<p>What connection to a specific race does one need to have to consider themselves a part of that ethnicity? My grandfather came to America from Turkey, and is 100% Turkish. I listed myself as White/Middle Eastern. Is that untruthful?</p>
<p>Ethnicity is a complex concept, but in admissions, it is useful to help them consider the diversity of their campus. If you identify with the Turkish culture and you have a grandparent that is Turkish, then that is not untruthful. It may or may not make a difference in college admissions, but what could make a difference is if you are the first in your family to attend or potentially graduate from college. In some situations where a grandparent migrates to America, they start out as a lower paid laborer, can maybe get their children through high school and some add’l job training, so the next wave of births (your generation) could be the first to be able to realistically attend and graduate from college.</p>
<p>The question asks you what ethnicity and race you consider yourself to be, so as long as you identify with the race and ethnicity you list, you’re being truthful.</p>
<p>To list yourself as a particular ethnicity you just need to identify with and consider yourself part of that ethnicity. It’s a social construct without specific boundaries.</p>
<p>First, when discussing white and middle eastern, you are talking about race, not ethnicity.</p>
<p>Second, the only ethnicity of interest for college admissions is Hispanic.</p>
<p>It’s not untruthful because you’re Turkish. Turks are white/middle eastern.</p>
<p>Doesn’t make a difference if you listed your ethnicity the most truthful way possible you will be considered the same as a white person.</p>
<p>The FAQ </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1228264-race-college-admission-faq-discussion-9-a.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1228264-race-college-admission-faq-discussion-9-a.html</a> </p>
<p>confirms the answer that “Middle Eastern” is just one variety of “white” in the optionally chosen federal “race” categories. What colleges do with more specific information, whether it is “Turkish,” “Irish,” “Icelandic,” or whatever, is up to each college, as long as all applicants have an opportunity to be admitted if qualified. </p>
<p>I’ll close this thread and invited follow-up discussion in the FAQ thread. Good luck in your applications.</p>