<p>Hey everyone,</p>
<p>So I'm currently going through the College Admissions process. In Common App it gives me the opportunity to check off how I identify myself. I checked off Native American and White background. After checking that off, it asked me whether or not I was enrolled as an American Indian. When I asked my parents if we were enrolled they said no. If I check off not enrolled does that have an affect on whether or not colleges believe me when I am telling them I am ethnically Native American? Any advice on this matter would be extremely helpful!!</p>
<p>Who in your family was Native American? Our guidance counselors have told us that the base rule is 25% minimum . This number can vary and it is “self reporting”. </p>
<p>Some colleges will care if you are enrolled, some will not. Are you actively involved in that heritage?</p>
<p>The rule is NOT 25% minimum. They are asking people to self-identify, and then they ask if you are enrolled specifically for Native American status.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about it, list the truth. </p>
<p>@Erin’s Dad, are you saying that Obama, having been raised by whites, and an Asian stepdad for a short time, was not allowed to say he was black on college applications because he wasn’t “actively involved in that heritage”?</p>
<p>@rhandco, I’ll pass on the easy political veering of your comment and answer the reason you asked the question. From what I’ve read on CC some colleges will overlook lack of NA enrollment if you can prove you are actively involved in your heritage. Let’s try to keep the politics out of the discussions. I know that can be hard with ethnicity right from the start.</p>
<p>Note that different schools do not all have the same requirements for being enrolled with a tribe to be counted as “Native American” for whatever purpose. For example, <a href=“http://www.morris.umn.edu/financialaid/scholarshipswaivers/americanindiantuition/”>http://www.morris.umn.edu/financialaid/scholarshipswaivers/americanindiantuition/</a> just requires proof that an ancestor was tribally enrolled; the student does not have to be (although the student being tribally enrolled also qualifies).</p>
<p>The OP can state that s/he is Native American but not tribally enrolled on the application; if a school needs more information, it will likely ask.</p>
<p>My grandpa was the one where my native american heritage came from. He was part of the Osage Nation (a branch of the Sioux Tribe). I’m not active in the heritage which is partially why I am not enrolled. I am applying to UVA, JMU, Virginia Tech, and William and Mary and I just want to make sure that they won’t view it as a problem and will believe me when I say I am of native american descent.</p>
<p>Go ahead and put it down. If they have questions they may contact you or your GC.</p>