<p>1) Applicants who choose to self-identify by race or ethnicity (anyone is permitted to NOT self-identify) can “select one or more” categories from the “race” list if each category fits the applicant. </p>
<p>2) Oddly, Portugal is excluded from the definition of “Hispanic,” (as is Brazil), even though many people with Portuguese heritage would have meaningful cultural and perhaps genetic similarities to many people who are categorized as “Hispanic” by the federal definitions. That’s one of many reasons why I’m skeptical about those definitions. But I report here what the definitions actually say, not what anyone thinks they ought to say. A person with Portuguese ancestry has a claim to be reported as a non-Hispanic white person.</p>
<p>From the “So…does Spanish=URM” thread, merged into this main FAQ and discussion thread: </p>
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<p>Each college decides individually what kinds of applicants may be deemed “underrepresented,” and that probably varies from college to college. There is no federal rule on how colleges must make their admission decisions–just one on how they must report questionnaire results to the federal government. </p>
<p>If your background is from Spain, that is what you list. People from Spain fit the federal definition of “Hispanic” persons, </p>
<p>"Hispanics or Latinos are those people who classified themselves in one of the specific Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino categories listed on the Census 2000 questionnaire -‘Mexican, Mexican Am., Chicano,’ ‘Puerto Rican’, or ‘Cuban’ -as well as those who indicate that they are ‘other Spanish/Hispanic/Latino.’ Persons who indicated that they are ‘other Spanish/Hispanic/Latino’ include those whose origins are from Spain, the Spanish-speaking countries of Central or South America, the Dominican Republic or people identifying themselves generally as Spanish, Spanish-American, Hispanic, Hispano, Latino, and so on.</p>
<p>"Origin can be viewed as the heritage, nationality group, lineage, or country of birth of the person or the person’s parents or ancestors before their arrival in the United States.</p>
<p>“People who identify their origin as Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino may be of any race.” </p>
<p>but no college is required to give any preference to anyone from any country, so I have no idea whether or not it is an advantage in applying to college to mention that you are of Spanish ancestry. It is generally a good idea for any college applicant to mention meaningful diversity factors that make that applicant part of a more interesting enrolled college class.</p>
<p>They can’t tell if you’re Indian, mixed, or just have absolute jackasses for parents. My name is definately Indian, and I applied as White (I’m mixed). Whatever you can reasonably justify is alright I’d think. </p>
<p>You should apply as American-Indian. I’m pretty sure you can justify selecting it (you were confused), and you’ll get in wherever you want if they believe it. Don’t know if it’ll hurt you if they can figure out you’re not that race though.</p>
<p>What is an “Asian” applicant? How many Hmong, upland Lao, or Mien students (all with substantial populations in the U.S.) do you think there are at Ivy schools and their ilk?</p>
<p>Huh?? Even at public schools that are not allowed to consider race, holistic admission allows them to skirt the issue somewhat. So where will be left for your kids to go?</p>
<p>“You should apply as American-Indian. I’m pretty sure you can justify selecting it (you were confused), and you’ll get in wherever you want if they believe it. Don’t know if it’ll hurt you if they can figure out you’re not that race though.”</p>
<p>Also, if you’re white and your last name is “Black” (like Jack Black) you could identify your ethnicity as “Balck” and if called upon it , say you were confused.</p>
<p>The whole ethnic identification thing is so bizarre that I think the ''Native American" ploy deserves to be tried just to show them how insane this is.</p>
<p>Then again, I’m also praying for the day when some do-gooder forces the Cleveland baseball team to change its name to the Native Americans, so THAT aspect of race idiocy will finally reach the breaking point.</p>
<p>Sorry if this has been asked, but I am Hispanic/Latino. My parents and family originate from Mexico. My question is, what “race” would is this considered?</p>
<p>iam mother of2 children ,both studying in India. One is planning for MS in US and other for undergraduation .we all have green cards . so pl advice me the best way to get their financial aid .</p>
I agree with this, and I think it’s probably exacerbated by another cultural effect, which is for many Asians to choose the same ECs, sports, and academic interests. Here on CC, I have on multiple occasions had the opportunity to say that an Asian student is a “math-loving, tennis-playing violinist,” and that there are lots of others in that niche.</p>
<p>_daniel, there is usually an option to choose Caucasian Hispanic/Latino (vs. Caucasian “other”). The term “race” is rather loosely used, as you see.</p>
<p>Rachael, serious in that I think it would be really funny if he did it, and I think there is a real possibility that they wouldn’t realize what he did. Though I’m very naive on how throughly they search the backgrounds of applicants. Not serious in pretending it’s the morally correct thing to do.</p>
<p>^ PLEASE read the FAQ posts at the beginning of this thread. By federal regulation, for decades, the term “Hispanic” has not referred to a “race,” but rather to an “ethnicity” that can be held by people of any race. It has been that way for as long as “Hispanic” has been a separate category–which is more recent than the earliest memories of most parents of college-age students. </p>
<p>Now the newest federal regulation from the Department of Education attempts to make that more clear, as the decennial census form has made it clear for longer, by asking students and college applicants to FIRST indicate whether or not they are Hispanic, by a yes/no question, and then choose one or more “race” category, any of which might (or might not) apply to a person of Hispanic ethnicity. </p>
<p>for the relevant federal regulations. Hispanic persons can be persons of any “race” or combination of “races,” and that is always what the definition of “Hispanic” has allowed. </p>
<p>Of course, it has also always been the right of any college applicant just to leave all those questions about ethnicity and race blank, and, as the Census Bureau itself notes, “These categories are sociopolitical constructs and should not be interpreted as being scientific or anthropological in nature.”</p>
<p>Persons with green cards (permanent residents of the United States) can apply for federal financial aid and most other forms of college financial aid just like United States citizens.</p>
<p>Don’t need to read it. Already knew it. No, it would not be considered a “race.” It would, however, be considered a category to check in the Common App form and in many other college app forms. (Which is why I answered the student that way.) Though Caucasian, Hispanic/Latino is a subset of that, considered <em>loosely</em> (read my post, please) a “racial” (but truly, ethnic/national) category for purposes of data collecting by college admissions departments.</p>
<p>This is the part I am disagreeing with. Designating Hispanic ethnicity does NOT result in a default assumption that the person so designated would be “white” by “race” categorization. The way this has been said for years on many federal forms is “Hispanic persons can be of any race” or similar wordings. </p>