Hi!
I am currently applying for Class of 2021 to UCLA, UCB, UCD, UCSB, UCSD, Cal Poly SLO, USC, and Stanford. My mom is 100% Caucasian and my dad is African-American and Puerto-Rican (His Dad Mulatto (Mixed Black/White but identified as black); His Mom completely Puerto-Rican). On my standardized tests I have identified as African-American, but am curious if checking multiple boxes on my apps (Hispanic, White, and Black) or a specific combination of the latter would be more or less beneficial. Please help (: Thanks!
Note- My last name is not very indicative of any specific ethnic group (it is of german descent but not in an obvious manner) and my appearance does not really indicate my race either; my skin is slightly tan, brown extremely curly hair, blue eyes…
The California UC’s and CSU’s banned affirmative action so it will have no bearing on your chances as an applicant. It could help you at USC and Stanford.
You can check any or all that apply. For UCs and CSUs, it does not affect admissions.
African-American gets you the highest boost. I’d check that. High stat AAs are the holy grail of college admissions.
Except for those college where it is prohibited by law, as the earlier examples show. Additionally, I truly doubt that biracial vs. AA will make any difference. The OP should check off whatever s/he feels comfortable with.
I agree with @TooOld4School. Plus, if you have identified as African-American on your standardized test scores, it makes sense to use the same criteria on the Common App.
Keep it simple: stick with just AA. Otherwise it will just confuse people who already have too much data to deal with.
It is simple ignorance to deny that being a high stat AA applicant won’t have an effect on your acceptance at those colleges that look at race.
AA for USC and Stanford, 100%
If your stats are high, apply to other private schools where your race matters and where you might get significant FA or merit aid. Apply to the Ivys, Chicago, Vanderbilt, Williams etc… Use every advantage you have. You may find those schools less expensive than a UC.
I have all my stats on this thread of mine http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1925861-please-chance-me.html#latest
Think it would make sense to apply to any ivies w my stats? I’m a California resident so a UC should be cheaper but money is not a significant issue
They allow you to check white, black, and Hispanic.
OP, I think if you identify as mixed (I mean, it’s your username) and all of the intersections of your racial identity are important to you, then check them. I disagree with those here indicating that you should only put black because you’ll get extra “points” for that. Also indicating that you are white (and Hispanic) does not diminish the fact that you are black. Indicating you are all three, should you choose to, just gives admissions an extra dimension of your identity to be aware of. Now, if you identify first and foremost as black, only put that, but many mixed race/biracial people equally identify as white (or, in your case, also Hispanic) and to not indicate those aspects of their identity feels false to those individuals. It’s 100% a personal choice. Follow your gut.
Regardless: yes, your profile will be attractive to those private colleges who do consider race in admissions. I think you should apply to 1-2 Ivies as reaches, should you wish. Though, that said: are you planning to apply to major in a humanities based discipline? I saw your note about those Cs junior year and my thinking is: if you’re not applying for a math or science-based major, you might squeak by with those Cs. Cs are never ideal but if you’re going to be an English major, who cares?
@proudterrier Thanks for the response! You helped me reinforce to myself that I would feel a little falsified if I marked only AA. And I’m planning on applying as Biology. To be honest I have been under the impression that most universities do not consider major heavily unless it is Engineering or Computer Science because of the competitiveness, but do they? I am pretty UC oriented and therefore am not knowledgeable when it comes to private college admissions
Every school is different, and from what I understand, many of the tippy-tops don’t consider by major outside of impacted programs, so you’re right that it likely wouldn’t matter too much. But some schools do consider it, AFAIK.
UC policies on how intended major is considered for frosh admissions are listed at http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/files/freshman-admission-matrix.pdf .
UCSD biology is a capped-enrollment major; see https://biology.ucsd.edu/education/undergrad/admission/capped-major.html .