Hispanics

Other Hispanics, particularly Cuban Americans and residents of South America, are given less latitude than Puertoriqueños and Chicanos. Some schools do not treat Cuban Americans as minorities, since most Cuban immigrants to the United States were wealthy, and their children, who are now applying to law school, were raised speaking English. This perception of Cubans should have changed with the Marielista refugees, but my experience is that it hasn't, except in cases of a compelling diversity statement.

South Americans in the United States are similarly unlikely to be poor. If you are an exception to this rule, you should make the law school aware of it through your personal statement. If English is not your first language, you should also bring this to the law school's attention, either through a diversity statement or in a note included with your application.

As with Cubans, South Americans with a story to tell may fare better than their peers without one. Other Hispanics are often judged on a case-by-case basis more then on a school's policy. But residency and immigrant status can also play a large part. Make sure to read our section on Foreign Students if you weren't born in the USA.