So if you’re half hispanic and half white, and the CSU application categorizes hispanic as an ethnicity (not race) and white as a race (not ethnicity), can I even check the box that says “Two or more races/ ethnicities”? Because apparently I am exactly one race and one ethnicity?
I wouldn’t feel right picking just one, I’m proud of both my backgrounds and I’m proud to be mixed.
By the way, hispanic means derived from spain, which is in Europe (which makes you WHITE?)
On the application it says my answer will not affect my admission but come on now… hispanics have better chances of getting in because of Affirmative Action. I’m starting to think it’d be better to not decline to state at this point, I want to be accepted because of my accomplishments, not my race/ ethnicities.
What should I do? Does it really make a difference? Does anyone else have this problem?
California publics banned affirmative action so being Hispanic will not give you an extra boost. If you apply to California private schools, then your URM status could help. Both my son’s are White/Hispanic and they saw no advantage in applying to CSU’s or UC’s. GPA/Test Scores/Course rigor are the important factors for these schools along with great essays and EC’s for the UC’s.
It is great to be proud of your heritage so I would select Hispanic ethnicity and White for race or vice versa…
@jeepsica My kids put white for race, Hispanic for ethnicity. If the form further asks which Hispanic country they identify with, they’d check Spain & Uruguay. My California kids didn’t see any great advantage by checking the Hispanic box and as Gumbymom said Affirmative Action has been banned in California public colleges, so being Hispanic won’t help.
Just be honest and fill out the form, however if you’re uncomfortable about doing so, leave it blank. It really won’t matter.
I agree with previous posters. I am from Spain, my husband from South Asia. My daughter marked Hispanic from Spain and Asian. Your ethnicity does not give you a leg up whatsoever in the California public colleges. Are you first generation or low income, have you overcome great adversity? Any of those things would give you an advantage, not your ethnicity.