<p>My great-great grandmother was a native american indian. My grandfather and mother both have strong indian features and I have indian features around my eyes. My dad is of Irish descent.</p>
<p>I have been raised as a upper class white male. I am aware of my heritage and my grandfather discusses it, but I don't identify myself with the native american culture.</p>
<p>The question is: since I am genetically 1/16th native american do I list this on my college applications. I would not do this as a way to game the system, but just for a full description of myself. I would include full disclosure, even providing the details I listed above.</p>
<p>Are there any guidelines on how to handle such situations?</p>
<p>Honestly, I’d say just put white. If you have been raised as an upper class white male and not Native American, then for all intents and purposes, you are white.</p>
<p>But it’s your choice. 1/16th is a small number, but it’s not nothing. If you do put Native American, definitely check off both boxes.</p>
<p>In the words of an MIT adcom, “If you have to pause, for more than a second or two, to pick your race or ethnicity, you’re doing it wrong. Telling us your racial identity should be as easy as filling out your birthdate and home state, because it’s something you live within every day.”</p>
<p>I think you need to be a member of your tribe to put it down</p>
<p>I found this website which discusses URM for law school admissions. If not directly on point, it might be close for undergraduate.</p>
<p>[URM</a> (Under-Represented Minority) Application FAQ](<a href=“http://www.top-law-schools.com/urm-applicant-faq.html]URM”>URM (Under-Represented Minority) Application FAQ)</p>