I was recently applying to YYGS and noticed that the ethnicity section had an option that went something along the lines of “Native American/Indigenous American/All Original Peoples of the Americas”. My grandfather is full indigenous South American (the Quechua in Ecuador), so I marked down that option. I was wondering if other colleges had something like this that included indigenous people in South America? How would I prove it, as these tribes don’t have the same documents—if any—that tribes here in the U.S. have? I am applying to all the ivies next year, so I’d just like to know if their ethnicity questions include South American tribes. Thanks!
All you can do is check the box, and the college does with it what it will. There is no standard. Colleges, where not prohibited by state law, are free to apply their own definition of what URM is and what (if any) boost it will give.
You can check the box. Where it asks for info on tribe/affiliation, mention Quechua. Obviously, no documentation to provide. You will be honest and colleges can then consider it in the application process how they wish.