“For the sake of admissions, can someone explain how a white Spaniard who has relatives from Europe be considered an underrepresented minority and get special consideration in admissions? Just curious. In my mind an URM has faced challenges due to the color of their skin. They have had unfair disadvantages in their lives, etc.”
I am not sure why schools play the games they do,but op should play the game to win if they choose. (it is a personal choice) I am also not sure that all or even most “URM has faced challenges due to the color of their skin. They have had unfair disadvantages in their lives, etc.” I live this 24/7 and even relatives who have an accent have never been denied medical care, a seat in a restaurant , a job etc…the only thing they have are questions about from other “hispanics” is what country are you “from”. and I might add that hispanics will straight out ask you the second they meet you. no beating around the bush. (I am referring to mestizos and such not people of spanish european origin, they are not so intermingled with the “stereotypical hispanics” I also do HR and when I hire people sometimes the person who will work with the new hire gets to help choose the final candidate. when that happens I remind the co worker before the interview no questions about where are you “from” do you have kids, even what year where you born. most employees are of hispanic origin, they just need to “know”. I remind them that hr laws trump you personal need to “know”
but I digress.
the bottom line is the concept of hispanic was designed by the nixon administration as a unique grouping. it was pushed over years including in ads on spanish language tv so "hispanics’ would use the term and see themselves as part of this newly minted group. and it has over the last 45+ years become a force in politics (not the way nixon wanted I am sure)