<p>Slightly puzzled on how to answer this question on the common app. For the previous question, I checked Hispanic and Mexican, but I do not want to "identify" myself as any of the categories in this question, since Latino is not a choice.</p>
<p>What do most Hispanic students do for this? Just leave this one blank?</p>
<p>Please read the first posts on the sticky thread about how Hispanic is defined for college admissions purposes.</p>
<p>What is explained in that thread is that the CA asks for two separate categories (although they mislabel them): ethnicity (Hispanic/Latino Y/N) and race (AA, NA, Asian, White, etc.) They do this because Hispanics can be, and are, of any race(s). </p>
<p>So for the first question you would mark Yes to Hispanic and for background put Mexico. Then in the second question you would mark any race(s) that are represented in your background. </p>
<p>I just checked your posting history and see that you previously asked a similar question and I directed you to the sticky thread I mentioned above. Is it more clear now or do you still have questions?</p>
<p>Friends account, the other posts are not mine. He is partly Mexican I am fully. I understand that they are two separate questions on the common app, but if I don’t fit into any of those race categories definitively I don’t want to say I “indentify” with any of the races, which is where my confusion arises…</p>
<p>You do understand that you can mark as many races as necessary? I’m a little confused because to my knowledge, all of the possible races are listed, and some combination of those should fit any situation. Since you are Mexican, is your concern about being part ‘Original Peoples’? If so, do a Search on this forum for Native American or Original Peoples and you will find several threads that discuss this, for instance:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/1023013-race-ethnicity-can-someone-explain-please.html?highlight=original+peoples[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/1023013-race-ethnicity-can-someone-explain-please.html?highlight=original+peoples</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/995834-hispanic-native-american-both.html?highlight=original+peoples[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/995834-hispanic-native-american-both.html?highlight=original+peoples</a></p>
<p>I just realized that you are concerned about the ‘identify’ part of the question. IMO, ‘identifying’ is very important for the ethnicity part of the question, as Hispanic identity is something that is passed down culturally rather than genetically. However, to me, race is a biological factor that IS genetic. While it is sometimes difficult to track (as with Original Peoples in Mexico), it is none-the-less something that is present in your ancestors, and therefore in you, or not. Note, this is an optional question, so if you don’t feel comfortable with a race designation, leave it blank, your Hispanic ethnicity will still be recognized.</p>
<p>I read through those threads. I guess my “race” would be best identified as original people from Americas, but I feel that choice is really designating Native American tribes like Iroqouis and the like.</p>
<p>I’m just going to leave race blank, I think they will understand that I’m just Mexican. Thanks.</p>
<p>Hamburglar, I identify as Latino but I leave “race” blank. I don’t believe in race, but i do believe in culture and heritage. Some light-skinned Hispanic/Latinos are comfortable also identifying as white, but not all. (Also there are dark-skinned Latinos and a lot of other shades.) In terms of social contexts, some people do not see Hispanic/Latino as white regardless of skin color. I don’t think there’s any problem with someone answering “Are you Hispanic/Latino?” in the affirmative but leaving the race question blank.</p>