<p>My grandmother on one side was a Native Hawaiian (she is deceased). Her husband was also Hawaiian. They both referred to themselves as Pacific Islanders (although their skin is more white than what you would expect). My grandfather on the other side is an Alaskan Native (he is still alive). He was once apart but now is separated from the Alaskan Athabaskans He married a white skinned French/Romanian woman who he is still happily married to.</p>
<p>My parents both grew up following some traditions of their parents respective races. These included but were not limited to: recipes, holiday games, music, and literature.</p>
<p>My skin is white, as is my parents. If anything, we tan a little better in the summer time. Does this automatically mean that I am Caucasian? Or am I multi-racial? I probably have followed more Pacific customs in my lifetime than Alaskan. When it comes time to "check the box" for college admissions, I am somewhat unsure which race to choose. In the past, I have just checked Caucasian, Multi-Racial, or Other. It is not so much that I care about affirmative action advantage, I just sincerely don't want to sell my identity short and I would like a shot at scholarships set for only people of certain ethnic backgrounds if I qualify.</p>
<p>Ethnicity doesn't refer to your skin color, but to what culture you most identify with. Reading your post, it seems to me that you identify with both of sides of your culture (Hawaiian and Alaskan). But if you feel that being Hawaiian has had way more of an impact on your life and you identify most with Hawaiian culture, then go ahead and check Pacific Islander.</p>
<ol>
<li>Native American (grandfather)</li>
<li>Asian / Pacific Islander (grandfather and grandmother)</li>
<li>Caucasian (grandmother)</li>
<li>Multiracial (you)</li>
</ol>
<p>Do not sell yourself short, particularly when there is no need to.</p>
<p>You say that you identify more with the Pacific Islander side of your family, but that's comparative, meaning that you still do identify with your grandfather's heritage.</p>
<p>Fabrizio is correct. There are a lot of fantasic scholarships and programs for underrepresented groups (which includes Native Americans and Pacific Islanders). There are an especiallly high number in the sciences and in engineering, but I think you could find things in every discipline. Check out summer programs as well. Go for it big time - why shouldn't you? :)</p>
<p>Check out the boxes and even provide an explanation as your background is a rare combination. I doubt that too many people have grandparents from the Pacific Islands and Alaska, and also identify with both cultures.</p>
<p>Personally I'm a bit worried about my ethnicity too...my moms Chinese and my dad's German, so I'm not really sure what to check besides 'other" on the application. Would be German-Chinese hurt me in admissions?? I dont think theres many other german-chinese out there but I dont fall into a URM either</p>
<p>You can check "other" and say that you are white and Chinese. Remember, "German" is a culture, not a race.</p>
<p>Basically you are bi-racial, white and Asian, and that will make you overrepresented at most schools except some that have a very hard time attracting minorities of any kind. University of Wisconsin is one such school.</p>