<p>Sounds like you've answered your own question then. To provide some encouragement, I <em>definitely</em> think Princeton's seeking diversity of mind and experience -- and that's partially what I meant by "culturally." You have views informed by a URM culture, and that's of real value. Given that, I'd say go for it. You don't seem disingenuous to me, now that I've read your reply and gotten a little more info on your actual situation. If I don't have enough information, I have a way of defaulting to a rhetorical examination of the topic...</p>
<p>I'm quite sorry if I came across as harsh; I didn't mean it that way. To explain more clearly what I was trying to say, I thought your hypothetical question was beside the point. Whether it's ethical to check the box has nothing to do with percentage of ancestry. The key thing is that an ethnicity shouldn't ever matter to you just for the sole purpose of college admissions. And for you, it sounds like it matters more than that, so check the box.</p>
<p>Also, I do tend to write posts with general information/discussion in mind as well as in response to the original poster -- after all, that's why they're public, right? At least half of my post was directed to various reply posters, not just you. Some of the reply posts seemed to imply that the question was "Will admissions check?" rather than "Is this right?" -- which was leading to the conclusion that admissions probably won't check, therefore anything goes. That's a horrible line of thought, because it removes the ethics from the question. It's also a line of thought that encourages the craaaaaazy people who will do quite literally anything to get into a top school. I was trying to put the ethics back in to the discussion. Again, I'm sorry if it came across as harsh.</p>
<p>I take it you're applying to P-ton in the fall? (I'm a current student, '06, so if you've got any questions, feel free to PM.) Best of luck!</p>