Weird situation... Interview: What Happens if I'm Black?

[deleted897300]

---

Members do not see this ad.

3rd-year
GPA: 3.95
MCAT: 508 after 507 retake
Californian male
7/8 Indian and 1/8 Black
1st-author pub
300 hours of volunteering at Spanish-speaking clinic

I'm not sure I would get in as an Asian, but I think being black could help me.

Will I have to submit any supplemental secondary or have to do an extra interview part if i'm 1/8 Black? Will I have to meet with some kind of diversity coordinator and answer questions about ethnicity, the needs of my community, etc?

Here's the situation:
Both of my parents are from India, but they were from really poor towns, and there are no pictures or records to prove my ethnicity. Of my 4 grandparents, I only met 1, and she died before I even finished middle school (and she spoke an Indian language). I'm not really in touch with the culture, and I look more Indian than anything. To anyone who is a URM, do they ask you specific ethnic-related questions? I can't really say much except "I'm mostly Indian. My parents are from India. I have never been to Nigeria ever"

I can't prove I'm 1/8 black... I wonder if I'm going to be treated as Asian, because my MCAT is pretty low.

 

[arabet]

It sounds like you're just Indian dude

 

[Blanky]

ORM bruh

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

I feel like the Urm line is drawn at 1/4. One of your 8 great grandparents was black? Seems kinda silly.

 

[Hass_Love_Fitness]

Take a DNA test.

 

[Blanky]

Send your 23andme in your primary.

 

[ChymeofPassion]

Take a month-long trip to Nigeria to discover that 1/8th of you that you've been missing.

 

[smileyfacegirl27]

A good rule of thumb is: if this is the very first time in your life you're going to identify as Black - don't. YOU'RE NOT BLACK

 

[jarednogeek]

I think you're fine with your scores bruh. just apply widely and broadly. Don't bend the truth, not about getting caught, but physicians need to be good moral examples.

 

[959691]

You'll never have to prove your ethnicity to anyone. Just check both the black and Asian boxes on your AMCAS if that's what you are.

 

[Master Thinker]

Check Indian Asian. Going to be awkward at the interview stage when an Indian guy shows up rather than a black guy lol

 

[PeleHonuaMea]

I'm not sure I would get in as an Asian, but I think being black could help me.

I'm not really in touch with the culture, and I look more Indian than anything.

1) Do you identify yourself as black on a daily basis or are you only marking that box so you can get into med school?
2) What have you done for the black community? URM only counts if they think you'll serve the URM community you identify with.

Adcoms are not obtuse, they can see through your "I'm 1/8 part black" that you are only now exploiting for application purposes!

Dont be that guy 🙄

Just mark Indian Asian and apply broadly.

 

[Goro]

3rd-year
GPA: 3.95
MCAT: 508 after 507 retake
Californian male
7/8 Indian and 1/8 Black
1st-author pub
300 hours of volunteering at Spanish-speaking clinic

I'm not sure I would get in as an Asian, but I think being black could help me.

Will I have to submit any supplemental secondary or have to do an extra interview part if i'm 1/8 Black? Will I have to meet with some kind of diversity coordinator and answer questions about ethnicity, the needs of my community, etc?

Here's the situation:
Both of my parents are from India, but they were from really poor towns, and there are no pictures or records to prove my ethnicity. Of my 4 grandparents, I only met 1, and she died before I even finished middle school (and she spoke an Indian language). I'm not really in touch with the culture, and I look more Indian than anything. To anyone who is a URM, do they ask you specific ethnic-related questions? I can't really say much except "I'm mostly Indian. My parents are from India. I have never been to Nigeria ever"

I can't prove I'm 1/8 black... I wonder if I'm going to be treated as Asian, because my MCAT is pretty low.

You're not black. Once you get into fractions...it's not going to help, and simply puts you into that pool of dishonest candidates trying to game the URM designation. I know of an SDNer who checked off Native American and got 20 interviews....and 19 rejections. His only accept was at his state school, which would have given him an accept anyway, due to his residency, not ethnicity.

 

[WedgeDawg]

You know the answer to this dude, and if you don’t, then the other members who have posted above me have answered your question.

I am locking this thread given the fact that 1) it has quick and easy potential for mayhem and 2) the question has been answered multiple times already with a clear consensus.