i can assure you that most any school in NY has more jews.

 

[TakingBakSunday]

so what are their gpa/mcat? i can assure you that most any school in NY has more jews.

I don't know exact numbers, but they both came from ivies and one had a GPA * 10 + MCAT ~ 80.

 

[Aynamd]

wow...I actually find that shocking. I haven't heard anything like that!

 

[Trismegistus4]

No one has yet mentioned that Ashkenazi Jews have the highest average IQ of any ethnic group on earth. Presumably, enrolling lots of them would result in a high-acheiving student body, thus boosting the status of the school. I can't say I agree with this goal, but it is interesting to see even liberals beginning to implicitly admit that there is a genetic basis to intelligence.

 

[estairella]

No one has yet mentioned that Ashkenazi Jews have the highest average IQ of any ethnic group on earth. Presumably, enrolling lots of them would result in a high-acheiving student body, thus boosting the status of the school. I can't say I agree with this goal, but it is interesting to see even liberals beginning to implicitly admit that there is a genetic basis to intelligence.

I'm really not sure what liberalism has to do with it, but just to correct you

1) A. Jews have disproportionately high verbal IQ (succeed in law and journalism), as opposed to, say, Asians which have disproportionately high spatial IQ (succeed in science and engineering). Whether one or the other is more important to be a good doctor is up to debate. One should also note that any ethnic group also has other genetic biases - some are more likely to be dishonest, some have higher rates of this or that genetic disease, or whatever. If you DO want to be biased, being based on a singular trait like IQ isn't going to get you the shining stars you had hoped for.

2) A system that does not show bias (affirmative or discriminatory) will always select for better candidates than one that does show bias... If Vanderbilt really wanted to advertise to Jews simply to "boost" their student body's intelligence, they might as well send an advertisement "We encourage those who have IQs above 130 to apply."

 

[Stolenspatulas]

No one has yet mentioned that Ashkenazi Jews have the highest average IQ of any ethnic group on earth. Presumably, enrolling lots of them would result in a high-acheiving student body, thus boosting the status of the school. I can't say I agree with this goal, but it is interesting to see even liberals beginning to implicitly admit that there is a genetic basis to intelligence.

IQ is a debate in itself. The real fact is there is so much variance between any given member of any given race that these claims that Ashkenazi Jews have the highest IQ do not help in discussion. I guarantee you all they do is aid people's stereotypes and lead to racism.

The real fact is that by singling out a race to recruit, the schools is acting RACIST. Racism does not necessarily have to be pejorative, though of course that is when its most cited. The school is using their preconceptions about Jews and applying them in their admissions process. They are applying a stereotype, a pattern, so that they can join the community of Ivies, Duke, and Stanford. If I were Jewish I would find this appalling. It may help you or members of your own race in this cycle, but it clearly shows how racism permeates through everything.

 

[Trismegistus4]

1) A. Jews have disproportionately high verbal IQ (succeed in law and journalism), as opposed to, say, Asians which have disproportionately high spatial IQ (succeed in science and engineering). Whether one or the other is more important to be a good doctor is up to debate. One should also note that any ethnic group also has other genetic biases - some are more likely to be dishonest, some have higher rates of this or that genetic disease, or whatever. If you DO want to be biased, being based on a singular trait like IQ isn't going to get you the shining stars you had hoped for.

Actually, Ashkenazim demonstrate both higher than average verbal and mathematical ability; it is only in visuospatial ability, a category distinct from mathematics, in which they are average.

2) A system that does not show bias (affirmative or discriminatory) will always select for better candidates than one that does show bias... If Vanderbilt really wanted to advertise to Jews simply to "boost" their student body's intelligence, they might as well send an advertisement "We encourage those who have IQs above 130 to apply."

Well, most people haven't had an IQ test and wouldn't know their IQ. Easier just to recruit people who are known to have higher IQs on average. Plus, since it's an ethnic group we're talking about, the effort can be protected from criticism under the banner of "diversity."

IQ is a debate in itself. The real fact is there is so much variance between any given member of any given race that these claims that Ashkenazi Jews have the highest IQ do not help in discussion. I guarantee you all they do is aid people's stereotypes and lead to racism.

Do you know for a fact how much variance there is? I was unable to find a citation that included standard deviation by googling. In any case, it's interesting to say the least that reality is apparently racist.

 

[Jacks Mannequin]

Looks like I'm Jewish for Vandy.

 

[Hednej]

IQ is a debate in itself. The real fact is there is so much variance between any given member of any given race that these claims that Ashkenazi Jews have the highest IQ do not help in discussion. I guarantee you all they do is aid people's stereotypes and lead to racism.

The real fact is that by singling out a race to recruit, the schools is acting RACIST. Racism does not necessarily have to be pejorative, though of course that is when its most cited. The school is using their preconceptions about Jews and applying them in their admissions process. They are applying a stereotype, a pattern, so that they can join the community of Ivies, Duke, and Stanford. If I were Jewish I would find this appalling. It may help you or members of your own race in this cycle, but it clearly shows how racism permeates through everything.

Thank you. You put it very nicely. I think it's sick that vanderbilt is not doing it to increase diversity but just to boost their own stats. It's almost like the chancellor doesn't give a ****e about the Jewish students; to him they are merely a tool. I have to add that Vanderbilt's current Chancellor is a power hungry bitch, who will stop at nothing until he gets every department of his school to top 10 status.

 

[EBI831]

Thank you. You put it very nicely. I think it's sick that vanderbilt is not doing it to increase diversity but just to boost their own stats. It's almost like the chancellor doesn't give a ****e about the Jewish students; to him they are merely a tool. I have to add that Vanderbilt's current Chancellor is a power hungry bitch, who will stop at nothing until he gets every department of his school to top 10 status.

as a vandy undergrad, i'd have to disagree with you. chancellor gee is not "a power hungry bitch" if you set foot on campus and talked to any student(except maybe the men's soccer team), you'll see how much he's loved on campus. he is prob the most known and beloved chancellor in colleges. the job of a chancellor is to get funding for the university and make sure the university is at the top of its game, so what's wrong with "get[ting] every department of his school to top 10 status"? . Also, if the chancellor did not give a "****e" (first of i don't know what profane word ends in e) about Jewish students then why did he allow a hillel to be built and why did he recently go so far as to make a big deal and punish members of a fraternity for alleged(which turned out to just be a drunken mishap and not a hate crime in the least) discriminatory acts targeted at the Jewish center. following your logic, i can say that most schools don't care about african americans because they actively seek to recruit them. quite frankly, being situated in the south and being a school with a reputation for being "lily white", elitist, and in the past racist and largely WASPy, Vanderbilt's new-ish Chancellor is just trying to change that image and let people from the previously excluded demographics know that the school has changed and welcomes them. so please refrain from rash judgement of perhaps the nicest and best thing that's happened to vanderbilt: chancellor gee.

 

[Dr Durden]

Couldn't have put it better myself EBI. 👍 👍

 

[DrZeke]

Is this really true? I'm Jewish, but it's sort of offensive. Not to Jews. Just generally.

agreed dopamine surge...this jew finds it mildly offensive as well 🙂

 

[farikanok]

Couldn't have put it better myself EBI. 👍 👍

ditto. chancellor gee is awesome...

(vandy undergrad here)

 

[beetlerum]

agreed dopamine surge...this jew finds it mildly offensive as well 🙂

Do you guys oppose AA (for traditional groups)? I'm having trouble reconciling this thread with the ones vehemently supporting AA.

 

[anonpremed]

Do you guys oppose AA (for traditional groups)? I'm having trouble reconciling this thread with the ones vehemently supporting AA.

1) people on this thread havent noticed that this article is about undergrad, not med school.
2) where does it say that any admissions standards are lowered? it seems clear to me that they want to increase the yield(do you not know what is yield?), as does any other school. AA lowers admissions standards.
3) any other discussions on this thread, including iq, have nothing to do with the admissions process.

 

[beetlerum]

2) where does it say that any admissions standards are lowered? it seems clear to me that they want to increase the yield(do you not know what is yield?), as does any other school. AA lowers admissions standards.

Fair enough. But a few responses were more along the lines of being offended that Jews were being singled out. Maybe I have it wrong.