Can I list myself as Hispanic?

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
1

<p>Hi, I want to know if I can list myself as Hispanic for the Common App, at least for my ethnicity (not my race). I am Asian (my father from Korea and mother from China) but my mother was born and raised in Honduras until they moved to the States. She speaks Spanish and Chinese fluently and I speak some Spanish. </p>

<p>I look entirely Asian, but want to know if I can list my ethnicity (not race) as Hispanic. Is that considered cheating? </p>

<p>*I am not using this to enter any Hispanic-only related scholarships or awards.</p>

2

<p>Is your household culture Hispanic? Do you feel Hispanic?</p>

3

<p>Hispanic is, for the most part, a cultural term. Seeing as you grew up in a partly Spanish-speaking household, I’d say go for it.</p>

4

<p>Hispanic should be acceptable in your situation. I’d mention the details at some point in your application though</p>

5

<p>I’d say go for it.
I’m in a similar situation. I’m Japanese but my mom was born and raised in Brazil. I know some Portuguese and I have a Brazilian citizenship, so I plan to list myself as Latino and Asian.</p>

6

<p>I’m also in a situation like this. I am Asian, but I was born in South America and I lived there for about 6 years. I have a citizenship to this Spanish country as well as one to the US. I asked my counselor if I qualified as Hispanic, and she told me I was being unethical. But, I know being Hispanic is more of a culture thing, and in my family we still do the traditions of the country I was born in. Can I list myself as Hispanic, and if I do, will my counselor be able to see it?</p>

7

<p>Okay… you do not have to worry about selecting Hispanic as just your ethnicity and not your race. This is because “Hispanic” describes your ethnicity and not your race. Someone who is Hispanic can be of any race. </p>

<p>Now comes the question, should you put Hispanic on your application?
Well, on the common app, it is all about self identification. So if you identify yourself with Hispanic languages, customs, traditions, religions, food, cultures etc., then yes you can put Hispanic without feeling bad about it. In the end, it comes down to the question vonlost asked, “Do you feel Hispanic?”</p>

<p>You Hispanic Asians are probably more closely tied to Hispanic cultures, etc. than half the people who will mark Hispanic on their application, who grew up with European customs (Not that customs are the only thing that could make you feel Hispanic, but you know what I mean). </p>

<p>@autumn95: Not sure if your guidance counselor would be able to see it, but she would not be able to change it, even if she did. I do not think she is able to, though.</p>