Don't know where this belongs really...so thought I'd ask here:

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>When it comes to College Applications, SAT survey's, or anything else for that matter I'm confused as to what to put for my Ethnic Background.</p>

<p>I was born in America but both my parents were born in Egypt, so that makes me Egyptian. Now, Egypt is in Africa as you all know, but does that really make me an African American? Or would I be classified as a Middle Eastern? I don't know really what to put and end up filling Other when I get the chance to on surveys >_>"</p>

<p>What would you guys "classify" me as?</p>

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<p>You said it best yourself, Egypt is in Africa so that makes you African American. Just put whatever is best for your application.</p>

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<p>Egypt is considered part of the Middle East in all things but geography. Say Middle Eastern.</p>

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<p>are you arab? black? white?</p>

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<p>@Martin: I guess that’s true…putting in African American would be best for my app, and I wouldn’t be lying.</p>

<p>@IBfootballer: I’m not white at all, a little dark but not black (like brown).</p>

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<p>are you arab?</p>

<p>and I think african american is a stretch. a non-black person from egypt is about as african-american as a white person from South Africa.</p>

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<p>I’d probably put African. Egypt may be an Islamic nation, but not all Islamic nations are considered “Middle Eastern.” Someone from Moracco wouldn’t label themselves as Middle Eastern.</p>

<p>Egypt is closer geographically, but it’s still Africa.</p>

<p>I’m sure admissions knows that North Africans aren’t always sure what to “label” themselves as. Many of the indigenous people in the North may be as white as an Italian, but the categories are based on geography, not skin color.</p>

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<p>don’t try to fix your race to your advantage. be honest.</p>

<p>if you are black, put that.</p>

<p>if you’re arab, put that.</p>

<p>if you’re white, put that.</p>

<p>An Arab or White Egyptian is as African-American as a White South African.</p>

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<p>Sailor, I was in the same position as you were last year when I was applying to college.
I debated it for a few days before I finally made a decision on what to put for my race.
In the end I DID put I was AA, and here are the reasons why.

  1. Ancient Egyptians were slaves. Affirmative action is supposed to be used for minority students that have it harder than everyone else, and as far as i am concerned I was a descendent of slaves that built the pyramids.
  2. Egypt is in africa, and I identified myself as much as “African” as “middle easterner”.
  3. Alot of scholars debate that Ancient Egyptians were black. I am a Copt, and they are believed to descendents of Ancient Egyptians because they never assimilated into the Arab population when the Arabs conquered Egypt.
  4. I asked my high school prinicipal and he told me, “go for it, use every advantage you can get”
  5. The US Census, has labeled Egyptians as “white” but i am NOT white. I am as dark or darker than Obama, Michael Jackson, Jennifer Beals, Vin Deasel and they are labeled as “africans”. I am beyond offended when someone tells me that I am white. I am not identified as white in everyday society so why should I “self-identify” with it.
    HOWEVER, even though i did check the box that was marked “AFRICAN/African american” , I DID EXPLAIN IN MY ESSAYS THAT I WAS EGYPTIAN. I never hid the fact, and made sure that my essays identified me as an Egyptian-American</p>

<p>@IBFOOTBALLER. how is being egyptian and labeling yourself african as bad as a white south african labeling themselves as african. Egyptians have lived on the continent since before Jesus was born. white South africans are mostly dutch and only moved there 400/300 years ago. I am beyond offended by your comment.</p>

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<p>here’s an idea.</p>

<p>checked the box marked “other”</p>

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<p>and i never did understand why they don’t mark “arab/middle eastern” as a different ethnicity.</p>

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<p>If you want to be honest rather than trying to pull a fast one, why not call the admissions office and ask them.</p>