<p>Here is my story, on my dad's side of the family my grandfather was Filipino, his wife my grandmother is African American. On my mom's side my grandfather is Irish and my grandmother is half Thai/Chinese. My surname is a Filipino one. Which box would I check? I would like to check the African American box to increase my odds but no one can tell unless they see my Dad etc. What are my options? I live in an upper middle class neighborhood with excellent schools etc. I am not disadvantaged. Please advise. Thank you.</p>
<p>just check asian and black</p>
<p>I mean...it's a reflection of unfortunate racial attitudes that you Could increase your chances of admissions by checking a box, but I would tell you to check whatever box you identify with culturally, and any box your heritage agrees with in terms of genotype (what does it matter what you look like?).</p>
<p>Give the adcoms some credit in valuing possible cultural diversity based on heritage....they won't necessarily come down on you for being a minority in the "upper middle class" (Upper class) of society.</p>
<p>Are you asking "what is the proper description of my situation" or "what is the most personally advantageous thing for me to do"? </p>
<p>You are legally permitted to not answer the question at all. Harvard happens to admit a lot of students each year who don't check the box and who are officially reported by Harvard to the federal government as "race/ethnicity unknown." </p>
<p>If you think your personal background provides diversity that will make the entering class of your favorite college more interesting, you can check as many ethnicity boxes as apply to your personal situation, and also describe your background in detail in some narrative part of your application. </p>
<p>See </p>
<p>for links to federal regulations on ethnicity reporting by colleges and much more information.</p>
<p>...and also, just because you are labeled as African American, Asian American, or whatever in-between does not necessarily boost your chances of getting into your dream school or any school at that matter. Before they even look at the race, they make sure you are qualified. If you are in the ball park, race comes last. Trust me.</p>
<p>Of course, put what you feel is comfortable, not something that in your mind will “increase your odds”…</p>
<p>Also, keep consistent with how you have described yourself before. It is also fine to disclose nothing at all, like tokenadult has said.</p>
<p>^Sound post by token adult...hence the status of super moderator I s'pose.</p>
<p>Anyone else wish they were Native Hawaiian? :) </p>
<p>I wish all the "disadvantaged" hooks applied to me.</p>
<p>Too bad they don't. Congrats, you got rejected! Maybe your daddy should've made a DO-NA-TION.</p>
<p>(I'm trying to follow your implicit advice)</p>
<p>
[quote]
Too bad they don't. Congrats, you got rejected! Maybe your daddy should've made a DO-NA-TION.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Stop trying to start a flame war, you're only furthering my point. And still in high school, so no idea what rejection you're talking about...</p>
<p>I think you check the three or four boxes (depending on how it's listed) that represent your cultural heritage and let the school do whatever with that information.
The question of whether your race is an advantage or not is irrelevant to your ethnic identity, which is whatever you were born with. Your socio-economic status is also irrelevant for this question.</p>
<p>If you can check more than one box, do so.</p>
<p>If you can only check one... African-American, most certainly.</p>