or do school only care about foreigners that live abroad? I am fluent in English and Spanish FWIW
International students of all favors have a much tougher time. Plus there is almost no financial aid for those students. Students that can claim minority status are highly coveted and can have preferential admission status. However financial aid makes it tougher/more competitive.
sorry, I was not clear. I was born and live in NY. I have two passports and no need for FA. I was wondering if having two nastionalities helps at all as I can see that schools like to post their % of foreign students and countries represented. I am not really a foreginer but i do represent Spain too
No I inferred that from your post. But no not really. It makes you mildly different but coming from New York (city)?) where there are 1000s of applicants of unusual backgrounds I do not think it gives you an advantage. Your huge advantage is not needing FA. That alone gives you a significant advantage.
Sorry, @Center, I disagree. Having two nationalities seems to help as my DD’s school profile, written by school, includes that fact that she is a dual citizen…
It checks two boxes no?
Well you clearly have first hand experience with a school so I would have to defer to you. Nonetheless, I still feel it means very little unless you have two identical candidates and it makes one slightly more interesting. The realm factors that make a huge difference pare not requiring FA and minority status.
I’m at Andover Day and their Facts piece has two statistics regarding international students. (1) countries represented which is based on residency (45); and (2) international students which is based on citizenship (10%). So it does seem to matter at least at this school.
Hi @broo1000, great question. I only have limited knowledge of BS admissions in relationship to International students and dual citizenship. If you don’t mind sharing, where are you applying?
If you, by chance, are applying to Phillips Andover or Phillips Exeter or St. Paul’s, I do think all other factors being equal, it would help–especially at Andover.
Andover’s website states: “Phillips Academy, a residential secondary school, seeks students of intelligence and integrity from diverse cultural, racial, socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds” Their constitution from 1778 states “Youth from every quarter”, and the school faculty and administration take this very seriously. If you look a the school’s web page (and wait for it to scroll through the various images…) you will see a photograph of the flags of its current students". http://www.andover.edu/Pages/default.aspx At a special gathering (called an ASM for All School Meeting), the students representing various nationalities literally parade the flags down the aisles of the chapel. It is a glorious site as well as indicative of the school’s commitment to representing cultural diversity. I am with @MAandMEmom , at least at Andover, having that dual citizenship could be advantageous. There is a vibrant population of international students, and from the ones I have met, they are welcoming. Andover also has the Tang Institute, and one if its purposes is to offer and provide every student with a chance to study abroad during one summer or school holiday while they attend Andover. Please see http://tanginstitute.andover.edu/litw/programs/
Hope this helps, and best of luck with Boarding School process. :-bd
Thank you CallieMom. I figured that it must be somewhat interesting as it also represents cultural diversity and foreign language fluency. I am interested in Hotchkiss and Choate. Fingers crossed and thanks for the nice message.
My DS has two nationalities USA/a Latin American one. One of his essays dealt with cultural advantages of having a bicultural upbringing. He was accepted at Hotchkiss but chose to go elsewhere. As you mention, it’s an asset that you have that others don’t so it helps you stand out. Of course, you have to check other boxes - test scores, grades, interview, etc. Good luck!
The Spanish passport will enable you to tick the Hispanic box. That will help you a lot.
No. This is not accurate. Spaniards are not the same thing. No school will consider you a minority applicant being from Spain
Hispanic can be ANY race, including white.
From the US Census:
Having a bicultural background should be viewed positively, Hispanic or not. Forget the politics. Assuming you are bilingual, have spent time in Spain or are cognizant of your heritage, and can bring a these set of experiences to a classroom, you should have an advantage. Admissions will evaluate you as an individual taking into consideration all of your qualifications. You will know soon!
Being bilingual is the attractive component. However you won’t get any point s as a special population. I.e minority status. Yes it makes you interesting . I don’t disagree. But it doesn’t give you a preferential advantage.
@GMTplus7 is correct. National Hispanic Merit scholar (Hispanic/Latino) also includes Brazil as a country of origin (in spite of Portuguese spoken there and not being a former Spanish colony) AND Spain but oddly not Portugal.
Being a dual citizen, especially of ethnic origin that qualifies for NHMS, will help.
I disagree, @center. If you can check the box based on this (which you clearly can):
From the US Census:
defines “Hispanic or Latino” as a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.
Then your application will be classified as one of a Hispanic, a URM. Which is an edge for the OP’s app. So OP, be sure to check that box!
Be strong and have faith. If you represent two cultures, you are a stronger candidate URM or not. 
So at Andover they have about 113 students of their 1131 or 10% designated as students who are international based on citizenship. At Hotchkiss, they list international as 17% and of their 600 students which is 102. I assume they base theirs on citizenship as well and count dual citizens in their international stats. After touring Hotchkiss I believe they value diversity and multiculturalism very highly. Not sure any of us know at all whether any of this is taken into account during admission though. I had never really thought of my DD’s dual citizenship status (not any country that’s ever been mentioned here for certain) as anything “special” during this process except the outward look of “happiness” from the AO when we confirmed the DD was in fact a dual citizen. For the record, this was not at a HADES or GLADCHEMMS school.