<p>Why is there on all application forms a specific question about whether you are Hispanic or Latino, and then a more general question about ethnicity? Why is it so important? Why not just one question about ethnicity?</p>
<p>I am an international applicant and I don't understand this.</p>
<p>Because there aren’t many of us Hispanic/Latinos in college and we’re classified as an “Underserved Minority” for the determination of outcomes according to equal opportunity laws. So, when a program accepts someone who is of hispanic or latino descent they are increasing their statistics so that they could get more money for programs, research and investment.</p>
<p>For example, at the University of Washington there’s been an effort to prepare us underserved minorities for graduate programs, so that those of us who are going to graduate can get into the best program which we can.</p>
<p>More for diversity issues and the federal government. We have a huge educational gap between races so it’s a way to monitoring that gap, with hopes of closing it down the road by helping Hispanics succeed.</p>