<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>Can't you check all of them?</p>
<p>Yeah, I'm with ^...don't bother trying to play it to your 'advantage.' Be honest and just check all of them.</p>
<p>I'm imagining some really interesting family recipes!</p>
<p>Whichever one your identify with most. Any of them may increase your chances very, very slightly. But it's really about who you think you are.</p>
<p>I'd go with african american</p>
<p>This is actually a pretty tough question. You are one-quarter African-American, three-eighths Asian, and (apparently) three-eighths Caucasian. (I'm assuming that the one grandmother is half caucasian and half Thai/Chinese.)
You don't even have a plurality of one particular ethnicity. I think the most accurate thing would be to check all three--you really are a mixed-race person. Of course, only the African-American part will be of benefit to you in college applications--why not let the colleges decide whether they will provide URM status to somebody like you? Just give them the information.</p>