Basically, I was born in Israel, moved to America when I was six. Both of my mom’s parents are Brazilian so she is completely latina, but was born in Israel. My dad is American. So bloodwise, I am 50% American 50% Brazilian. I have always marked white on race q’s. On the commonapp, I am planning on saying that yes i am latina. But then I will say I identify as white, because I want to be honest. I know you can be white an latina at the same time.
My question is: While I get URM treatment? Or because I identify as white, the fact I say I am latina doesn’t matter.
Each college, where not prohibited by law (like California public colleges) is free to make its own determination as to what is URM and what role, if any, it will play in the admission’s process. One such definition is:
^ According to Johns Hopkins (and that include Puerto Ricans, not just Mexicans). @skieurope is just pointing out you may very well NOT be an URM,depending on the school, based on your info.
Not my definition; it’s Johns Hopkins’ definition. In your case, IMO, it’s doubtful that you will receive any benefit in the admissions process by being a white Latina.
Alright, Having gone through this process a great many times for all kinds of apps let me give you some advice. First of all Hispanic/Latino is NOT a race so you may mark Hispanic or Latino regardless of whether you then proceed to mark Black, White Asian or whatever. On the common app the question is Are you Hispanic OR Latino. To that question you should answer yes. If you are Caucasian, mark white, if you are Mestizo or of a Native South American tribe mark Native American and clarify it. That's what I did.
Now as to whether or not you will be considered a URM, that is completely arbitrary based on a college and may or may not give you an edge depending on everything from program choice to University choice to your own recognition and collection with your heritage.
Having said all that remember to answer as CLEARLY and carefully as you can. We were told a story at a summer program at Dartmouth about an applicant lying and generally if colleges have reason to believe something is dishonest or misleading it will probably lead to an auto reject without strict verification of the issue. If you had 40,000 apps and there was a student you felt was being dishonest you would not have the time to check, but it would impact your admission decision all the same. If you have previously always marked white without identifying as Hispanic this is an example of one such discrepancy which may give the impression of being dishonest, be it true or false. Be honest, be straightforward and don't be worried about whether or not you'll get an edge. If you are admitted it will have a lot more to do with who you are in school than who you are in heritage, race or nationality.
If you reported white and did not mark Hispanic on your SAT/ACT or your high school you would do well not to change this on your application now. Inconsistency may go completely un-noticed but it may also earn you a negative, which is hardly worth the slight edge you may or may not actually be getting from it.
@MaterS I based my racial identification on how my parents identified; I never even considered my grandparents’ races, much less my great-grandparents’. Do you and/or your husband consider yourselves mixed, of unknown race, or of different races? Or your parents, if you grew up with them?
NHRP’s Definition of Hispanic/Latino
To be eligible, you must be at least one-quarter Hispanic/Latino. Hispanic/Latino is an ethnic category, not a racial cazuela.tegory, so you can be of any race.
You must have ancestors from at least one of these countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay, or Venezuela