<p>-Do I put AA and white and just specify in the other sections of african american
-Do I leave it all blank
-Do I try to take advantage of the system and not explain that i'm white (they will think i'm of mixed descent)
-Do I just check white</p>
<p>Please help me out....I'm trying to send off my apps and stuck over this! I saw another thread and was still unsure....</p>
<p>I asked my counselor, who had never heard of a situation like mine...not much a help, huh?</p>
<p>Leave it blank and end this seemingly neverending discussion.</p>
<p>Afican American is a term invented to replace “Black” American because some thought that term was politically incorrect. It was not invented to change the class of those who would be considered URMs, i.e., “black” Americans. In other words, you should be checking, if anything, Caucasion rather than African American. There are those who have mentioned here being less than honest and thus gaming the system. I do not recommend it.</p>
<p>Does leaving identify section blank help or hurt my chances at all?</p>
<p>Oh for crying out loud. You’re white. You’ll either get accepted or denied based on your stats. Grow up and develop some sense of “integrity”.</p>
<p>…thanks for the response. I WAS planning on leaving it blank, but my family and friends at school keep on insisting i do put AA so i could get into ivies easier. i didn’t ask for a rebuke</p>
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<p>^it wont hurt your chances at all. It would only help if you a URM.
Why is this such a big deal anyway? Obviously you want people to say “OMg your totally african american, definitely check that box” because you want that leg up in admissions. Don’t try the game the system, leave that to the consiousless, insecure applicants.</p>
<p>OK thank you your response were very helpful!</p>
<p>My understanding is that the definitions of race / ethnicity that USA colleges use is the definition used by the US census. I think the info below is correct, but you can always check the census.gov site</p>
<p>"FAQ section on “Race”: Part 1, Persons from Africa
“I’m white but my ancestors are from South Africa. Can I put down that I am African American?”
"The answer to this question is always the same, by the United States federal definitions.</p>
<p>[Black</a> or African American persons, percent, 2000](<a href=“http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/meta/long_68176.htm]Black”>http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/meta/long_68176.htm)</p>
<p>"White. A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa. It includes people who indicate their race as ‘White’ or report entries such as Irish, German, Italian, Lebanese, Near Easterner, Arab, or Polish.</p>
<p>“Black or African American. A person having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. It includes people who indicate their race as ‘Black, African Am., or Negro,’ or provide written entries such as African American, Afro American, Kenyan, Nigerian, or Haitian.”</p>
<p>You’re white. If you and your family lived in China, would you say you were Chinese? No, because regardless of where your family lived or where you were born, your race is still going to be white.</p>