<p>I am assuming I'd put white, but this is what I am:</p>
<p>25% Russian
25% Israeli
25% ? (My mom's dad was adopted, we have no clue!)
12.5% Mexican
12.5% Italian</p>
<p>I was born in the US, and it was my great grandparents that immigrated here, so I assume I'd put white, but I don't know if I am supposed to base it off of nationality or ethnic background.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>College applications ask 2 questions. The first is are you Hispanic? The second is to indicate all races that apply (white, Asian, AA, AI/NA, NH/PI). Hispanics can be, and are, of any race(s).</p></li>
<li><p>What you have listed are nationalities, not ethnicities or races.</p></li>
<li><p>The critical criteria for college admissions is what ethnicity/race(s) you identify with.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>So in your case, if you identify as Hispanic (with a background from Mexico), then you could check Hispanic; if you don’t identify as Hispanic, then you shouldn’t check the box. Please note that for many Hispanic scholarships and programs, there are % requirements, but for college applications, identity is what matters.</p>
<p>For race, from what you have described it looks like you would check white. Many Mexicans are mulatto, so there is a case for also marking AI/NA as this includes all Peoples of the Americas. However, if you don’t have some evidence in your family that this is true, I wouldn’t recommend it. And it is doubtful that it would matter much in admissions since the AI/NA category is aimed specifically at No. Am. tribal affiliation.</p>
<p>I embrace the Hispanic culture, my mom’s side of the family lives in SoCal and embraces the culture, and we call ourselves Hispanic, but I don’t look Hispanic. While looking at the app it says “What you consider yourself” and I think of myself as a Jewish Mexican, so I guess Hispanic works, but I don’t want to cheat the system or have someone think I am lying.</p>
<p>If you identify as Hispanic, then it’s fine if you write it. It’s fine if you don’t look Mexican. I don’t look Mexican and I’m pretty sure most of my ancestors are Spanish and Mexican.</p>
<p>which colleges are you applying to? but in general, one should put yes for hispanic and then check black and native american.</p>
<p>Guitar is correct, appearance, surname, etc. are of no consequence, it’s how you identify that counts.</p>
<p>Please see the Hispanic Students forum, under Specialty Topics under this forum. Start with the Resources sticky thread, lots of great information on scholarships, summer programs, fly in opportunities, etc.</p>
<p>uni, were are you coming up with AA from what the OP has posted?</p>