So I was wondering… is race a really big factor in college admissions? I’m half European and half Hispanic, and all my friends are encouraging me to apply as a Hispanic because they say it’ll help my chances. The thing is… I don’t like very Hispanic, so would colleges:
a) care
b) straight up think I’m lying
I just wanted the CC community’s feedback on this and whether or not I should apply as Hispanic.
Thanks
You get to self-identify. No one will say you are lying, and since you say you are half Hispanic, it is entirely legitimate to identify that way if you so choose. And it is entirely up to you. Colleges do seek diversity.
Depends on the college. Some do not consider it. Others consider it as a minor factor (though most people tend to exaggerate it, because it is relatively observable and comparable against others by outsiders* compared to essays, recommendations, etc.).
*Outsiders meaning outside of the admission office of a college.
Note that these are not mutually exclusive. Someone of Spanish ancestry could be 100% European and 100% Hispanic.
Note that Hispanic/Latino ethnicity question is usually a separate question from the race question.
Mostly, the race/ethnicity question is on the honor system (though a few colleges or organizations may have specific rules, and Native Americans may be asked to show tribal documentation). If there are no specific rules, consider whether at least one of the following is true:
A. You self-identify as the particular race/ethnicity in contexts other than the box on college applications.
B. Others commonly identify you as the particular race/ethnicity, or a superficially similar one by mistake.
Apply as a Hispanic. You’re deliberately withholding information if you hide that part of your identity. You can check the Caucasian box as well if you’d like.
Thanks everyone for the replies!
Another question I had while reading everyone’s response was: Do Hispanics count as a URM? I know African Americans and Native Americans do, but I haven’t heard of another other race being a minority.
@Studious99 I was going to apply as a Caucasion because I don’t look Hispanic, and my last name is not Hispanic (because my dad shortened it) so I didn’t want them to think I was lying.
@ucbalumnus What type of rules? Do they require DNA testing? How can you find whether or not they do require specific evidence of your race.
Also, slightly irrelevant question, but what percentage of a race do you have to be in order to legally be classified as that race? (For example, if you’re only 1% North African, would you even classify as being an African American). I know I have some North African (around 15%) in me, and I’m not going to apply as African to game the system. But, I was wondering if, outside of college admissions, I would be classified as African American.
Depends on the college.
Many Hispanic/Latino people have mainly white European ancestry (e.g. Spanish people), and many do not have obviously Spanish-derived names.
The only specific rule that I have heard of for Hispanic/Latino is the NHRP one “Are at least one-quarter Hispanic/Latino” (see https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10/scholarships-and-recognition/national-hispanic-recognition-program ), although I have not heard of how they verify that, if they do (and have never heard of DNA testing for that purpose, especially since Hispanic/Latino people can be of any race or combination). Most colleges just take your word for it.
Again, usually the honor system. Ask yourself the questions in reply #2.
However, the Census definition of black or African American is “A person having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa.” Non-black North African people (e.g. Arab) are considered white. See https://www.census.gov/topics/population/race/about.html .
Technically, there should be two separate questions:
Ethnicity - Check yes if you feel hispanic, check no if you don’t
Race - Check as many boxes as you deem appropriate to describe yourself. Leave them all blank if you feel like it.
Happykid was born in Venezuela, and is as white as Happydad and his parents (all born in Cuba), and their parents (all born in northern Spain). She always checks the hispanic box. It was meaningless for admission at her big state U, but helpful for that place’s statistics that need to be submitted to the Department of Education.
Applying as hispanic could qualify you for some scholarships.
OP, you’re asking questions for which answers can be found easily. Look at the Common App and you’ll see how it’s asked. The most straightforward is to mark Hispanic and white, (assuming your Euro identity is white.) Adcoms don’t look at both and decide you aren’t enough of one because youre mixed. (NHRP is a separate program, with its own criteria.)
But many adcoms will look to see how you’re involved.
Don’t just go on what hs friends think. They probably know only hearsay.