I'm not just "White!"

In order to apply to most PA schools, you have to register with CASPA, The Central Application Service for Physician Assistants. They're basically the middle-man between me and my applications and all of the PA school admission departments. It's completely computerized and *after giving them hundreds of dollars* they send my application to where ever I'm applying. (Which is every school in the southern hemisphere...)

So, I'll be applying for the 2012-2013 CASPA cycle, which technically doesn't open for me until April of next year. But, I just started going through all of the questions to see how much of a pain in the butt it would be and I began reading under the "Personal Data" tab. It began with this:

Physician Assistant programs fully recognize the importance of diversity in their student body and in the physician assistant work force. Accordingly, programs strongly encourage applications from persons from all socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, religious, and educational backgrounds and persons from groups underrepresented in health care. 

My skin started to feel prickly. I knew I wasn't going to like what followed...

Do you consider yourself to be of Hispanic origin?	Yes, Spanish/Hispanic/Latino/Latina Please check all that apply below:  Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano/Chicana  Cuban  Puerto Rican  South or Central American  Other Spanish culture or origin If other, please specify:  No, not Spanish/Hispanic/Latino/Latina
Which of the following best describe your race? Please mark one or more races.	American Indian or Alaska Native Please specify the name of your enrolled or principal tribe:  Asian Please check all that apply below:  Asian Indian  Cambodian  Chinese  Filipino  Japanese  Korean  Malaysian  Pakistani  Vietnamese  Other Asian If other, please specify:  Black or African-American  Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander Please check all that apply below:  Guamanian or Chamorro  Native Hawaiian  Samoan  Other Pacific Islander If other, please specify:  White

****WARNING: Erin's Soapbox****

Okay. I'm all about giving economically-disadvantaged people a chance at a better life. Truly, I am. But, why do the PA programs care where we're all from? Are all Pacific Islanders disadvantaged? Do all Pacific Islanders have a better chance at getting accepted? Because if that's the case, "TELOFA! O lo'u igoa o Erin and I'm from Micronesia!" 

I mean, who's to say I'm not?! Who's going to argue with me that this isn't my beloved family back home?!

 I mean, ya...my skin blisters at the thought of living anywhere near 0˚ latitude, but I don't plan on taking the admissions committees to the beach or anything! It's not like they'll ever know...

I just don't think it's right to ask ethnicity-related questions for admission to grad school because I don't see how it matters. It just perpetuates stereotypes. 

This majorly runs off of my page and doesn't exactly relate to what I'm talking about, but I think it's funny. From http://theunderweardrawer.blogspot.com/ (Love her blog!)

Anyway, I can see state schools needing to meet quotas and I do believe that- due to family financial difficulties, not race- some people should be allowed into school even if their grades/ volunteer hours/ SAT scores aren't as up to par as everyone else. Maybe they had to work full-time or take care of their siblings at home. But, I feel that we're all pretty equal once we're applying to grad school. 

And what really bothers me about this section is how they make picking the "White" box like it's something bad or like I'm already disappointing or boring them...

You're all just so...white!
Your class's grad picture is going to look like a trip to Whole Foods! Boo Hoo! 

Whole Foods Tangent...

And anyway, the "White" box is all the way at the bottom without any sub-categories like the rest of the ethnic delights, even though 73% of our population in this country is "white." I mean, they even have you put what principal tribe you're in if you're American Indian! Are there that many American Indians applying that they need to specify what tribe they're in?! They only make up 0.8% of our population! I find it ridiculous and unfair.

Well, guess what CASPA? 

I'm not just "White." 

I am Latvian...

 

I am Scottish...

I am Canadian...

I am Irish...

And I am Indian Princess...

(...Or maybe my mom just made that last part up when I was little because I liked Pocahontas...) 

Regardless, I am a lot of things other than a middle-class, "White," female and I feel like I should be able to express that to the admissions people. 

So, in conclusion, if CASPA is trying to be all politically correct and have a well-diversified class, then CASPA needs to add all of the other sub-categories for being "White." Just because you're Asian or Black or Hispanic or Samoan doesn't mean that you grew up poor, without a father, without an education or any of the other stereotypes. And just because I'm "white" doesn't necessarily mean that I grew up rich, or that I like picking my own fruit 

or that I like Sushi...

Or that I like Outdoor Performance Wear...

Well, actually, I do enjoy those things...

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/

but...um...well, you get what I'm saying...it's just not right. 

Diversity is good but the decision to accept someone into PA school should NOT be based on meeting some ridiculous racial quota. And the decision should not be swayed due to skin color. Because that's being racist in my opinion...and the Free Dictionary's opinion. 

rac·ism  (rszm)

n.

1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability.

2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.

Although I understand the theory behind diversifying health care, I've worked *really* hard in school and I'm not going to feel badly for just being plain ol' white.