The injustice of discrimination against East Asian applicants in the college admissions process has become a topic of national conversation. The pivotal Supreme Court ruling, which ostensibly outlawed race-based criteria in the admissions process, sent shockwaves across the nation. However, the conversation was largely focused on the discrimination faced by East Asian applicants. It’s crucial to recognize that Indian and Indian American applicants also face discrimination and stereotyping at the hands of Ivy League admissions officers. This minority group is often overlooked under the label “Asian” and left to navigate this issue on their own.

Applicants of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese descent to highly selective and Ivy League schools are disadvantaged if their applications contain many of the activities and traits characteristic of these applicants. As a result, they face lower qualitative scores from elite college admissions officers. The exact same is true of Indian and Indian American applicants. The only difference is the types of activities and traits found on an Indian student’s application, which trigger a flood of discrimination. 

Indians Aren’t Discriminated Against Based on Race Alone

Parents of Indian and Indian American college applicants, take heart. The simple fact of your child’s race will not put them at a disadvantage. We at Ivy Coach can attest to this, as Indian American students form our core clientele! Every year, we assist numerous students of Indian descent in gaining admission to the nation’s top schools. We help them create unique admissions hooks that avoid the types of activities that draw intense scrutiny from Ivy League admissions officers. 

What activities and traits play so poorly with college admissions officers? For one thing, the desire to be a doctor, engineer, or computer scientist. When colleges see an Indian or Indian American applicant with a proficiency in STEM (to the detriment of other core subjects), who has an undying ambition to join one of these fields, their eyes glaze over. The same is true for tennis players and female Classical Indian dancers.

Fear not for those of you reading this and panicking because your profile contains one or more of these characteristics. Pursue that medical degree with pride! Honor your heritage by dancing with abandon! But don’t make these non-competitive activities the focal point of your applications. Actually, don’t include them at all! In 2024, elite colleges are not admitting well-rounded students. They don’t want the student in the lab during the day, dancing at night, and volunteering on weekends. Despite what Mindy Kaling and Netflix may think, they don’t want the student who gets a last-minute athletic varsity letter to round out their application (sorry, Devi!)

What colleges are truly seeking is a highly ambitious student who has become an expert or specialist in a unique pursuit. By framing your application around a compelling singular hook that avoids the target activities and traits that open the door for discrimination, you can take control of your college admissions journey. You’ll thank us later.

Does the Ivy League, In Particular, Discriminate Against Indian Applicants?

South Asian (as with East Asian) discrimination is not exclusive to the Ivy League. All highly selective schools nationwide participate in this disgusting practice. The Supreme Court ruling may have changed how the game is played, and Asian students will be represented in slightly higher numbers at highly selective schools in the years to come, but not as highly as would be the case if Asian students were admitted on their academic merits alone. Discrimination is here to stay, whether it’s at Harvard, Duke, or Stanford.

Go into this highly outdated and prejudiced college admissions process with help. Ivy Coach has been helping academically ambitious students of Indian heritage get into the schools of their dreams for years because we know how to beat admissions officers at their own games. Our clients don’t succumb to the stereotyping — they rewrite the book entirely!

If you would like to optimize your child’s odds of admission to a highly selective college, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll contact you.