Where am I from?

Student Lounge International Students
1

So I’m a little confused about what kind of applicant I am -
I attend high school here in America yet I am originally Chinese. By originally I mean because I do not hold a Chinese passport and we emigrated to New Zealand when I was 4. I was born in China.

So, am I chinese/new zealand/american?

Thanks

2

Ask your parents…
Do you have a citizenship? Permanent residence?

If not, you are an international applicant.

3

^ Yes, for statistical purposes, any non-citizen/permanent resident is an “international student”, but that’s probably not what OP is asking.

For practical purposes, you should read the application instructions for both domestic and international applicants, because bits and pieces from both sections may apply to you. For example:

  • You are attending an American high school, so your counselor would complete the school report form for domestic applicants.
  • You've been educated in an English-speaking setting, so you won't need to take the TOEFL to prove that you are proficient in English (with 99% probability).
  • If you are not a US citizen/permanent resident/refugee, you will not qualify for federal financial aid.
  • If you have a visa that allows you to establish a legal domicile in the US (e.g. E, L, H-1 visas), you can qualify for in-state tuition rates at public universities just like US citizens.
  • If you'd need a student visa to attend college, you'd have to follow the instructions for international applicants seeking a visa (e.g. submitting financial documentation to show that you have sufficient money to finance your education).
4

In case you wanted a literal answer, you might answer differently depending on context:

  • Citizenship
  • Ethnicity
  • Residency
  • Nationality
  • Place of birth, places you have lived, etc.

It might help you to know that it’s quite common for international students at American colleges to have a multi-national or migrant background. Your case is in no way unique (at least based on what you have shared in this thread).

5

alright, thanks!

6

Yet I was just wondering if there is a difference applying as a Chinese student vs. New Zealand student…

7

Colleges are trying to improve upon their international diversity, and being from an under-represented country (New Zealand) is advantageous over being from China.

8

You don’t get to choose. The standard college application will ask you to list your country/countries of citizenship, your place of birth, your ethnicity, and all schools you’ve attended since 9th grades. And if you’re not a US citizen, also your current US visa status.

The only question that leaves room for interpretation is “ethnicity”. Some people feel that applicants should avoid checking “Asian” because that’s an over-represented minority among college applicants and sometimes discriminated against. Since ‘ethnicity’ (unlike ‘race’) is about self-identification with a cultural group, you can theoretically check any box you want…