@twoinanddone Oops. You are correct. Meant techmom99
I’m really mistagging people today. Good thing I didn’t have a glass of wine with dinner. This could have been out of control.
Actually we are having a Sci Fi movie series discussion in the Parent Café. I’m might tag you there if you are enjoying me randomly including you.
@sbballer So it is just identity politics. Probably a good thing that you warn OP about Stanford then so she can be ready.
“Good authority” does not exactly enhance the credibility of the claim.
Also, that cultural identity and participation are important to the Native American community at Stanford does not necessarily mean that the admissions readers there care similarly.
@ucbalumnus But if admissions has students who ID as NA fill out a questionnaire about NA participation and activities, that seems to imply increased screening.
@gearmom -
I know that many NA people don’t live on reservations. What I meant was that if someone does, they would have more likelihood of being authentically involved in the lifestyle and culture than my son’s gf and her future children and/or nieces and nephews and would be more suitable as a target for the scholarships, etc. being offered to NA people. My son’s gf is NA by virtue of her DNA, but really nothing else,although she does look NA and not at all Irish or German. She has never attended a class on NA culture and has no ties to the reservation where her father was born except to have visited it once when he was dying.
@techmom99 I’m sorry but personally don’t understand why there is a performance requirement for NA. It is a race. Other races don’t have performance requirements. Especially if people visually identity her as NA. I don’t understand why NAs have to be part of this culture Olympics.
Was she not close to her dad? Did her parents relationship fall apart because of issues? Maybe her life was very impacted.
If your grandparents or great grandparent came from Kenya and all other relations are white, you get to choose African American if that is how you identify.
My friend is a registered tribe member (and her son too). She did grow up on/near the reservation, but left immediately and moved to a city. Now her participation is collecting her portion of distributions. She has no interest in the politics or promoting the tribe. Her son collects his portion too, and I’ll bet he hasn’t been to the reservation more than a few times in his life. I’m sure when he applied to college he checked the NA box.
@twoinanddone I did get involved in politics. Full SJW mode with my Anna Mae Aquash shirt. Helping with cultural enriching movies for campus. Just a whole range of things. I just felt I was too small of a percentage to mark it. By race, she is much more likely to self identify as NA than me inspite of my younger SJW activities which did not alter my race.
I certainly wouldn’t judge this person. Sometimes difficult things happen that are hard to deal with. (alcoholism, abuse, rape). However she identifies her own race is her choice. Her tribe identifies her as such.
“I’m sorry but personally don’t understand why there is a performance requirement for NA. It is a race. Other races don’t have performance requirements. Especially if people visually identity her as NA. I don’t understand why NAs have to be part of this culture Olympics.”
It is the biggest advantage in admissions if you can show you are part of the culture, more than any other URM, legacy, first gen, etc. so there will be higher scrutiny. Only recruit-able athlete in a revenue sport may be higher, and I emphasize may. So you’re pretty much in anywhere if you have a tribal number and show involvement, which the OP does.
You folks are confusing identifying as NA and being able to show it’s been more than DNA in your life.
If OP is saying zero cultural or self identity involvement, don’t expect a giant magic broom to sweep you into an Ivy or Stanford.
Yes, she/he can check NA, Asian, and White. That’s what she is. But yes, they’ll look to see what unique perspective she brings. Or not.
This isn’t “performance.” Yes, some other groups have a similar expectation to offer perspective.
On top of all that, these "confused " questions often don’t bode well for a tippy top. One needs to have a level of thinking reflected in the choices/actions through the high school years and in researching your college targets, understanding what they want and need, for their communities.
We don’t even know OP’s stats, activities, interests, what’s been accomplished.
OP, but you’re asking about the Asian part? It’s a toss up. If done well, your triple reality could be an interesting perspective. Done well, you could show an interesting self awareness. Contrary to public opinion, tippy tops don’t just see Asian and discard apps. Try to find the right angle you offer, the right level of thinking.
@lookingforward If I had checked Hispanic, I don’t expect a follow up questionnaire in which I’d have to explain the Hispanic center activities I do. You don’t have to explain your white activities. You don’t have to explain your Asian activities. Why would you have to explain your NA activities? The tribes have the final say IMO.
@theloniusmonk O’k shopping for a community member with a certain profile to meet your agenda. That makes sense sense the top schools are an audition.
Great discussion everyone, thank you for taking the time to answer! I am not relying on my ethnicity for college admission, as I have several other “hooks” and achievements that are the highlight of my application. But I’m just thinking that depending on how I leverage this, I could either boost or hurt my chances of getting in. I know that Stanford hires a designated team just for NA and PI applications, I wonder if they’ll reach out to my tribe…
As for involvement, I am pretty far away from all of the gatherings and really don’t have that many opportunities to get involved in CA. I am in the process of becoming a youth ambassador for a national indigenous organization and helping native youth in my state through mentorship, coaching, and speaking events. That’s really the only opportunity I have, but I am involved in the tribal incorporation that I own shares in- via voting, keeping up to date, media, etc.
I have people telling me to just put NA, and some telling me to put Asian on there as well. Even though i’m not just “checking the box”, it’s still a dilemma between “playing it safe” or taking a risk at a potential huge hook.
@gearmom what college sends a questionnaire?
@lookingforward Don’t know how to quote on a phone but go to Post #14. Stanford apparently does looking for the right type of NA.
OP, your involvent us good. Youth ambassador is good. You don’t need to go to powwows. But you can evidence your involvement (wisely, just right ) in your app or supps.
Saying you’re torn between playing it safe or taking a risk–? The mistake would be assuming Asisn is a risk, accepting that without questioning.
In fact, your triple is a different perspective, in itself. Presumably, the whole has affected your outlook and navigation through your life.
@gearmom, not sure 14 is correct.
And @BizDevJared , they all have reps designated for minority recruitment, all kinds. And these reps can also give opinions on certain kids. Where’d you get the idea “Stanford hires a designated team just for NA and PI applications?”
@BizDevJared Who do you think you are? How do other people perceive you? But a very good warning from @sbballer of how you will need to sell yourself for the tippy top schools. I will send you my NA SJW stuff they are classic and probably that is what they are looking for 
You can always highlight a part of yourself or your heritage in an essay. The irony is that in some Asian areas you wouldn’t be accepted as part of the group if you are blended.
https://nacc.stanford.edu/admissions
The risk would be JUST putting NA and not showing the full story. But you bring up a good point that it may bring a different perspective if I put 2.
I don’t want to be pooled in the Asian category though. I have SAT scores in the 1400-1500’s, not perfect. My unweighted GPA is 3.92-4.0 depending on which years you calculate (it’ll be 4.0 in Stanford’s eyes, sophomore to senior). 4.4 weighted. Nothing crazy like some of my asian friends in the bay area have.