2023 marked the end of affirmative action – policies designed to benefit marginalized groups. While this action was celebrated by most, it also left a question mark for most minority communities trying to get into college. 

Most minority students today are unclear if mentioning their ethnic background will do them any good. Moreover, students now feel belonging to a minority community means, they will have limited resources and fewer opportunities and they still get to compete on the same level. 

If you are a Hispanic student, getting started with your college application, and have similar questions, we have you covered. This write-up with answer all your similar questions and some interesting tips to help you stand out.

Tips to Ace College Application as a Hispanic Student

Mentioning Your Ethnicity 

To kick start, let us just address the elephant in the room. Even though affirmative action was banned by the Supreme Court, you can still mention your ethnicity. However, just saying “I am Hispanic” or “I belong to a minority group” will do nothing for you. 

Instead, your focus should be on highlighting how being in a minority group shaped your opinions, outlook on life, or personality. Have you become resilient; has it added to your learning, have you developed a skill or anything important? 

While mentioning your ethnicity and sharing your life experiences, it’s not okay to make outrageous claims. Make sure you are not being unrealistic or adding some details that can get you into legal battles. For instance, mentioning illegal immigration, a criminal past, or admitting any other related legal issue can have repercussions. 

Work On Your Hook

Your college application will only help the panel get an overview but your essay or personal statement is where you can outshine the rest. While working on your personal statement essay, write a hook that can keep the reader interested. 

Using the same old hook templates, mentioning basic details that are already mentioned in the application, or writing obvious things will only reduce your chance of acceptance. Instead, it is better to write at least five to six hooks from your daily life and then shortlist refine, and edit as much as you can.

To improve your chance of acceptance, it is recommended to seek professional guidance. In case you can’t afford professional help, the internet is your best friend. Use a good internet connection like Optimum and Subscribe to people who offer career counseling and assistance. For guidance about affordable packages from Optimum, you can contact Optimum servicio al cliente.

Research Your Colleges 

Before you start your application, make sure you have an achievable goal. Do you want to get into an Ivy League college or do you want to get into a college? Do not get me wrong, I do not want to discourage you, but keeping your options open is a much wiser decision.

You can focus on Ivy League schools all you want but research your options before you start applying. Some colleges have a history of supporting minorities; others have a dominant student body that belongs to an ethnic group. 

For instance, Florida International University has one of the largest Hispanic student body. So, after getting acceptance, you will feel right at home. With such a large student body, you will get the right kind of support and care that will eventually help in your career as well. 

Look Beyond Academics

While working on your application, do not stick to the obvious academic achievement. Most students keep mentioning the number of A’s they have received or how they were enrolled in the maximum number of AP classes.

Generally, the panel is more interested in learning about your real-life experience. Do you have a military experience? Have you volunteered anywhere? Were you part of a small business venture? Do you have a business story?

These stories do not always need to have a happy ending. You can admit your failures; let your human side shine. Write about your first startup and talk about why it failed. You can write about your plans or just talk about your family. No matter what you write, make sure it is personalized, impressive, and interesting. 

No Room for Ordinary 

 As per Statista, 1, 1,806,330 applications were submitted in the United States in the academic year 2023-24. With such fierce competition, do you think your ordinary grades and story stand a chance? While the competition discourages most students, others take this challenge head-on and work hard to stand out.

A perfect way to find the right balance is to start working on your applications for at least a few years before you have to apply for college. This will help you set your routine; you will approach every activity from a college point of view and this will help you avoid wasting time.

Apart from this, your college application is your only chance to dazzle the panel and get into a college, so make sure you are listing all the extraordinary things you have done. While most people will go for the interest in the subject, it is better to state survival skills, travel experiences, contribution to society, etc. 

Top Colleges with Largest Hispanic Student Body

Florida International University

The University of Texas at El Paso

New Mexico State University

Texas A&M International University

California State University, Fullerton

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