<p>im an arab and it says on various websites that northern africans(egypt in my case) are considered caucasians...i never considered myself caucasian so i just put other...it doesnt matter though cause dont they just ask your parents info on the common app anyway</p>
<p>European-descended settlers in Africa (Afrikaaners, Rhodesians, etc.) are not African-American. </p>
<p>African-American means you are Black, meaning you are descended from former African slaves living in the United States, Mexico, Brazil, or other parts of Central and South America from at least one side of your family. Contrary to popular belief, Black Africans who moved to the United States voluntarily are still not "African-Americans", although in most cases they can get away with it much easier than a White South African can. </p>
<p>One side of my family is African-American, and the other is European, and I decided to put down "other" as my "race/ethnicity". Do what you must, but remember that if you do things like that you can take away spots from people who are actually of that ethnicity.</p>
<p>"African-American –noun 1. a black American of African descent." as defined by dictionary.com.</p>
<p>And as far as I know, how a person or their ancestors came to America has nothing to do with whether or not they are considered an "African-American."</p>
<p>So no, if you are a child/grandchild of a white african, you are not african american.</p>
<p>'Black Africans who moved to the United States voluntarily are still not "African-Americans"'</p>
<p>If this is true Harvard should greatly revised their number of African-American students downward.</p>
<p>Black or African American. A person having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. It includes people who indicate their race as "Black, African Am., or Negro," or provide written entries such as African American, Afro American, Kenyan, Nigerian, or Haitian.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that at most colleges misrepresentation is grounds to automatically rescind your admissions.</p>
<p>Will you do if there is an inconsistency in your paperwork? You have checked African american on your application and another race shows up on your SAT scores, school records, health records, etc? What will you do when your name is given to the various listserves on campus and you are asked to join the black student's association, be offered a place in affinity housing, etc?</p>
<p>Colleges do not want that different perspective. Colleges want different ethnic groups to say the same political correct thing.</p>
<p>The above citations from dictionaries aren't quite valid, because most dictionaries are descriptive, not prescriptive.</p>
<p>Technically, if you are born in Africa, but are white, and immigrated to America, you are African-American.</p>
<p>Though now would be best to point out that when colleges ask for ethnicity, by "African-American," they're basically saying, "Are you black or dark-skinned?" (obviously to see whether you've overcome discrimination blah blah blah).</p>
<p>They mean, "Do you have African roots?" Which you probably don't, if your grandfather was white and was only BORN in Africa.</p>
<p>lol im egyptian...am i african?</p>
<p>^^^ Kind of. It's insane, isn't it.</p>
<p>I think the real question is have you ever considered yourself African American prior to the given circumstance? If not, you shouldn't consider yourself African American now- it's deceptive.</p>
<p>I asked a similar question directly to College Board because I wanted to know their definition of who is considered Hispanic. My daughter was taking the PSAT and I thought it was a relevant question because of the College Board's Hispanic Scholarships and Awards based on PSAT scores.</p>
<p>My husband's mother was born in Argentina, but was of Eastern European (Jewish) decent. She came to America as an adult (mid-20's) and despite learning (accented) English, she always considered herself Hispanic and her native tongue Spanish. My husband's father was from Austria, so they spoke English at home.</p>
<p>So technically my husband could be considerd 1/2 Hispanic, making our daughter 1/4 Hispanic.</p>
<p>When I asked College Board if my daughter would qualify as Hispanic, they said no, even though 1/4 Hispanic is acceptable. They said that since my mother-in-law was of Eastern European descent originally (although she was born in Argentina ), and since she was only the first generation to be in a Hispanic country, that it would not count and that she was not truly Hispanic. So actually they were discounting her birthplace, mother language and schooling...all Hispanic...and were basically defining Hispanic in a more genetic way. </p>
<p>I have mixed feelings about the whole thing. I DO consider my mother-in-law Hispanic (that heritage defined her as well as her Judaism), but I cannot say the same for my husband or daughter. It's the 1/4 part that often becomes so watered down in subsequent generations. Probably few people with that percent of an ethnicity can really define themselves with that background in a true sense. Yes, it is a part of them, but so much so that it warrents different consideration than others when being considered for colleges?</p>
<p>Even if College Board said my daughter could qualify as Hispanic, I can't say I would have followed through.</p>
<p>well im 1/2 peruvian(hispanice) 1/2 egyptian (african/other) lol i dont know what to put down on college apps</p>
<p>okay, what many of you are saying'suggesting on here is really quite disingenuous...</p>
<p>to the original poster...african-american is meant to describe americans who have black african descendents. i think most of you know that. if you don't, there's your clarification. </p>
<p>you, however, have a very interesting background. i would check "other" and describe yourself as you have - as having middle eastern descendents. and yes, that would make you a "minority" in the united states. however, do you identify with middle eastern culture? if you do, it's a good idea to include something in your application about that as it probably makes you unique is some ways and gives you a different perspective on things. </p>
<p>bomgeedad - your comment in post #26 is absolutely incorrect. if a student identifies as a member of a certain racial or ethnic group but has no real connection to it, we aren't going to think of that student as able to contribute anything special to our community, at least with respect to racial or cultural diversity. although this is only one facet of their application, they aren't going to have any kind of "advantage" in admissions if they identify as belonging to a specific racial group unless they show a connection to that community and evidence it has shaped their perspective on things and will be shared in college. and even then, this is just one consideration... </p>
<p>this post has made me think a lot about several students who have applied to my school this year. i just read one student who identified as "hispanic" because their grandmother was born in spain. she is applying from a high school that sends us about 30 applications a year (we usually admit 3-4). disingenuous. another student whose family immigrated to south america during world war two to escape the nazis - white austrian parents born in south america, the student and their siblings in the us. this student identified as "hispanic". disingenuous. yet another student has parents who are white but born in south africa. identified as african-american. disingenuous. and other student who has her "enrollment pending" for a native-american tribe - she indicated she is "native american" - not white and native american, not white and 1/8 native american, but just native american. interesting that there was absolutely nothing about her "heritage" in her application whatsoever; I looked at her siblings' applications (who both came to my school a few years ago and were far superior to her academically) and both indicated they are white only. disingenuous.</p>
<p>indicating something you are not on your college applications is wrong ethically; essentially, if you are identifying with a race or culture you have no connection to, you're lying to us. not cool, and not going to get you any supporters in the admissions office.</p>
<p>Well said, Adofficer!,
This question seems to come up on a regular basis on CC. I think the people asking it are disingenuous as you have described. I think most people know that African American means "black". Most black people in the US have origins in Africa even if their immediate relatives come from the Caribbean or other locations. Maybe colleges need to stop using the term African American and go back to black. That could stop a lot of "confusion."</p>
<p>If you think you are white and have been living as white, please don't pull grandpa out of the hat now.<br>
Just be who you are and who you identify with and life will work out much better in the long run. Yes, college would be a great time to explore your african heritage, so explore your family roots but stay who you are.<br>
You will find and be accepted to the colleges which are great fits for you.</p>
<p>I am half Filipino (and half white.) My dad has jokingly suggested that I claim that I am Hispanic on my college applications, since Spain colonized the Philippines just as they did Central and South America. It might improve my odds to be considered Hispanic instead of Asian;)</p>
<p>I think wherever the term African American is used it means black Africa - descendents of slaves - not Arabs so, no I don't think you are a URM.</p>
<p>pampango, I think if you sag in your application that you are Filipino (of course on the race box you still have to check Asian), you would be treated differently from the general Asians, at least in Calif where they know more about the different Asians.</p>
<p>natmictef, I thinik your restriction of African American to descendent of slaves would be considered too narrow. While many think it should be that way, that is not the way most colleges define the term, of course the college would not define Arabs to be African American either.</p>
<p>That doesnt make me african american!</p>