Specifications on Race Requirements

Applying to College
1

Hi, I’m a Caucasian junior enrolled in a public school in a wealthy district. While my grades are relatively high on SATs (1570 on old SAT, 225 on PSAT, expecting new SATs Monday), there are literally tons of others with grades just as good, if not better in my high school. With the potential boost that affirmative action gives, I was wondering if I would be eligible to fill in the little Hispanic bubble on my applications next year for a helpful boost.

My ethnicity is as follows:

25% Italian
25% Jewish (Assorted Eastern European Countries)
50% Spanish (Mother’s parents grew up in Spain, immigrated here)

The Spanish is European-Spanish…as in, the actual country Spain. However, dictionary.com’s definitions for Hispanic are:

<li>Of or relating to Spain or Spanish-speaking Latin America.</li>
<li>Of or relating to a Spanish-speaking people or culture.</li>

Technically, I would fit the requirements, yet, people are telling me that I would have to be from a Latin American Spanish-speaking country to qualify as Hispanic.

My last name isn’t of Spanish origin, so it’s not like a college would see Fernandez, and not question anything.

Furthermore, if I were to put Hispanic down, how would a college check up on this? And if they were not in agreement that I qualified, would they just consider me as Caucasian, or would they penalize me somehow for this?

Please, would someone fill me in here? Thanks.

2

<p>anyone? please?</p>

3

<p>It's legit. You're supposed to fill in whatever fits you the best. 50% sure sounds like teh best to me.</p>

<p>You sound just like a model kid in my school (Miramonte, Orinda)</p>

<p>80% white, 17% Azn, everyone going to the best schools with crazy scores. It makes for a quite stressful/competive atmosphere, filled with expectations.</p>

4

<p>Interesting...I'm inclined to agree with you, only because it works out best for me. :D Anyone else have any other thoughts?</p>

5

<p>That is a great question. I was born in Spain to American Parents....so I have a Spanish birth certificate. What does that make me? My parents are Irish American, but....I am not trying to be flip, as I think this is a very legitimate question. Who or what determines someones race...</p>

<p>Where does the line get drawn with regard to race? Is it place of birth...is it parents, or grandparents? Is it language?</p>

6

<p>well for one thing i got in school today for some gov thing, it said something like</p>

<p>Hispanic: ..blah blah from latin america, etc and "Anybody having origins in the Spanish culture or practicing the culture, regardless of race"</p>

<p>pretty interesting...</p>

7

<p>GIRL no you are not hispanic. the hispanic that the schools refer to are or latin american backgraound. people from spain are technically hispanic but they are also white. i can't believe that u are even thinking of doing this.</p>

8

<p>o my bad your a guy</p>

9

<p>If you identify with the culture and keep close ties with the community, then by all means. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the minimum family lineage is 1/8.</p>

10

<p>PURPLECHICK< if you were referring to me, I was not thinking of doing anything...jeesh...when did I even say Hispanic in my post? I didn't- that was your inference. If you read my name, I am a mom...And I posed a question.<br>
...don't you find it an interesting topic? So who decided Spanish people weren't Hispanic? Who decides what race means what? Is it where you live, what language you speak, your grandparents, parents, great grandparents, step parents...what are the rules? My H is Irish, so my Ds are 1/2 Irish, half of whatever I am. I was born in Spain. Does that make me less Hispanic (by definition) than someone born here? What are the criteria? With our ever mobile society, these questions need to be addressed. Otherwise, the purpose of asking for someones race and achieving a goal of diversity will not be accomplished.</p>

11

<p>and purplechick - if you were referring to me, the other people who have posted seem to agree that it's legit.</p>

<p>and stumper - by 'identifying with the culture' and 'keeping close ties with the community', would speaking spanish at home with my grandparents, eating cultural foods from spain, and having visited spain once in my life qualify?</p>

12

<p>I guess you could if you wanted to. I wouldn't agree with that decision. But - isn't it the intent of universities and colleges (many? most?) to increase under-represented minority enrollment? The Hispanic box belongs to people who are from Latin America regardless of race or racial mixture. Lets say that the box didn't say 'Hispanic' but, rather, 'Latin American' - would you check the box, or fill in the oval, or whatever it is? Hispanic, in the true sense of the word, does mean 'of Spain'. But because of the term's incorrect application to people from Latin America in order to identify them in the ('80s?, '70s?), the term has stuck.</p>

<p>Think of this: Spain's native population is a Caucasian one. Also, Spain is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Its economy's strength surpasses any Latin American country (Mexico doesn't lag too far behind. However, the country holds gross inequities in terms of income distribution,and has high levels of poverty, unemployment and crime. Argentina isn't too far behind either; however, the country's European population is upwards of 85% - contrasting heavily with other Latin American countries' much smaller Euro populations).</p>

<p>Also, what about people who feel strongly tied to their Italian roots? Greek roots? Armenian roots? I doubt there's a box or oval for each of those, so they are to choose 'White/Caucasian'.</p>

<p>Again, if you choose to, go right ahead. I can't stop you.</p>

13

<p>Oops. I may have forgotten where I was going with my post. My apologies.</p>

14

<p>No, clown, you are correct in some respects. </p>

<p>Because terms are used by COLLEGES that don't accurately reflect their intentions, is that an applicants responsibility? And, shouldn't an economic or educational standard for a family or country be used as well? What if it were someone from Brazil who was sent to private schools in England applying to college as compared to someone from Appalachia (sp?). The systems needs serious tweeking.</p>

<p>By the way, I am very much for affirmative action. I just feel that the system need to be updated to reflect societal changes, economic factors, the mobility of our society, the "mixed" backgrounds (there must be a better word for that) of people.</p>

<p>As well, what is the definitation of first generation of college?</p>

15

<p>Good question, citygirlsmom. Most liberal definition: Neither parent COMPLETED a college degree. Middle definition: Neither parent attended a university, but my have had local trade school experience/relevant college courses. Most conservative definition: Neither parent had any college training whatsoever after high school.</p>

16

<p>While I don't agree you should put it down as you're hispanic, the issue isn't one of morals. You are hispanic, though this might mean if you're accepted you would be invited to minority weekends and such. If I were you I would contact each college to ask what their definition of hispanic is.</p>

17

<p>Technically you are Hispanic. </p>

<p>But this is precisely the reason why I did not like AA based on race.</p>

18

<p>Lol, I have a situation similar to MerbMan...I am 100% West Indian (carribean), not Asian Indian at all...My parent's home country is considered third-world. While reading "A is for Admission", I found out that the box for "black" on the college apps encompases Africans, African-American's, People from African Decent, and people from the West Indies...Well, I am not black by any means...but do I have the right to check black? (technically, I fall under this category, but I am West Indian (stress on the Indian part, lol.) I understand this would help me, but I don't want to do anything immoral...on the other hand, I don't want them to assume I'm Asian-Indian by my last name...</p>

19

<p>hmmm...that's tricky. I wouldn't have any guilt about putting down black because you are clearly within the qualifications, but when you feel sketchy about something I highly reccomend calling the college.</p>

20

<p>I think it means the descendants of the black slaves that were brought to West Indies. But, yes, do call the college.</p>