Looks like someone has discovered the skilled-worker-immigrant effect.
This effect is the reason for high educational attainment among Asian American people (since the number of skilled worker immigrants and their American-born descendents is large compared to the pre-existing Asian American population), although it is common that people assume that high educational attainment is somehow an inherent quality of race or national origin (rather than selection of skilled-worker immigrants). But now it has been noticed among African American people. If someone looked, s/he would probably find it among European American people.
Thanks for the better link, ucb. Not sure why my link came out the way it did.
The extra stuff after the ? in your link looks like tracking add-ons that indicate what social media ad or campaign it came from.
@AbstractMath I read your comments very impressed by your scary math skills, and your proposed design for a superior, taller, handsomer, brainier human race. You owned your exchanges.
However, I hope you fall in love with an creative, short, average-looking, perhaps AA-admitted woman with whom to produce musical, philosophical, independently-minded children.
This cold cruel world is much improved by Mozart. We need more designed along those lines.
Missed the edit window–a creative
The problem is that any system that lacks transparency is opt for bias. Not that any system has inherent pros and cons. The latter is intrinsic to all systems, the former can be fixed.
awd
Interesting article about Asian student country subcategories. Chinese and Japanese students are afraid it hurts them and favors those from lower income-typical countries like Cambodia.
My father is an anonymous sperm donor, so I never knew for sure what my race was. I’m “vaguely ethnic” looking, but because they didn’t know what race I was mixed with, my moms marked me as being White on my enrollment information for school. I did a DNA test this summer and found that I’m 50% Native American. My moms submitted a request to change my transcripts in August to reflect this, but I’m unsure if this was corrected before my transcripts were sent to the colleges I’ve applied to. I am not enrolled since we have no idea what tribe he was from and I cannot prove ancestry besides my DNA. When applying to colleges, I checked that I was both White and Native American.
Is this okay? Will they think I am lying? What do I do??
First of all, that is so cool. So interesting to know!!!
I am no expert but sounds like you have every right to check the Native American box and have the DNA report to prove it!! I hope it helps you! How could anyone question that scientific proof.
I know someone who is like 1/16th Native American, maybe 1/8th, not sure…actually it’s a family and all three of the kids got a HUGE boost in college admissions from that! They are good students but definitely got into more competitive colleges than their peers with equal credentials.
Good luck!
I think, because so many Americans have some NA ancestry that colleges don’t put any weight on it unless there is demonstrated cultural connection - grew up on a reservation, actually participated in a recognized tribe’s activities - a documented connection of some kind.
Finding out you are native in a DNA test isn’t the same thing. Presumably no one knew you were half NA and thus you suffered no discrimination or societal disadvantage because of it.
https://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/000293/
Re: @collegemomjam 's post above - I have an eighth myself, would never dream of saying it on a college app and doubt it would make any difference. I highly doubt it made any difference to your friends either but you will never know since most colleges that consider NA background a plus don’t just admit by stats.
I would disagree with @OHMomof2, I would put it on the app since it’s the truth, however if it helps you or not is another question
Can’t hurt.
@OHMomof2
Since finding out, I’ve been participating pretty thoroughly in activism for Native rights… Would that count as “participation” of my heritage? I explained in the “Specify” box my situation, so I guess if they don’t consider me Native enough, then that’s their problem. I don’t want to be admitted for my race, but I don’t want to be denied because they believed me to be lying. It’s a fine line to toe, I guess.
I have been discriminated against, but because nobody could discern my exact race, I’ve been bullied for being “Mexican,” “Filipino,” “Arab,” and Native American. People have threatened to “take away my green card,” asked me if my parents were alcoholics, etc.
@OHMomof2 we could never prove it, but the people we know…and remember, there are three of them, DEFINITELY got a boost from the NA. I’m not so sure I agree that colleges don’t care. In fact, these three kids admit themselves they think they have gotten into schools because of the NA box (and I’m sure they have the paperwork or it wouldn’t work)…two of them are at Ivy league schools with WAY lower than average ACT scores for the Ivies. Too much of a coincidence. But like I said the kids admit themselves that this is likely why they got in and are quite humble about it. They have no other hooks.
So I agree with @CU123, put it on there for sure. Kind of a cool story to tell also, being the offspring of a sperm donor, doing the DNA testing, growing up with two moms, etc. The whole package makes you very interesting, at least in my eyes.
Also, @OHMomof2, on the quotes that you posted. I don’t think any school would say “Oh, we just want diversity on paper, we don’t really care if you authentically diversify our campus”, yet we all know that many applicants that check boxes and maybe shouldn’t (from an authentic cultural perspective) still get accepted to some colleges over more qualified “less hooked” students…yes we can never prove it without actual admissions files in front of us, but we all know of some pretty strong examples of this. Not judging either way, it’s just a reality. And no college is going to admit they are OK with the diversity being just on paper and they are all going to say they want it for the right reasons…and I think they genuinely DO want the true diversity. But they also seem to take some of the applicants that are diverse on paper, especially the ones that can pay. It all depends on the school.
@collegemomjam the thing about claims to be NA specifically, is that many of the most selective schools DO require proof, generally in the form of tribal ID. It’s different from claiming to be Hispanic or black or Asian or anything else in that way.
I agree there’s no reason for OP not to say so, and the story behind it all could be a good essay topic.
The bullying sounds awful OP and i’m sorry you had to go through it.
you or your mom should contact the sperm bank and ask for your donor’s profile. it will most likely include his race, ethnicity and other information.
Given your self-identification and identification by others, indicating NA is an honest answer. However, be aware that those colleges and programs that want tribal documentation may not give the same consideration to you as to someone who does have tribal documentation.
You may want to work your story into essays to indicate that you are not one of those who discovers 1/64 NA ancestry on a DNA test but neither self-identifies as NA (except on college applications) nor is identified as NA (or incorrectly as a member of some other superficially similar group) by others.