<p>I usually consider myself white, but I am actually about 20% native american, maybe more. If I were to check this box on the application along with white, would I later have to submit documentation to prove my "indianess"? I only have to be 1/16 to register with my tribe, but it's going to be a major pain to get the documentation I need for the CDIB even though I know it's out there.</p>
<p>I know some colleges require this kind of documentation (or so I've heard), but I don't know about Princeton specifically. I'm also interested in MIT's policy. It's not like I'm trying to lie about my ethnicity because I really do have the lineage... I just want to know. If I do have to get the documentation, I'll just forgo the possible AA advantage and put caucasian though.</p>
<p>I emailed admissions but haven't heard back. Any information welcomed.</p>
<p>Hamster, I'm sure that none of the ivies or mit checks to see lineage. They don't check for any other race. They simply trust you.</p>
<p>Many African Americans have names that one could easily mistake for caucasian names. But colleges don't check to verify with certificates and stuff.</p>
<p>Yeah, but later on when you're accepted they may require documentation if you plan to matriculate. They could want copies of birth documents etc. and if you've heard of other colleges asking for documentation then it definitely is a possibility. Just wait for the reply from admissions, but I'd suggest you just call their office instead and get a quick answer. Maybe they can transfer you to the right person...</p>
<p>As a rhetorical question, does being "half" anything (ethnicity, religion,
etc) not entitle you to consider yourself "fully" that category if you feel that way? Does it not entitle you to be fully the other "half" if you so choose? </p>
<p>I ask only because it is entirely up to you how you describe yourself and your background in any given situation (college applications included), and as such makes little difference to the Admission Office during the application process. It depends entirely on how you see yourself; you can feel free to check whatever boxes you see fit to check. We do not require documentation of one's background, no, though you can feel free to provide it if you like. </p>
<p>Furthermore, you need not check any ethnicity at all should you feel it is unnecessary. That box, along with those regarding country of origin,
language(s) spoken at home, and first language, is entirely optional. </p>
<p>I hope this is helpful. </p>
<p>The UG Admission Office
Princeton University
110 West College Building
Princeton, NJ 08544</p>
<p>If you would't feel like an imposter if you were invited the Minority Admit events or if you asked to join some Native American club or organization, go ahead and check the box. If you, on the other hand, wouldn't feel comfortable, well maybe you better not check the box.</p>
<p>"I usually consider myself white...."</p>
<p>Perhaps you already answered you own question.</p>
<p>If you only need to be 1/16 to register with your tribe, then 20% is plenty. If a problem comes up, then register - or just take that extra step now, not a big deal, right? I think you have every right to check that box.</p>
<p>Yale did send out an inquiry card this year to at least some American Indian applicants. As long as you are truthful, there will be no problems. There is nothing wrong with checking both boxes, but you will likely get invites to minority weekends/dinners and maybe housed with a AI host for student visit weekends. None of that is a negative and you don't have to go.</p>
<p>One parent = 1/2
One grandparent = 1/4
One great-grand parent = 1/8
One great-great grand parent = 1/16</p>
<p>Two grandparents = 1/2
Two great-grand parents = 1/4
Two great-great-grand parents = 1/8
Two great-great-great grand parents = 1/16</p>
<p>And so, 3 greatx4 grand parents = 1/16 and so on</p>
<p>It gets tricky if you have, say, one grand parent and one great grand parent (then you would be 3/8), but basically, if you have a Native American within your great-greats, you're set.</p>
<p>I'm sort of in this dilemma too... I believe my dad and his sister hired a geneologist in order to get the birth certificates necessary for registration... but I am debating on whether or not to check the infamous Native American box too. What tribe, Hamster? I'm Cherokee.</p>
<p>So am I, although I don't really look it... my sister and several other extended family show it a lot more than I do. Even though the consensus seems to be I should go for it, I'm worried about somebody coming along and rescinding my admission or something if I were to check it, especially since i feel like I have a pretty solid chance of getting in without any AA leg-up.</p>
<p>Yeah I definitely see your point and those are my same concerns too. But then again, who is to prove that you were just using your status to get an edge in admissions? I think it would be hard to rescind an admission based purely on speculation...</p>
<p>I would say that I faced a similar dilemma, except that it didn't even occur to me that I might be able to check the Native American box. For the record, I'm 1/16 Cherokee, also.</p>
<p>As far as ethics go, my personal feeling is that you should at least be culturally or otherwise recognizeably an URM before declaring it. If you're even asking the board this question at eighteen years of age, then you're probably not. If you haven't assimilated your Native American ancestry into your identity by now, then why are you suddenly interested? Just to improve your college chances? Sounds perhaps a bit self-serving. Are you really under-represented? Are you really going to bring diversity to the campus? Think about it.</p>
<p>Of course, you have a lot more Native American ancestry than I, so your answers to these questions may be yes. For me, they were a definite no.</p>
<p>Will anyone in Admissions challenge such a declaration of identity? If they sense disingenuousness, they might not admit you in the first place. However, they will certainly not rescind your admission <em>after</em> admitting you. It can't be actual fraud as long as you are truthful, and telling you that you aren't allowed to identify with a part of your ethnicity is far beyond the pale of un-PC.</p>
<p>I have not become "suddenly interested"... I've known about my background ever since I can remember, and even though it hasn't played a tremendous role in my life it has shaped some of my views of American History and environmental issues. In that way I would bring some diversity to campus--diversity of thought--but it's not like I'm going to add another shade of skin to the campus palette. Are they seeking diversity of mind or body? I have mixed feelings about it, and I'm just trying to clear up a little confusion and get others' input before possibly jeopardizing my application.</p>
<p>Am I under-represented? I don't know. How many "native americans" walking around at Princeton are 100% NA blood? From what I've read, most people that are registered with the Cherokee Nation are less than 1/4 NA, so in that sense I feel justified in calling myself one as well.</p>
<p>It's not as if I just learned from a grandparent and want to milk it for all it's worth in terms of admissions. As I stated before, I think I stand a pretty decent chance of admission even without marking NA down...</p>