Are MTF transgender students at an advantage for disadvantage in applying to STEM schools?Answered
It's common knowledge that colleges want diversity, and so women are more likely to be admitted into STEM schools than men. However, do such advantages apply to transgender women, or do they get judged as their birth sex? Or is it too politically controversial, and are they more likely to reject transgender applicants out of social conformity?
I am an intended math major and physics minor. My top picks are Caltech, MIT, and Princeton. I am considered a "trans woman", but I will hide that if it means getting discriminated against.
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1 answer
STEM schools like Caltech, MIT, and Princeton admit students based on academics first, but they also value diversity including gender diversity. If you apply as a woman, you’ll generally be counted as one, and you won’t be “judged” based on your assigned sex at birth. Elite schools usually have strong non-discrimination policies that explicitly protect transgender students, and rejecting someone because they’re trans would be both against policy and risky for them legally.
That said, the “advantage” of being female in STEM admissions is often overstated it’s not a magic boost, just part of a broader effort to balance representation. Being openly trans isn’t likely to hurt you at these schools, but if you’re more comfortable keeping it private, you don’t have to mention it unless it’s a meaningful part of your story.
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