<p>("I know this sounds like bait or just me trolling but I'm really serious, just drop a comment to help me out...)</p>
<p>Up until recently I have always thought that I am of Middle Eastern descent, but my father had some surprising family history to share with me. Both of my parents are from Afghanistan. My mother's side is almost entirely of Middle Eastern descent. My father, who is love dearly, is a really sketchy guy (I don't even know his real birthday and I found a document saying that he used to work in a secretive nuclear energy plant in the middle east during the 1980s, and these are just the small things...) My father, after nearly two decades of my existence, finally told me that my grandfather (my dad's father) was 100% Hispanic. He showed me the documents and everything so I know he isn't lying or something. Amazed that he didn't tell me this until my senior year, I am now wondering if I can select the Hispanic and Middle Eastern options on the Common App. According to the NMSQT, you must be 1/4 of Hispanic descent to qualify for their scholarship, which really doesn't matter for me now. My biggest worry is that neither my name, my father's name, nor my grandpa's legal name is remotely Hispanic. This is because my grandpa came as an immigrant and converted to Islam. Many people who convert, although it is not required, tend to change their name into something more Islamic, especially if they live in a Muslim majority country. Another question is how do colleges even know if your a URM or not? What stops a person of non-URM descent, asides from morality, from just checking in black or Hispanic and getting away with it! How will they know I'm not lying? (My grandpa died 2 months after my birth) I don't think I look Hispanic, but everyone in my middle school in Florida thought I was until like the 7th grade! </p>
<p>have you ever in your life, before learning of this, considered yourself hispanic? Do you honestly identify yourself as hispanic? And honestly, most colleges know that self reporting can mean people lying. So if your extracurriculars show an identification to Latino activities or multicultural activities, or your middle or last name identifies you as Latino, or your guidance counselor notes in his/her letter about you being Latino – then it might matter to the college. But you simply writing that you identify as Latino will not be counted as truth by most colleges.</p>
<p>I never considered myself Hispanic before learning this because I never knew I was! After a quick run around the dorm, many of my friends say they thought I was part Hispanic or could pass as one. My ECs do have a lot to do with diversity, and this could further support the idea that I am what I claim to be. I am currently the Chairman of the Diversity Committee (Application Based), a Senior Diversity Intern (It is a really difficult to obtain position at my school as the intern must create and implement a variety of diversity programs to further their cause. I did mine Islam and set forth a variety of workshops, sessions, etc. to eliminate stereotypes and prejudice towards Muslims. Application Based), an Ambassador to AISNE Student of Color Conferences, and both a International Student Leader and Mentor. I think this showed that I am passionate about cultures not only of my own, but of everyone’s. My college counselor was surprised also about this, but I don’t want her wasting space describing this weird event in the recommendation. What can I do, as I really want to identify myself as Hispanic and Middle Eastern. The competition is so tough, and I have worked so hard. I just want something to improve my chances, and legally, or at least according to the National Merit Scholarship Board, I am Hispanic. </p>
<p>So that’s what I thought. If being Hispanic doesn’t help you with college admission, I doubt that you considered yourself Hispanic. So you’ve already answer your question.</p>
<p>You’ve been asking some odd questions about hooks and gpa, ECs and now this. If you’re at a boarding school, you probably have a great GC. Ask him or her. </p>
<p>Now I know why you ask this question. I think CesarC did mention some application ask are you Hispanic from a Spain. Moriscos are from Spain or Portuguese. I’ll bet you if everybody can claim Hispanic then it’s not a strong URM. Like I wrote my daughter’s friend is Mexican and she had decent grades and standardized test scores, she didn’t get into half the schools my ORM kid got in. Because in California there is a lot of Hispanics, it’s not rare.</p>
<p>OP, I posted on your other thread. Your claim to being Hispanic just rings false. It sounds/looks desperate to try to get whatever you could possibly wring out of it (to get into an Ivy or top school). I actually think you have a good chance on your merits. It’s up to you but it doesn’t present you in the best light. Sad to see this honor/award meant to give Latinos/Hispanics used in such a trite manner.</p>