Yeah, I went with my college counselor and he told me that it’s perfectly ok if I put this:
Are you Hispanic or Latino?
Yes
Which best describes your background?
Mexico
Regardless of your answer to the prior question, please indicate how you identify yourself. (Select one or more)
Asian
Which best describes your Asian background?
Korea
Thanks alot guys!
Not sure how to ask this in a way that doesn’t get misread, but here goes: Latina/Hispanic is seen as a cultural or ethnic identity, so if , in this case the OP is racially mixed or Korean and ethnically Latina then they get to tick the 2 boxes. What about other, say expats, who are racially one race but grew up in another country for most of their life? What other cultural options are there for them to mark off if, for example, they feel Germanic or Swedish or Korean? Looks like the CA directs the student to explain this in the Additional Information section.
@jym626, If it’s like the Census, nobody’s asking if people feel Germanic, or Swedish, or anything else. I know children whose families have lived in the US for generations and who identify with different parts of their cultural identity, but it doesn’t matter that they think of themselves as Italian, or English, or Scottish, or whatever; according to the US Census Bureau, their race is caucasian. Only if there’s Hispanic heritage or identity does how they classify themselves matter. But that’s an ethnicity, not a race. If it becomes classified as a race, the questions will change. Until then, anyone of any race who is raised in a Hispanic culture and/or self identifies as a Hispanic can check the box. It doesn’t take a huge amount of common sense to understand the question isn’t asking if you like traditional Hispanic food and music, but some people will ignore common sense if it works to their advantage. OP is not one of those people. S/he should check both.
Thanks, @austinmshauri . Whys is only Hispanic/latina considered a culture or ethnicity? Lots of sociocultural groups have their own dances, and food and music.
I think, @Jym626, because we treat Hispanic as a culture when it really needs to be recognized as a race. The Census was talking about making it one (this was several years ago, so maybe it’s in consideration for the next Census). If it becomes a race, then people like the OP would be like the guys who attend their friends’ St. Paddy’s Day party; you can drink the beer, but it won’t make you Irish. According to current definitions, people like OP are Hispanic. But creators of government definitions and forms aren’t always known for their clarity (IRS, I’m talking to you…)
Good explanation @austinmshauri - but it sounds like it might have initially been a bit arbitrary in how that came to be. Good ol’ feds-- clear as mud! It just seems … peculiar that someone can live in a country for a while and identify with their culture/ethnicity, yet others cannot. As I mentioned earlier, my DH was born and raised in the far east. But he cannot (would not anyway, but cannot) claim any cultural affiliation (you wouldn’t know that form all the furniture, decor, etc we have from the far east in our home).
There is also often the classic debate about Judaism as a culture vs a religion.
Do some of you think a White or Black kid who spent 11 years in Mexico is now Hispanic? Half a generation? Parents not born there, who knows how much real ethnic involvement. For all we now, they could be diplomats living in an enclave. What this is is just an interesting turn of fate, and if OP plays his cards right, an unusual experience he brings to the table.
Here’s the issue with this as an essay topic: you’re supposed to show, not just tell. In this case, that’s not show why this “makes you” Hispanic, but how this heightened your attributes, changed perceptions, somehow activated you in good ways, etc. Not just, hey, this is where I lived, I speak the language well, so it’s what I am.
Check whatever boxes you want but it’s still more than claiming it. Adcoms have to see it.
And the Census definition for US citizens is: Hispanic origin can be viewed as the heritage, nationality, lineage, or country of birth of the person or the person’s parents or ancestors before arriving in the United States. People who identify as Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish may be any race.
What’s OP’s lineage?
No, because white isn’t an ethnicity. Is that so hard to get across?
Spending your life in a culture since the age of six or so might well make you consider yourself part of that culture, yes.
I deleted that for the same reason.
It’s true you can check what you want. But when an adcom reviews, they’ll want to see what the cultural influence was and how it makes this OP a better candidate.
OP, are you international or a citizen of the US?
The census considered hispanic a race until 1970, then it was changed to an ethnicity.
As explained previously, this is an “it depends” answer, and it can be rather subjectively determined, with different people drawing the line differently. The comparison between living and going to school in an expat enclave versus living and going to school in a regular part of the country has already been discussed.
Also, see reply #7 for examples of “Hispanic or Latino” people of various races.
you’re still Asian, you’re viewed as Asian and had Asian parents. I think it would be messed up to check off hispanic and I’m sure colleges would have a problem with it if they saw you. Your narrative is not that of a Hispanic in Mexico because you were never viewed as one even if you lived among them. I actually think what you’re trying to do is get affirmative action instead of having being Asian count against you. This is not to say you cannot emphasize how growing up in a different environment has influenced you and even the way you perceive your identity I actually think that would make an interesting essay, but to say your Hispanic because you lived around Hispanics is pulling a Rachel Dolezal.
Thank you, @lookingfoward, for so eloquently addressing what I was having trouble articulating.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
At this point, the OP has his/her answer, or at least has made a decision as to what to do (as listed in post #40). All subsequent posts have been unrelated to the original question, so I am closing the thread.
That said, there is a very extensive thread re: what makes one Latin@ [url=<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/641650-hispanic-latino-defined-aka-am-i-hispanic.html#latest%5Dhere%5B/url”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/641650-hispanic-latino-defined-aka-am-i-hispanic.html#latest]here[/url] where additional questions regarding clarification as to what makes one Latin@ can be posed.