<p>One of my friends was born in South Africa, so she put African American on her application. She is white though--100% white. African American race on college apps in generally intended to give advantages to minorites, so would admissions people get mad if they found at that she is at no actual disadvantage and is not a minority? I have heard that is true, what do you guys think?</p>
<p>I understand where you are coming from. This is certainly an interesting issue, and the instructions on the application are not specific enough to deem her action as a lie. Of course it is intellectually dishonest, but I would say that she has every right to do it.</p>
<p>Do you think it will put her at a disadvantage, just because it obviously is morally dishonest? It is all about ethics, and whether college admissions value that i do not know...</p>
<p>It is not like any of teacher recommendations are just going to say "oh, by the way, she is white." How would the committee know?</p>
<p>the times that her label/misrepresentation would hurt her, is if (1) she gets accepted for any sort of minority scholarship and (2), if she needs an interview for a scholarship/college admissions. Otherwise it'll probably just be a tiny bit easier to get into schools (especially if they use affirmative action/flag minorities' applications). It's unlikely that she'll get caught, but still...I wouldn't feel good if I did that myself</p>
<p>I posted this in the other thread on the topic, I'll repost it here.</p>
<p>I am a white South African (moved here at the age of 5) I've joked about doing that with my friends, but never seriously considered it. </p>
<p>It just seems very self pretentious. I know the term African-American is garbage political correct mumbo jumbo, but to mislead admissions officers isn't exactly the most morally correct thing to do. Making jokes about it in an essay is fine, but to try and manipulate it to your advantage is a very immature thing to do.</p>
<p>Especially when you consider the history of Apartheid in the nation and the terrible ways my fellow caucasians treated the native blacks. To use this oppressive history to your advantage so you can get an edge in college admissions really shows what kind of character you have.</p>
<p>fa-la-la-lena outlines the actual likelhoods well</p>
<p>But even if she did get "caught," what can they really do? I mean she was born there, and (I'm assuming) her parent(s) were from there. It doesn't say black; it says African American and she is by definition African American.</p>
<p>Native American could mean anybody that is a native of this country, but everybody knows it means American Indian and don't check it off. In my opinion, your friend is stretching her luck.</p>
<p>Guys: this scenario has been hashed out here on CC multiple times. By African American, colleges are referring to descendants of black Africans. Adcoms aren't stupid to games played. They deal with them accordingly (think: thin envelope). I hope your SA friend has some good safety schools. That's where she deserves to go.</p>
<p>Below is a reply by an actual admissions officer posted on 1/26/07 on this thread:</p>
<p>Am i a minority?</p>
<p>"okay, what many of you are saying/suggesting on here is really quite disingenuous...</p>
<p>to the original poster...african-american is meant to describe americans who have black african descendents. i think most of you know that. if you don't, there's your clarification.</p>
<p>you, however, have a very interesting background. i would check "other" and describe yourself as you have - as having middle eastern descendents. and yes, that would make you a "minority" in the united states. however, do you identify with middle eastern culture? if you do, it's a good idea to include something in your application about that as it probably makes you unique is some ways and gives you a different perspective on things.</p>
<p>bomgeedad - your comment in post #26 is absolutely incorrect. if a student identifies as a member of a certain racial or ethnic group but has no real connection to it, we aren't going to think of that student as able to contribute anything special to our community, at least with respect to racial or cultural diversity. although this is only one facet of their application, they aren't going to have any kind of "advantage" in admissions if they identify as belonging to a specific racial group unless they show a connection to that community and evidence it has shaped their perspective on things and will be shared in college. and even then, this is just one consideration...</p>
<p>this post has made me think a lot about several students who have applied to my school this year. i just read one student who identified as "hispanic" because their grandmother was born in spain. she is applying from a high school that sends us about 30 applications a year (we usually admit 3-4). disingenuous. another student whose family immigrated to south america during world war two to escape the nazis - white austrian parents born in south america, the student and their siblings in the us. this student identified as "hispanic". disingenuous. yet another student has parents who are white but born in south africa. identified as african-american. disingenuous. and other student who has her "enrollment pending" for a native-american tribe - she indicated she is "native american" - not white and native american, not white and 1/8 native american, but just native american. interesting that there was absolutely nothing about her "heritage" in her application whatsoever; I looked at her siblings' applications (who both came to my school a few years ago and were far superior to her academically) and both indicated they are white only. disingenuous.</p>
<p>indicating something you are not on your college applications is wrong ethically; essentially, if you are identifying with a race or culture you have no connection to, you're lying to us. not cool, and not going to get you any supporters in the admissions office."</p>