<p>Getting back to the original question posed by the OP, I feel that elite colleges are looking to use race as a means to try and diversify their incoming classes. Let’s face it, I feel that having a somewhat racially and culturally diverse class is an asset that colleges should strive for while minimally compromising the class’ academic quality (it really is a balancing act). I really believe that attending a school that is racially and culturally diverse is a way in which myself as a student has the ability to expose myself to completely different outlooks and viewpoints that I otherwise may not have been able to see had my college used academic standing as their sole criteria. A school with basically a bunch of absurdly smart white and asian kids isn’t exactly my idea of a good time.</p>
<p>With this being said, as for your dillemma, my personal viewpoint is this: if you connect culturally with your Native American heritage in a quantifiable way that will bring even some minor impact to your college then I would encourage you to list it. However, if you have never given much credence to your NA heritage and only now are dusting it off for the admissions process the I would view putting it down as very opportunistic and at the very least straddling and ethical line. If you choose to put it down I would make some attempt in another part of your application to make some reference to how your still in touch with that heritage (but certainly make sure that this doesn’t come across forced and a result fake). Ultimately its up to you, there’s no right or wrong answer only a decision that you’ll have to live with.</p>
<p>Hope I could be of some assistance, Best of Luck :)</p>