Race/Ethnic Origin

When colleges ask you to check off what you consider yourself to be… what percentage do you have to be of that.

<p>check what you consider yourself to be. that simple</p>

<p>but i would think youd have to be at least half of that race/ethnic origin to justify what you consider yourself to be.</p>

<p>I think it is like 10%, but I wouldn't but something like Native American, Hispanic, Black (all URMS), unless you have been putting that on all your important documents, like your birth certificates.</p>

<p>They don't check your birth certificate or anything. You can probably put down anything that you are willing to tell people in person. If your great grandmother was an African American, would you be comfortable telling someone that you met at college that you are an African American? Beyond that criteria, you also need to at least not be totally and obviously lying if they ever ask you why you said it.</p>

<p>I think (own opinion) that the criteria might be less for Native Americans since so few are predominantly Native American.</p>

<p>like my great great grandma was a native american lol.. but i'm assuming i can't say i'm native american bc of that- despite the fact that it would help me tremendously lol.</p>

<p>Some of the tribes have official standards on who is a member.</p>

<p>I'd say 1/4</p>

<p>Anything else is insignificant.</p>

<p>ask your parents what you are on your forms for high school- it will looke very odd if you change it.</p>

<p>As far as Native Americans go, I know a Harvard grad who put on his application that he was 1/16th Native American. He actually won a small scholarship from the Cherokee tribe.</p>

<p>1/16 does sound about right for Native American status. If you have enough information, then you might be able to connect with a great great grandparent. If it works like the Daughters of the American Revolution or the Sons of the American Revolution, you would have to use birth certificates to show that you are a descendant of a certified member.</p>

<p>I think that you should just check whatever box you have been checking on any form you have ever filled out that asked you about your ethnicity. Of course, if you do anything differently, hey, who'll know right? But at the same time, are you comfortable with changing your identity simply because you think it might give you an edge? If you are seriously thinking about that question you are probably obsessing a little too much about your app...</p>

<p>I totally agree with swbutterfly. I wasn't posting in order to encourage you to try it for college admissions. It just seems interesting that you could become a member of an indian tribe if you wanted to. There are probably better ways that you could be spending your immediate time in senior year, though.</p>

<p>Oh i know.. lol i'm not depending on this at all... i was just curious, as it would of course give me a unique edge. thanks for the opinions though.</p>