<p>I know there are other threads like this, but I think my situation is a little different. I've asked other similar questions, but I've received a lot of hostility from many people on here. Keep in mind that the fact that Hispanics receive a boost in admissions is significant here, but I actually do think that I could mark myself as Hispanic (ethnicity; Hispanics can be of any race). This would only be for the Common App, not applying for NHRP because I don't meet their "1/4th" policy. However, the Common App does not specify any specific requirements to my knowledge other than having roots in Spain, Mexico, Argentina, etc etc. </p>
<p>I do have Spanish roots, but they go far back. I also spent a month there recently in which I was heavily integrated into Spanish culture, and became accustomed to it. I am regularly integrated/ exposed to Dominican culture as well due to many close friends. Because of all this exposure, I feel like one of them. Due to all these factors, I definitely feel like I should be able to label myself as Hispanic on the Common App. To all of you who say to label yourself as what you normally check, well, I normally say "other" because I am mixed race anyway.</p>
<p>Since there is no required percentage to label oneself as Hispanic on the Common App, can I do so because of the factors above?</p>
<p>How far back are your Spanish roots? If at least 2 great grandparents are Hispanic then I would say yes</p>
<p>I’m indian and I can go and integrate myself in Spanish culture and make friends. Since you said you don’t qualify for the 1/4 Hispanic background, I wonder how low it is percentage wise, and is there an obvious majority race you belong to?</p>
<p>@Smarty99
So under your definition some Indian who moved to Spain and spent a year there does not qualify as Hispanic? If that were the case with me I’d feel inclined to label myself as such and wouldn’t even be asking this, but I wasn’t exposed there for a year. Also, Hispanic people can be of any race…it’s an ethnicity/ culture, and if one has been exposed to it for a significant amount of time, it is of my opinion that they should be able to lable themself as such.</p>
<p>No you can’t. I can’t hang around with a whole bunch of african americans and visit a county in africa and then put on my common app that I’m black even though I may be white. Stop trying to gain an unfair advantage.</p>
<p>Edit: I just saw that you said you have spanish roots so forget my previous statement. Put on your common app what you feel you should.</p>
<p>So, somewhere in your family history (you don’t seem to know where) there was a Hispanic person. And you think because of that, and because you went to Spain once, and because you have Hispanic friends, you’re Hispanic? C’mon, that’s a little insulting to those of us who actually are. </p>
<p>If you hadn’t ever gone to Spain, or had any Hispanic friends, would you still be asking this? Do your parents identify as Hispanic? Did you grow up knowing Spanish? That’s the moral part of it. I’m guessing the answer to these questions is no. And I think you know that you are not Hispanic.</p>
<p>Now. What race/ethnicity is on your school records? What did you put down on the PSAT/ACT/AP tests/SAT/etc? I’m guessing “Hispanic” isn’t one of your answers. Did you know that colleges check? No?</p>
<p>Stop trying to game the system. Do you know why Hispanics get a “boost” in admissions? Not just because admission counselors decided to, actually. It is because Hispanics are at a significant disadvantage in this country. Did you know that the SAT score for the average Hispanic is 300 points LOWER than the average white SAT score? Or that the median income is about $20,000 LOWER than the median income for white people? Or that the poverty rate for Hispanics is nearly 30%? Or that the percentage of Hispanics age 25 and over with even a bachelor’s is JUST 13%?</p>
<p>NO. I bet you didn’t. I bet you just cared about gaming the system to try to get yourself into college. But what you don’t know is that every time a non-Hispanic person identifies as Hispanic to game the system, they are HURTING the people that “boost” was intended to help. It is not a “boost”, okay? It is a way to level the playing field in a country where Hispanics STILL face discrimination and disadvantages.</p>
<p>@vipstephen from looking at your previous posts, I can tell you that even if you put down that your a Martian, you won’t get into Cornell with those stats.</p>
<p>Spaniards are usually the first to remind that they are European not Hispanic, but you be the judge. Anyway the population of Hispanics is so large that it won’t likely give you much traction at the top schools. there’s 10K Hispanic kids, applying with great to excellent credentials. I guess you can be 10,001. (estimated)</p>
<p>@stanx89
That was an extremely obnoxious, hurtful, and insensitive comment. This was what I was talking about when I said there is so much hostility here. I look forward to coming back to this post in two years and proving you wrong.</p>
<p>@EarthWithoutArt
This was a hypothetical question, I am not old enough to have taken the standardized tests yet. There is quite a bit of hypocrisy in your statements. Asians are hurt in the college admisions process. Their average salary in the US isn’t too hot either. Yet, as a generalization, they seem to be fine academically…
Which begs the question-how significant is that lower income disadvantage? If some off the boat asian pulls a 2250 on the SATs, is there really an excuse? The hypocrisy lies in the fact that in an attempt to create “equality” for all in the college admissions process, the opposite occurs, as more “equality” results in less equality for others. Also, if you want to talk about insult, I’ll have you know that it was insulting that you neglected the several hard working low income asian families in America that make up large percentages of ivy league populations. I can say this because I’m mixed race (partially asian). And I did know that colleges check what you put on the PSAT etc. And by the way, I too was surprised that Spaniards are actually considered Hispanic.</p>
<p>I will say that I’m convinced I’m just not going to label myself as Hispanic. You are right that my motivations are clearly the boost, and I feel as if I could, but the impression you were giving is that if I’m not part of a low income family, I don’t deserve the admissions boost. I’m not.</p>
<p>@vipstephen don’t you think you will be insulting Hispanics when you put down that you are Hispanic even though you clearly said you don’t make the 1/4 percent cut off. It wasn’t meant to be an insult just a real perspective from a real person. I don’t see why you need to give yourself an unfair boost in admissions. In the end it won’t serve you or anyone else for that matter any good, to take an admission spot from a true minority student who deserved that spot. I can tell you that most people who get into an Ivy League is because they had a stellar academic background of well over a 4.0. Also most top 25 schools average GPA is well above a 3.8. They are top 25 for a reason meaning they always look for the most qualified and might I say “honest” applicants for admission to their respective schools.</p>
<p>@vipstephen, the statistics are quite clear when it shows that Hispanics are at a much higher disadvantage than Asians. Are there very poor Asians and very rich Hispanics? Of course. But do outliers often provide much insight? No. The reason admission counselors (or anyone, for that matter) pay attention to trends in race/ethnicity is to, like I said, level the playing field. Look at these statistics.</p>
<ul>
<li>The median income for Asians is $30,000 HIGHER than that of Hispanics</li>
<li>The poverty rate for Hispanics is 26.6% vs. 12.8% for Asians</li>
<li>% of adults with a bachelors - 13% H vs 50% A</li>
<li>% of people that lack health insurance - 30.7% H vs 15.4% A</li>
</ul>
<p>I think you’re overestimating the “boost” Hispanics receive, but either way - can you honestly say there isn’t a reason for it? I don’t know why you specifically addressed me when speaking of Asians, when I never addressed it, but I’m not about to not rebut it. Pretending to be a Hispanic to gain a boost? Insulting. Not mentioning a race you never addressed in this thread? Not insulting. </p>
<p>There is a reason, as you can see above, that college admissions officers don’t see a 4.0 from a poor URM the same as a 4.0 from a well-off Asian. </p>
<p>Either way, you should only be focused on your own application. Feeling bitter about an inequality that doesn’t really exist isn’t going to raise that 3.55. Didn’t you say you wanted to raise your grades? Focusing on school work instead of CC might help.</p>
<p>EDIT: The median salary for Asians? The HIGHEST in the country. So I don’t know where you’re saying that it’s not “too hot”.</p>
<p>Stanx is right here. Since Hispanic is an ethnicity, you really shouldn’t mark yourself as Hispanic, especially since you were not raised in that culture. Where you travel has no bearing on your ethnicity here, at all. A good rule of thumb is that if you have to ask, you probably aren’t said ethnicity/ shouldn’t put it down.</p>
<p>I’m sorry that there is hostility, but this is a sensitive subject. Many people put down false information, or information that is not necessary true during the application period, and oftentimes that does a disservice to those who really could benefit from affirmative action or similar programs.</p>
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<p>Why does the same repeating nonsense keep coming up over and over. Is it possible to have a dialogue without it?</p>
<p>Because it’s not nonsense. I’m glad that both vipstephen, the others that posted here, and I are invested in this topic, that we all care about this, because there always has been inequality in this world. If people don’t question it, it will never change. Who are you to discourage that?</p>
<p>
The population of Hispanics in the U.S. is indeed large, but at the top schools Hispanics are underpresented wrt their proportion of the U.S. population. Consequently, the schools are keen to boost their representation. Hispanics applicants, therefore, get a significant boost.</p>
<p>Whatever racial category u check on the college application, make sure it doesn’t contradict what’s on your HS transcript/ HS records, unless u have evidence to support it.</p>
<p>A whole month? And you have Dominican friends? Go for it, * mi pana*!</p>
<p>Sounds kind of ridiculous when I say it that way, doesn’t it? That’s because your idea is kind of ridiculous. And also kind of offensive. If you’re sensing hostility, it’s because you’ve earned it.</p>
<p>For the elite schools the OP is only cheating if can crack the top 2500 Hispanics and that will take a 2200+ SAT & 3.9 GPA. Considering the other posts, the cheating sounds moot.</p>
<p>EWA: Are you pro diversity? If so then please recognize that others will turn your stats around and use them against you. BTW the mean SAT is meaningless except for tier 3 schools because A 1500 SAT will likely only get you in T-3 school.</p>
<p>Does “pro-diversity” mean a kid w grandparents from Spain should get an admissions preference over a kid from Portugal or Cambodia?</p>
<p>@earthwithoutart with your comments on being giving preferential treatment is the reason why I think we should get rid of race based admissions altogether. Race and poverty have no place in college admissions. It should be based on academic achievements because most times that is usually a good indicator of success at a university. It’s no use in admitting someone with below average grades if they will fail when they get to the school.</p>
<p>Sosomenza - I’m pro a lot of things, none of which I actually think are your concern. I don’t have a dog in this fight. These aren’t my stats, they’re the Census Bureau’s, and I actually welcome discussion and opposing views, so please do recognize that. And recognize that a gap in SAT scores isn’t meaningless, just another example of how Hispanics seem to be performing lower in standardized tests.</p>
<p>Stanx - but how do you know whether a person is performing below their potential if they haven’t had the opportunities another has? If you put someone with “below average” grades coming from a poor environment in the same environment as a person with better grades from a better environment, who is to say they wouldn’t perform equally? It is my understanding that this is the logic. However, I can’t think of any college whose admissions are “race based”. I think they are a factor, but I am the first to admit that I don’t think they should be a main, or even important, factor. And usually, I don’t think they are. I don’t think you’ll often find someone that got in solely based on the “race card” that had no where near good enough stats.</p>
<p>GMT, sorry, is that directed at me?</p>