Ethnic Classification for College Admissions

Parents Social Lounge
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>My daughter is half Hispanic (I'm from Argentina) and I'm suggesting that she applies as a Hispanic student. Meanwhile, her college counselor (at private prep school) suggests to apply as "Other" since she is half Argentine. Anyone in the same situation?</p>

<p>Regards,</p>

<p>Mom of HS class of 2012 daughter</p>

2

<p>If you were low income, hispanic classification could give you a boost. But upper class pvt. school half hispanic may not have any advantage. But may not hurt you. Ask the counselor why she suggests ‘other’.</p>

3

<p>I think she should apply as Hispanic. Check this thread for help: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/641650-hispanic-latino-defined-aka-am-i-hispanic.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/641650-hispanic-latino-defined-aka-am-i-hispanic.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Being recognized in the National Hispanic Recognition Program can help when it comes to merit aid. My son received diversity scholarships from a few different schools due to being a National Hispanic Scholar.</p>

4

<p>Hispanic is considered an ethnic identity. If the college follows the standards set by the US Dept of Education, there will be two sets of questions: Race (White, African American, Asian or Pacific Islander, Other, Multiples of any of the above, etc.) and Hispanic (Yes or No).</p>

<p>If your daughter feels hispanic, she is hispanic. She could be a tenth generation from immigration person from California or New Mexico with a culturally hispanic identity and check Yes for this question! No one is going to argue that someone with a parent from Argentina can’t make the “cut”.</p>

<p>And yes, the colleges/universities she applies to will be delighted to count her as hispanic or bi-national no matter how much money she has in the bank. For them it is a matter of numbers. “We have X% hispanic and X% international and X% from Nebraska”, can easily count the same person three times.</p>

5

<p>“If you were low income, hispanic classification could give you a boost. But upper class pvt. school half hispanic may not have any advantage.”</p>

<p>Maybe in a perfect world, but here on earth admissions people are tasked with coming up with a critical mass underrepresented minorities that will make the college look like it is diverse and welcoming of minorities. And they look bad if those minorities they attract (1) have stats noticibly inferior to white and Asian students who are accepted, (2) have a high dropout rate, and (3) end up graduating at the bottom of their class.</p>

6

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<p>Oh please. I am not Hispanic, but I’d say go for it. If your D can legitimately claim being Hispanic - which she can - why wouldn’t you use it to your advantage? I sure as heck would.</p>