Several Questions About Identifying My Race In College Admissions...?

<p>1-I believe my parents are required to list the countries in which they were born in when I apply to college. My father is white and was born here, and my mother is Asian and was born in China. However, due to significant racial disadvantages, I have decided that I will not identify myself as asian, but rather as white. Will colleges disregard this and put me in the asian category anyway when they find out my mother was born in China? I'm not embarrassed to be Asian or anything like that, I'm just being a realist in this process. </p>

<p>2-To what extent (if any) are applicants required to prove their race/ ethnicity in the college admissions process? I ask because, if there is minimal to no extent, couldn't an applicant technically identify as black or Native American for the racial advantage in this process, and get away with it? </p>

<p>3-What other forms are submitted to college other than the Common App and specific admissions forms that have race indicated on them? School transcripts, and what else?</p>

<p>4-I would like to label myself as Hispanic (for my ethnicity) for obvious college admissions bonuses, and I believe I am qualified to do so, although it is calling it close. I've heard that if you think it's close, you probably shouldn't label yourself as such, but I have a different circumstance. To what extent would I have to prove my ethnicity as Hispanic? This is similar to question #2 except it questions ethnicity, not race, and is specific to my situation. </p>

<p>Thank you so much for your time and answers.</p>

<ol>
<li>It would be lying to say you are only right… My neighbor is half Native American… She lied and said she was all Native American when she applied for a job and was found out a couple months after being hired. I think it may be better for you if you tell the truth than if they assume you’re lying. Native Americans are known to be very disenfranchised and I don’t know why you would pretend to be that especially if you yourself are not even poverty stricken.</li>
<li>That would be morally wrong and (especially if you have an interview) many people are found out. The university wouldn’t want the kind of person who would do that anyway. People do it and people get away with it–but is it worth the high chance your acceptance would be rescinded?</li>
<li>Wow you’re just terrible aren’t you</li>
<li>Uhm actually for this one… I’d say you can label yourself as Hispanic if you’re half Hispanic. I’d put half white half Asian for race and Hispanic for ethnicity? I don’t know the answer to this one.</li>
</ol>

<p>Wow that was pretty harsh sorry </p>

<p>I understand why you’d be tempted to lie about race… It doesn’t really seem fair, does it? Still–risky to lie and morally not sound. Race isn’t as important as you may think it is… There are other ways to be diverse</p>

<p>If you misrepresent your race (and since the question is race and not ethnicity you need to answer race) and are accepted, somebody is going to notice that you lied. Since you must sign a statement indicating that all of your answers on the application are true, you could be accused of fraud and expelled.</p>

<p>In other words: “I want to lie and game the system. What are my chances of being caught and who will support me”</p>

<p>You are asking strangers if it’s OK to lie? Portray that you’re morally bankrupt? You want to push out an actual Hispanic applicant? </p>

<p>You’re the same ethnicity as my kids. If you do, I sincerely hope you get caught. My two cents.</p>

<p>Do you call yourself Hispanic? If you do, put Hispanic on your apps. If you don’t, then put down whatever ethnicity you feel you are. As Chlogan said, race is not nearly as important in the application process as you suggest it is.</p>

<p>Anyone who wants to lie and identify as a URM for their app should try living in the situations that lead to those groups being under represented in the first place.</p>

<p>The following link/FAQ should answer most of your questions.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1366406-race-college-admission-faq-discussion-10-a.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1366406-race-college-admission-faq-discussion-10-a.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>The key point is self-identifying race is Optional.</p>

<p>Are you identifying yourself as Hispanic? For National Achievement and other such programs? My friend’s daughter is half Latino and half Asian. It’s appropriate for her to identify herself as Hispanic and it would be for you if that’s the case.</p>

<p>^Nat Achiev is for AA students, Hispanic students qualify for NHRP (although the OP has not stated anything that indicates that they are qualified for either).</p>

<p>MODERATOR NOTE: Further discussion should be conducted on the Race FAQ sticky thread.</p>