<p>I'm not sure whether this is funny or not. But I just figured out why my son has been getting SO much mail from colleges waaaaaay out of his league, shortly after he posted a 176 on the PSAT. He and I knew that wasn't stellar, so what gives with all the mail from the ivies, CMU, and many, many LACs?</p>
<p>Just so happens that he is quite taken with the fact my mother is part Cherokee Indian (and looks it); her parents are both some percentage Cherokee (and again, they look it) so . . . guess what box he checked on the PSAT for ethnicity/race?</p>
<p>Yup.</p>
<p>NOW I understand why they are all pursuing him, inviting him to meet-n-greets when the admin reps visit the area, etc. They think they've got a URM in their fishing net! ;-)</p>
<p>Not sure what to do about it. Yes, he is some unknown percentage of Cherokee, but it's small and not something I've EVER considered important. No tribal affiliation at our house (though my SIL is Pottawotamie and collecting those casino shares!) and we are as white and Caucasian-looking as you're ever gonna find. My conscience is bothering me and a lot of paper is being wasted on him in these mailings! But I don't have time to notify them all. sigh.</p>
<p>At least it has some amusement value. And I've given him stern instructions not to put that on any more forms unless he has a tribal membership in his hands!</p>
<p>I hate to say it, but it has nothing to do with the box your son checked.</p>
<p>EVERYONE gets loads of mail from colleges after taking the PSATs. My scores weren't that good on the PSATs, I checked "white", and I got several mountains of mail. Most from schools way out of my league.</p>
<p>Even though everyone gets these mails, the fact that your son is part Native American will definitely get him a lot of advantage.</p>
<p>But he gets way more than he should. I know much of it is solicitation to increase applications, to increase rejection rate, so they can maintain their 'selectivity.' But this kid is on his third or fourth mailing from Harvard, Yale, etc., with invites to admin. presentations, and I can't hardly believe they think we are that stupid. People who don't have Ivy league scores know it. But when I found out he checked Native American, something clicked.</p>
<p>But if every student who can walk and chew gum at the same time is getting boatloads of mail, then at least I can breathe easy about the paper they waste on us. They must be doing it quite willingly!</p>
<p>As far as the Cherokee heritage helping us, I don't plan to use that - can't think of how I would. I've made no connection with that tribe and we are not a fair representation of it.</p>
<p>I haven't received ANY brochures/mails/whatever junk mails people usually get from colleges...strange.</p>
<p>Mrs. Kent,</p>
<p>it is not unusual for colleges to send mass mailings as many hire marketing or direct mail services to do this.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Just so happens that he is quite taken with the fact my mother is part Cherokee Indian (and looks it); her parents are both some percentage Cherokee (and again, they look it) so . . . guess what box he checked on the PSAT for ethnicity/race?</p>
<p>Not sure what to do about it. Yes, he is some unknown percentage of Cherokee, but it's small and not something I've EVER considered important.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Some school will ask you to submit copies of paperwork of your tribal affiliation. It is a bigger tip if you are living on the reservation and more connected with your native american roots than it is to state that you are 'some part" native american, but you are not sure how much as many can make this claim.</p>
<p>
[quote]
My conscience is bothering me and a lot of paper is being wasted on him in these mailings! But I don't have time to notify them all. sigh.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>this statement seems to indicate that you are not comfortable with your son checking the box. As a parent it is up to you to teach him that there is no right way to do something that he knows is wrong. It seems by your previous statements that you feel he should have not checked the Native american box. When applying he should check at minimum caucasian then decide if he should be selecting other boxes in addition to that box.</p>
<p>What's interesting to me is that I had recently read, heard, or seen (TV) that tribal membership is currently a hot-botton issue: what percentage of Native American blood is 'enough'? Should there be a minimum percent or should all NA's be welcomed into a tribe and given tribal membership?</p>
<p>If the tribes are indeed wrestling with this issue in determining to whom they should extend membership, I can see this designation becoming abused. If it's going to garner this kind of attention from colleges, there's going to be some keen interest in being designated NA. All my son had to do was check a box.</p>
<p>So, yes, I feel uncomfortable with that as a label for him, since we've never used it before, and yes, I have told him not to use it in the future, so that's covered, but I'm also a tad uneasy with the idea that self-identifying as a Native American could be easily manipulated. But that, of course, is the colleges' problem. If they wish to bestow special privileges to NAs they will have to enter the discussion on what constitutes a Native American, at least for college admission purposes.</p>
<p>Jimmy, they must not have your address correct! I am now convinced they mail to every student in America who took the PSAT and has a pulse. ;-)</p>