would 1/8th mexican or something be enough to qualify for minority status on applications? and how would they go about verifying it if you put that you were mexican, is it just on the honor system?
<p>I think ethnicity has to do with whatever culture you identify most with. It doesn't matter if you're only 1/8th hispanic if you identify most with that part of you. The only race I believe colleges really check up on is Native American.</p>
<p>I've always been curious about this, are indians from south and north of the border "native american," too? </p>
<p>Technically they are, aren't they?</p>
<p>Considering they were there before there was a border to begin with, I'd think so:) Just make sure you have documentation if you apply as a Native American...this gips a lot of people during admissions</p>
<p>Don't only put Mexican-American if you're only 1/8. Put down both/all your races. Most applications allow multiple choices. If not, check Other and write them all in.</p>
<p>Native American applicants usually need to register with their tribe before being allowed to mark it as their race. Each tribe has different registration policies, so you'll have to check your personal one.</p>
<p>And realize that being an underrepresented minority does not mean a free pass into any university you want. I know URMs including URMs who were high stat legacies or had national level mainstream achievements plus excellent stats who were rejected or waitlisted at places like Ivies.</p>
<p>From what I have seen, most people on CC assume that URM status counts for much more in the admissions process than it really does. For instance, I have seen students who are Hispanic Americans (with at least one parent who is Spanish speaking), have high stats, national-level achievements, leadership, clearly identify with their culture, get rejected by Ivies.</p>
<p>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That happened to me. :( (Hispanic)</p>
<p>How much do colleges like minorities? (I'm Iranian-American)</p>
<p>Northstarmom is right. Many assume that if you just check that black, hispanic, or native american box, that's a free pass to any university of your choosing. That's not true at all. Universities still have certain requirements, such as challenging yourself academically in your high school, your extracurricular activities, having an interesting, detailed essay, etc. A few of my friends, who are African-American, believed that they were just going to waltz into UPenn, Cornell, and Columbia in April because they were black. None of them got in. The reason is because they relied on their "ethnicity" when they didn't challenge themselves academically by the course offerings at their schools. A lot of the time, your "urm" status helps you depending on your economic status and the amount of opportunities afforded to you. In other words, if you are black, hispanic, or native american, yet have had plenty of opportunities given to you (or assumed to be given to you through your application by the occupations of your parents and their level of education), than your urm status won't necessarily help you.</p>
<p>Iranian-American doesn't count. They counts as Asian, and Asians definately aren't a URM.</p>
<p>Yeah....I'm a URM (black male)..and HYP all told me to buzz off.</p>
<p>Be honest...if you are only 1/8 Mexican...put in on the other box...1/8 mexican...but if you are 7/8 Caucasian...you need to indicate that. Use the racial part of the application to be as detailed as possible.</p>
<p>will they ask for any verification if i put that im mexican?</p>
<p>No they don't.</p>
<p>Yeah, people here for some strange reason think being a urm (I'm one as well) is a pass anwhere. It's a slight boost from what I've seen, nothing more.</p>
<p>No, they are not going to ask for verification, but they are going to look at it in context of the rest of your application. What your parents do for a living, their level of education, where you live, what school you attend, if this jives with your school records, how you assimilate to your mexican heritage, etc</p>
<p>so if im from a rich family at a mostly white school thats not good i guess</p>
<p>im not trying to use this as like a free pass to an ivy or something, but i need all the help i can get just to get into something like u of a or ucsc, and any boost helps</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>will they ask for any verification if i put that im mexican?<<</p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>Ask yourself this: would I be perfectly comfortable attending the Minority Students Admit Weekend activities, and after enrolling at the school, joining the Hispanic Student Union or Latino Club? Or would I feel like an impostor?</p>
<p>The fact that you are worried about them checking up on you suggests that you know in your heart that you really dont consider yourself a Mexican and probably aren't entitled to any admissions boosts given to them.</p>
<p>There is no need to play games in college admissions. Just be who you are.</p>
<p>lol coureur.........wayy to make him/her feel bad!</p>
<p>ucsc wouldn't care if you're a minority. they care about your socioeconomic status.</p>
<p>Race doesn't calculate at all. Which is why UC-Berk. and UCLA have gotten to points where they are like 30-40% Asian (and I am Asian myself, so no one get offended by something). If they gave race any special attention, Asians wouldn't be "allowed" to compose such high percentages of those schools.</p>
<p>Whatever. :/</p>
<p>Best wishes with UC-Santa Cruz.</p>
<p>That's only in California and regarding numerical points automatically being given. They still care about "life challenges."</p>