<p>Spanish heritage from Spain is Hispanic, no doubt about it.</p>
<p>The majority of applications, including PSAT, ask you to select just one box for ethnicity and most indicate you should choose the "one which you most identify with." BUT the common ap. asks for you to "check ALL that apply." Why they ask that I don't know, but since they do the honest thing is to actually check ALL that apply. If you have several types of blood and know the percentage, just put it down. As everyone has said, just be HONEST. If you are honest, they can't fault you. The common ap. asks this question in a strange way IMO so give them the info. Now if you are 1/16 Native Am. don't just check Native Am. but check all applicable boxes and somewhere tell them the NA is 1/16th (in the other box maybe). BUT tell them! They can do what they want with the info.</p>
<p>If you're 25% black (or hispanic, native american) then you don't have to put caucasian/asian .. you can ethically and legally make your URM status aware, regardless of whether it's the first time you really considered yourself a URM.</p>
<p>AA isn't fair, lol.</p>
<p>would you say that if you are not 25% hispanic (like myself) on the ones that are not like the common app meaning they only let you either do hispanic, black, native, white.. i should check other and write "hispanic/caucasian"?</p>
<p>Is there such a thing as a "real qucik ethnicity question"?</p>
<p>can someone please answer post 24^</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>
[quote]
I get offended when people want to use the status of hispanic just to gain admittance into college. We actually live the culture. My children know about their heritage.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I wholeheartedly agree. I'm half hispanic and half asian and I participate, care about and actually know things about both cultures. It's definitely unfair if a person suddenly marks "Hispanic" (even if it is true) yet won't even contribute to the college's diversity. Because isn't this what it all boils down to? That URMs are desired in admissions to create diversity and the sharing and mixing of cultures within a college?</p>
<p>huskies -- I will answer your question if you answer mine.</p>
<p>Why is the college application the first time you have considered marking hispanic down for your race?</p>
<p>"Why is the college application the first time you have considered marking hispanic down for your race?"</p>
<p>I would guess the answer is because for some reason the common ap asks the applicant to check ALL that apply, instead of asking the applicant to check the one with which they most identify (like MOST other apps). It almost makes it dishonest NOT to check any racial groups of which you are a part of, even if you don't necessarily identify with them.</p>
<p>thank you NJlaxfan, that is all i am trying to say. I am putting hispanic because i would feel dishonest if i didnt bc of the wording of the that statement (to check all that apply)...</p>
<p>now for post #24, anyone?</p>
<p>bump 10 char please, then i will go away lol sorry</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>
[quote]
Spanish heritage from Spain is Hispanic, no doubt about it.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I don't agree. Of course everyone will do what seems right to them, but my suggestion is to think about the intent of the classification and go with that. I assume the intent is to give a boost to kids who need it based on unequal access to some of the resources of mainstream white society.</p>
<p>My kids are half Spanish, their dad rarely speaks English to them at home, we go to Spain periodically, and I have learned to cook some Spanish foods. But my husband is a white guy from Europe. We didn't think it was the right thing for our daughter to check the Hispanic box, and neither did she. We just don't think they're asking about Europeans in this context.</p>
<p>I completely agree with calreader on this. I was mixed about checking the hispanic box, but I finally did. Both my parents are from Argentina, we only speak spanish at home and we go back to argentina about twice a year, so I am part of the "culture." However, don't make it appear like you're some underpriveledged mexican immigrant. Let it be known your financial status. Both my parents have P.hD's so I am not gonna try to fool the system into thinking that I am something that I am not. Just be honest and don't take advantage of the system.</p>
<p>Okay. Hispanic is an ethnicity. An ethnicity by its very definition denotes the cultural togetherness of a group of people through language, common geography, customs, habits, or beliefs. With this in mind, the Hispanic ethnicity is the common group of all people whose heritage stems from all Spanish speaking countries including Spain - in fact, the Latin name for Spain, "Hispania," is where we actually get the term Hispanic. So, people who have ancestors from Spain are considered Hispanic. No problemas. </p>
<hr>
<p>However Hispanic-Caucasians (Spaniards) are not Latinos, Chicanos, or Puertorriquenyos; nonetheless, Latinos, Chicanos, puertorriquenyos etc are all Hispanics. </p>
<p>Now, these posts make me uneasy for one reason: The claim that the Hispanic ethnicity is something that is granted or that it is "unfair" for other ignorant hispanics to check the box. </p>
<p>This is absolutely absurd! No one is allowed to earn one's ethnicity! You either are Hispanic or you are not. There are some Hispanics who know their culture and language and some who have lost theirs... but we as Hispanics should not decry those other Hispanics who do not know anything about their heritage. We are all raised differently, and many Hispanics in fact do not realize which category they belong to! "The Hispanic Plight" I like to call it. </p>
<p>URM status is made to appreciate the differences we all share; it is a way for colleges to create diverse and unique class that will thrive.</p>
<p>My fathers family is from Venezuela, both grandparents grew up there, fled the country for better opportunities. I have grown up with an entire side of my family being from Venezuela and I visited up until a few years ago. I also am half "white" as my mother is irish/english. So because I am half hispanic and half white I have been checking both white and hispanic boxes. I have not grown up "infused" in the culture outside of the time I spend with my grandparents and with my cousins in Venezuela. I live in the suburbs. My father is a Morgage Banker, my mother a Financial Services consultant. We are rather well to do. Am I being genuine by checking both boxes (I have since I was in kindergarden). It is not some revelation that my dads entire half of the family is from Venezuela. However reading this thread leads me to belive that I have been somewhat a "liar" and that colleges will sniff me out?! I have visited Reed College for free with a minority scholars program, however would they not then have "sniffed me out" considering how selective it was, and the close interaction I had with the admissions office? It would just seem that Reed would have taken this up with me when I sent in the entire first half of the Common App and their suppliment even, to simply attend this program. Either the poster and I are being misled, or others are upset over URMs that may not live a typical URM lifestyle. Which is it?</p>