<p>My nephew is getting ready to apply to college this year. </p>
<p>He and my older sister (his mom) have hatched this plan that he's gonna check the native american box on the college apps because he is 1/32 native american. He is white. And blond. And a very average middle-class suburban kid. He goes to private school for pete's sake. </p>
<p>He has no affiliation with any kind of native american culture. He doesn't even know what tribe our family belonged to (and neither does my sister). His grades are average. And his main extra curricular activities are video gaming, chasing girls, and running the mall.</p>
<p>I'm 1/16 (as is my sister) and consciously didn't check the box because I thought it would be wrong. I am white. No one has ever identified my generation of our family as American Indian...and would never dream of it. </p>
<p>My sister also has nothing to do with that culture. Nothing. And has never considered herself to be anything other than a white blonde. Her kid is the same.</p>
<p>He's now changed his myspace profile to say he's "native american." It's crazy. Anybody have any advice on how to tell these two that this is messed up--and potentially fraud? It really bothers me. </p>
<p>(And please no affirmative action arguments--I figure most of you are anti-AA--and I am too, in most circumstances. But this is a more acute problem: I'm trying to keep my nephew from being a jerk.)</p>
<p>admissions have already solved that problem</p>
<p>if you say you're native american (or muslim or chinese or anything) you have to show that you are connected to that culture/religion/whatever. Since he has only now "discovered" his Native American heritage, it's worthless. He's never been connected to the culture at all. I thought about doing that too b/c legend has it that I am 1/8 Indian, but even if I was, so what? I am not connected to their culture in any shape or form, so it's worthless.</p>
<p>I suppose if you can get an Indian Card, that's different. But good luck, 1/32 won't cut it.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure for you be Native American in college admissions you would need to be a member of a tribe.</p>
<p>Being 1/32 could be enough Native American if he is a member of a tribe, or grew up on a reservation or something... I'm pretty sure even if he was 1/2 it wouldn't matter if he wasn't part of a tribe. But what the hell do I know.</p>
<p>Thanks for your responses, guys. I looked up my undergrad and law schools' policies on AA, and a couple of others--they looked wishy-washy...basically talking about where you "identified." Well, we know what he identifies with--white--but what he's trying to say is another story.</p>
<p>My sister, his mom, tells me their high school principal said this is kosher. I can't believe that's the case. I wonder if they really do require tribal membership. That'd be a much more fair way to do it.</p>
<p>I'd like to talk him out of doing this before he makes an idiot of himself or creates a problem he can't get rid of.</p>
<p>lol I really don't know what'll happen, but somewhere along the line, if he gets lucky enough for them to buy it, he'll get an interview or be accepted and they'll take a good look at him on the first day of school and notice something's amiss.</p>
<p>"if you say you're native american (or muslim or chinese or anything) you have to show that you are connected to that culture/religion/whatever."</p>
<p>what you mean? how am i supposed to provide proof that i'm muslim? you mean in essays or as in documental evidence?</p>
<p>You have to be a tribal member for Native Americans, I believe. For hispanics and blacks you are invited to a special interview and a special flyout to meet with you.</p>
<p>okay well - most of the time colleges won't check really to confirm what you check. </p>
<p>futurewhartonman, you think schools meet with every person who checks off black or hispanic? you're nuts.</p>
<p>for the native american thing, 1/32 (it might even be 1/64) allows you to apply for tribal membership - although im not 100% sure that you actually need tribal membership to check that you're NA - you sure don't need the equivalent to check off black or hispanic.</p>
<p>to the OP, i don't think this makes your nephew look like a jerk. if he can get an edge, let him. imo, its no different then being a legacy, or having parents who donated lots of money, or having an alumni write you a recommendation, or if you know someone who knows someone. the truth is - especially at the ultra competitive schools - I would say the vast majority of people who get in have some sort of edge over the average applicant. There are very very few kids who apply to a school like princeton and get in blind. they all have some sort of boost. checking NA is your nephews boost. I hate to say this but keeping your nephew from "looking like a jerk" could also greatly alter his life. I wouldn't be so hard on him - you need every edge you can get - and this is one. the "spirit" of the AA system went out the window a long time ago. He technically isn't lying saying he's part NA, so i think he should put it down.</p>
<p>I'm not in favor of AA, but as long as its there, I think people should use it for all its worth.</p>
<p>AA can only carry you so far. If the OP's nephew is applying to elite colleges, I highly doubt even if he does successfully check the NA box and colleges view him as an URM, he does not have the grades, scores, EC's, etc. to be admitted. All the AA applicants are mostly qualified for the school they're applying to, so I wouldn't worry too much, it will not help him that much.</p>
<p>I had a white, jewish friend from South Africa that checked African-American on all his college apps.</p>
<p>Rejected at ever school. He didn't have what it took at HYSPM but I was sure he would probably makea lower tier school with decent grades, but no go.</p>
<p>I think trying to trick the adcoms didn't help his case at all. He goes to a state school now.</p>
<p>Some schools do require that you submit a copy of your papers of your tribal affiliation. (Keep in mind that intentional misrepresentation is grounds for having your admission rescinded)</p>
<p>Please inform your sister and your nephew that they should be careful as what they do today will not bite them tomorrow. They both could be on a slippery slope. Also, she should really think about the message that she is sending to her son about ethics, morals and character being who you are when no one is watching.</p>
<p>In the case of law school, it is not only about checking the box but writing a diversity statement. In this process, misrepresentation is cause to have you thrown out of law school (because it is a violation of the character statment that you must sign) and even disbarred as a practicing attorney.</p>
<p>Well to actually even join a tribe/village ect you need papers from the BIA. I actually have a card from them that basically says I am a decendant from an Alaskan Native who was on the base roll papers.</p>
<p>What happened when I applied to schools is that they sent me another form to fill out and wanted my % native blood, where i grew up, familly history ect. Some schools even want copies of your BIA papers. And to join a tribe you almost always have to be atleast 1/4. It is actually pretty much impossible to "fake" being a native american because everything is documented through the bureau of indian affairs.</p>
<p>There are no percentage requirements to claim a nationality, race, or cultural heritage for college applications. Colleges typically allow you to 'self identify'. Very seldom do they check beyond that. They do, however, note whether or not you attend diversity recruiting weekends. Your campus sponsor is likely to be ethnic as well and will make a report. The only school I know of that does a further check is Yale for native American. They send a card that you fill out describing your connection, affiliation if there is one (not required), etc. Most native Americans are not tribal members because tribal roles have been closed or for other reasons. That doesn't make them non-native Americans at all.</p>
<p>wait wouldnt the kid from south africa qualify as african-american? i mean he is african. does african-american have to equal black? (not being a jerk i just dont know)</p>