<p>...if you are not a registered tribe member? I've been told that I'm part Cherokee among many other nationalities including Asian, Jewish, Irish, Syrian, and even Hispanic. Do colleges care about filling quotas with non-affiliated Native Americans?</p>
<p>It does matter because the benefits are good. Without registration, there's no other mechanism (that I'm aware of) that can verify whether a person is eligible or not.</p>
<p>u have to have to be a registered tribe member im pretty sure. And it depends more on which of those YOU identify with. So if you've just thought of yourself as white ur whole life, then the easiest thing to do would be to just say your white.</p>
<p>I understand but college admissions give preferential treatment to blacks and Hispanics without any proof of authenticity. Why would Native Americans be any different?</p>
<p>I don't consider myself white since I have a mix of so many different racial groups. I just wanted to check off the racial group box that would best improve my chances of being accepted into the schools I'm applying to. I don't see why I should just check off white when it will hurt me in the long run and is not a reflection of my ethnic background.</p>
<p>checking off white doesn't hurt you.</p>
<p>because if you don't have a tribe number, you probably haven't been at all associated with being native american, as you have demonstrated. </p>
<p>This is especially true because most people who are native american are far less than 10% so.</p>
<p>Yes, checking off white does hurt you. The statistics show that every racial group besides Asians have an easier time in college admissions processes than whites. So you're just plain wrong.</p>
<p>I'm 25% Native American anyway just not associated legally with any particular tribe.</p>
<p>Statistically BEING white and asian helps you tremendously in pure demographic forms, thjerrson4. Don't gloss over items such as avg. standardized scores, graduation rates and so forth. </p>
<p>Now this doesn't take away the fact that people who are white or asian feel INDIVIDUALLY disadvantaged in the context of scenarios where preferences for traditionally under represented ethnicities or sub-groups are present.</p>
<p>I don't want to dredge up another pro/con debate about Affirmative Action here. But just know that institutions DO want to give preference to Natives but that (like I said before) they do require some sort of certification (which is a scenario that the extant recognized tribes adheres too, I'm pretty certain).</p>
<p>Is verification or legal association with a tribe difficult to establish for you now? It strikes me as if it would be wise to do so to get the benefits thereof. Since your original post asked if colleges can skirt this, I think you've gotten your answer: no. Otherwise they would risk anyone checking off Native and trying to subvert the benefits. Since your 25% heritage definitely qualifies you for these benefits, it strikes me that you'd get lots of utility from becoming legally recognized. Best of luck to you</p>
<p>no checking off white does NOT hurt you, the only way checking off white would hurt you would be if it were true that not checking anything would give you more of an advantage than checking white, your comment was incredibly short sighted and i'd appreciate it if you didn't make such blatantly incorrect accusations.</p>
<p>and because you aren't associated no you do not get the benefits, and it looks like you only want to be native american when it is convenient for you, so i hope you don't end up with them anyway.</p>
<p>LOL</p>
<p>Checking off white DOES NOT hurt you whatsoever.
However, checking everything else besides asian HELPS you tremendously</p>
<p>Basically in mathematical terms level of help (positive means help):
white: 0
urm: anywhere from positive 1 to positive infinity
asian: negative infinity</p>
<p>It has become very difficult to prove tribal affiliation since 1992. If you don't have a direct relationship to someone who was on the Baker or the Dawes Rolls, you will not be recognized. You have to be issued a CDIB (certificate of degree of Indian Blood) by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. My cousin has tribal affiliation and works at the Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs, we are direct decendants and my D still lists herself as white because we have not established our lineage (it is VERY difficult). Lots of people, especially in Appalachia, have Cherokee or other tribal heritage, but you have to prove it. </p>
<p>Finding your heritage should be something you do for your family and not for the benefits involved. There was much suffering and tragedy in the Cherokee Nation, and no one should reap the benefits who doesn't even know for sure if they really are Cherokee or not. Lots of people have been told they are part Indian.</p>
<p>For those of us partial Native Americans whose ancestors chose assimilation as opposed to registration, we have not "suffered the consequences" of being Native American and are, therefore, not entitled to special treatment. I have known those who felt they were discriminated against years ago, but most of us latter day "mixed bloods" consider it an honor.</p>
<p>justlouise knows what she writes -- you must have tribal affilitation.</p>
<p>If you are seriously 25% native american, then proving tribal affiliation shouldn't be that difficult. that would mean that one of your grandparents is a full-blooded Native American. That is much easier to prove than someone whose great, great-father had a native american.</p>
<p>I am not Native American, but my wife is 1/4 Cherokee. Her paternal grandmother was full Cherokee. This makes our children 1/8 Native American and according to the Social Security department this qualifies them to call themself "Native American." We checked NA on their birth certificates, so legally they are classified as NA. I believe that is you have been assigned the NA designation with your SS#, they the burden of proof falls upon the institution to prove that you are not NA. My father-in-law is a contractor and was classified an "8A" contractor, which is essentially a minority contractor.</p>
<p>First the only way you can join a tribe is if they allow you in. No matter what your percent is the only way you can get in a tribe is through them. The government has no say. Generally they all require you to have a CIB which shows that you are 1/4 indian. The only exception that I am aware of is the cherokee nation which has lowered it to 1/16. </p>
<p>Second most tribes will not let you in unless you have a connection to them.</p>
<p>Lastly you can check whatever box you want to. The admission office is not stupid and they can tell from your application if you are native or not.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Basically in mathematical terms level of help (positive means help):
white: 0
urm: anywhere from positive 1 to positive infinity
asian: negative infinity
[/quote]
I find that an incredibly ignorant statement... Schools like Colgate want more asian students since it currently has very little diversity.</p>
<p>read the rest of his posts, theyre all ignorant</p>
<p>"I don't consider myself white since I have a mix of so many different racial groups. I just wanted to check off the racial group box that would best improve my chances of being accepted into the schools I'm applying to. I don't see why I should just check off white when it will hurt me in the long run and is not a reflection of my ethnic background."</p>
<p>That would not be right!
You obviously do not consider yourself Native American at heart. "I've been told that I'm part Cherokee". That means it is not even part of your life, as in you do not consider yourself to be a true native american, but rather you consider yourself to be a mix of races.</p>
<p>"I find that an incredibly ignorant statement... Schools like Colgate want more asian students since it currently has very little diversity."
Liberal arts colleges are the exception to the rule generally. But most every top university, being asian hurts you.</p>
<p>the only people that are ignorant are those who either
1. knows the truth but cheat to the public, like many adcoms
or
2. Those who dont want to face the truth.</p>
<p>clearly, you are one of them, tyler.
Face it, with the exception of liberal arts colleges, at TOP universities being asian hurts you tremendously. dont try to lie. dont try to fool the public. Everyone w/ a clear mind knows it. you know besides saying "he's ignorant" you got no backup or logical argument.
so stop your ignorant postings.</p>