<p>So my grandfather is 100% Cherokee and that means I am 25% Cherokee. My father and I don't perform any NA traditions, lost contact with my grandfather due to his death, and are not registered Indians(my grandfather is to my knowledge). </p>
<p>Am I allowed to claim to be NA on my college app because I am 1/4 NA</p>
<p>Why don’t u go register?</p>
<p>You have to be a registered tribal member. </p>
<p>You don’t have to be registered for all colleges. It’s mostly schools in areas with high NA populations that want to see the reg number, to be fair to their populations. Each school can have its own guidelines.</p>
<p>Interesting that this question has come up 3 times, at least, in the past week or so. OP can claim, assuming this is legit. Adcoms can sometimes look beyond the checkbox for the real connection to the heritage or how if shaped your perspective. For enrollment, look up the Cherokee policies. If the ancestor was on the Dawes Roll (or if the tribe accepts the prior registration as enough,) this can be easier. But it still takes time, aiui.</p>
<p>But why do I need to have a membership to be Indian, if it is in my blood. This is like you need to have an membership to be African American </p>
<p>The tribes are trying to properly identify their membership for various reasons, including govt support or programs. It’s got its own history and is not too hard to find online. The CA has a space for the number. The id is a verification. But how a college treats your check box (with or without the enrollment number) is up to them. </p>
<p>The tribes don’t appreciate people claiming to be Native American when they are not, or using their ethnicity only when it benefits them, without any loyalty to the tribe. As you stated in your original post, you do not honor any of the traditions. You may be NA in race, but not in ethnic orientation.</p>
<p>Two words: Elizabeth Warren.</p>
<p>No I am also checking the African American box also, not just the NA box</p>
<p>
You might have led with that fact. There’s no advantage to being URM^2 vs URM. Since you’re not registered with Cherokee Nation, don’t check the NA box. Avoid raising suspicion on the balance of your application.</p>
<p>There may be a significant advantage to ticking the ‘NA’ box. It is the lowest represented racial category at schools. </p>
<p>In the book “The Gatekeepers”, Wesleyan admitted a NA boy w a D avg. Doubtful they would have cut the same slack for an Afr Am kid.</p>
<p>Go register w Cherokee Nation.</p>
<p>Agree that you SHOULD tick the box. The worst that happens is that they ask about registration, then take you back to “1” URM status instead of “2”. But also look into registering. @GMTplus7 is right, NA is a huge advantage if you can prove it.</p>
<p>Sheesh, I’m with intparent. OP is 25% NA. Why deny it? He may not have kept traditions, but it’s more about some perspective he may bring to campus and his and his family’s identity. Let the adcoms decide.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t go on an anecdote from the Gatekeepers back to 2002. Nor would I knee-jerk (sorry, but it is that way on CC) refer to Warren. </p>
<p>Here’s our experience: When you check NA or use an URM category, some schools set up a support system and put you on a mailing list where you network and meet other families with similar backgrounds. Many of the schools that my children applied to emailed, called or wrote notes about get-togethers, introductory family events, tutoring programs and, more importantly, registration hints and help. If you are NA in name only and haven’t been exposed to some cultural mores, you might not feel comfortable at these events. </p>
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<p>You’re not required to participate in that stuff, unless it is an explicit requirement of a scholarship for NA, etc.</p>
<p>Ok so don’t check both? It takes 2 yrs to register w Cherokee nation. I am also applying to state schools like NCSU, OSU, FSU</p>
<p>Check both if both apply.
North Carolina may be sensitive to registration. Oklahoma- I believe I read they are. In general, it’s some Midwest, Southeast and Southwest schools. But this should not discourage you from claiming your heritage. </p>
<p>Did you ever know your grandfather? Your father was half NA; did you experience his recollections or other influences? Have you ever looked into your background? </p>
<p>Yes, check both. I would not worry about the events. It is a HUGE advantage in admissions at some schools, and might up your FA as well (even need based aid can get a boost if a school really wants you, I think it happens fairly often for athletes at schools that don’t give athletic scholarships). If they ask about registration, and if you have started the process, you can say that it is in process. I would start the process (might be useful in grad school admissions if you ever apply…) even if it isn’t done in time for your undergrad process.</p>
<p>@lookingfoward</p>
<p>OSU is Ohio State, I don’t know him but my father gets emotional about him, what do you mean by sensitive??</p>
<p>U have nothing to lose by checking both boxes and A LOT to gain if u do. Like intparent said, worst thing that could happen is that the school decides not to acknowledge your 1/4 NA, but you’ll still get credit for being AfAm.</p>
<p>In the meanwhile, I wd still go thru the registration process for Cherokee Nation. It can still give u a boost for other things in the future. </p>