<p>Today my son came home and said his Spanish teachers asked him why he did not identify himself as hispanic. He is a senior and his father is Portuguese. They told him that anyone from a country that was under Spanish rule for any period of time could be considered hispanic. Spain ruled Portual for 40 years from 1600 - 1640. We have never identified our son as hispanic and have not seen anything written that would indicate that this would be accurate. Have you ever heard this? And, if by some chance it is true, would we go back to the schools he has applied to and ask if they would consider him hispanic?</p>
<p>I’m afraid that you are correct and the teachers are wrong; but it is not surprising that they thought this, due to the historical connection which you cite. </p>
<p>College admissions uses the US Census definition of Hispanic (please read post #1 of this thread), which includes Spanish ancestry, but not Portuguese. So students with backgrounds from Portugal and Brazil cannot mark Hispanic on college applications. </p>
<p>Brazilian heritage is considered for NHRP eligibility, but not Portuguese:</p>
<p>[National</a> Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP)](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>Scholarships and Recognition with PSAT/NMSQT - SAT Suite)</p>
<p>Hi, I’m new on this forum and wanted to pose a question. I am a parent of a high school junior. I was born to an Argentinian father and a fourth generation American mother. My father was born and raised in Argentina, but was a child of German parents. I hold dual US/Argentinian citizenship (as does my son). I have never considered myself Hispanic (since all of my grandparents are of European decent). However, based on the current definition of Hispanic used by universities, it would seem as though my son would legally qualify as a Hispanic applicant since he is one-quarter Hispanic, via his Argentinian grandfather and hence get a huge advantage on college admissions. This seems sort of crazy and hard to believe. Secondarily, does he maintain his Hispanic status for his children someday provided he maintains his Argentinian citizenship (he and I even have an Argentinian passport and birth certificate, even though he and I were born here). We have maintained our Argentinian citizenship primarily for travel reasons as it is much less costly (and often safer) to travel in South America as an Argentinian than as an American (no visa required, etc.) Thanks for any and all replies.</p>
<p>Hello and welcome to CC! </p>
<p>First, have you read post #1 on this thread? It explains about how Hispanic status is recognized for college admissions status and the definitions of ethnicity and race. While specific programs, for instance, NHRP, use percentage of Hispanic lineage to determine status, general college admissions does not.</p>
<p>Dear entomom,
I had previously read post #1 and do understand that Hispanic status is self-identified and optional. Clearly, my son could just skip this question (and be in the same boat as others). There is however an enormous advantage that checking the box would give him in the admissions process at selective private universities (this data is widely published). Given the fact that my son has a grandfather born and raised in Argentina (which could easily be proved with a copy of my birth certificate) he would legally meet the 1/4 Hispanic definition. Can you point me to the language in post #1 that you are referring to? Perhaps I’m just missing something. Many thanks in advance.</p>
<p>I asked if you had read post #1 is because you seem to have some misconceptions about how Hispanic is defined for college admissions (I’m talking specifically about ethnicity/race questions on the CA, not scholarship and other programs). For instance:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Hispanic status is for US residents, beyond that it is independent of citizenship, passport, birth certificate, etc.</p>
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</p>
<p>Percentage of Hispanic heritage is not an issue. The major factor in determining Hispanic status is identity, which is discussed next. [Again note, this is for actual college applications, not NHRP and other programs and scholarships, which may require a certain percentage of Hispanic background.]</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Since the definition of Hispanic for college admissions is based on “identifying” as Hispanic, your saying that you don’t consider yourself Hispanic would lead one to think that if you don’t identify as Hispanic, so it’s likely that your son doesn’t either. </p>
<p>However, based on what you stated about not thinking of yourself as Hispanic due to your European descent, it also sounds like you don’t fully understand the distinction between ethnicity (in this case, Hispanic) and race. Hispanic is an ethnicity and Hispanics can be and are of any race(s). Here is a very helpful website:</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2075.html[/url]”>https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2075.html</a></p>
<p>Some Hispanic countries are largely AA (eg. Dominican Republic), and some countries have a large mestizo population (eg. Mexico & Peru), others are predominantly white due to mainly European background (eg. PR & Argentina).</p>
<p>What matters is not racial make-up, the critical question is: does your son feel that PART of his ethnic background is Hispanic? Does he somehow have an association with Hispanic culture or community? This could be through visiting relatives, participation in local Hispanic affairs, etc. From your discussion about visiting Argentina, it sounds like he does recognize and have an association with his Hispanic ethnicity, is that true?</p>
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<p>I would advise caution here, as with most articles and stats, you are only seeing the gross picture, not the details involved. For the amount of advantage incurred by being Hispanic, please read my comments in these two threads for important factors WITHIN the Hispanic cohort:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/931488-ivy-league-admissions-nhrps.html?highlight=ivy[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/931488-ivy-league-admissions-nhrps.html?highlight=ivy</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/1229462-does-being-hispanic-have-any-impact-all.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/1229462-does-being-hispanic-have-any-impact-all.html</a></p>
<p>I’m 1/4 Chilean… the other 3/4ths of me include Italian, Norwegian, Hungarian, etc. I’ve been identifying myself as Latino when it comes to college/application situations. Should I not be?</p>
<p>Please read post #1 of this thread. If you still have a question, repost here.</p>
<p>My paternal great-grandmother’s people are Majorcan Spanish, who came to America in the 1750s. She married an Irishman. My paternal grandmother married a man about whose ancestry I know little, and they begat my father. My mother is Japanese.</p>
<p>I am worried by all the articles I read about discrimination against Asians. Is that link to Majorcan Spanish through my father and grandmother to my great-grandmother sufficient for me to claim hispanic status?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance for any assistance.</p>
<p>Do you identify with your Hispanic heritage?</p>
<p>No: Then you do not qualify under the US Census/college admissions definition of Hispanic.</p>
<p>Yes: Then you can check the box. However you should read the two threads linked to at the bottom of post #126 of this this thread to get a clearer picture of reality. Believe it or not, checking the Hispanic box is not equivalent to “Pass Go! collect $200!”</p>
<p>P.S. You’re still Asian (see post #1).</p>
<p>MODERATOR’S NOTE: Before posting a question on this thread, please read post #1. It gives the definition of Hispanic used on college applications, and it describes the difference between the concepts of ethnicity and race. If that post does not answer all your questions, THEN post here.</p>
<p>This is all so confusing!</p>
<p>Yes, it can be. We’ll try to help clear things up, ask a question.</p>
<p>Entomom, you have the gift of infinite patience. However, I’m sure you are happy that you got a 3 month break.:)</p>
<p>Posting tobin’s question from the Parents forum:</p>
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</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Someone from Spain is considered Hispanic for college admissions purposes (I am talking specifically about ADMISSIONS, not NHRP or other scholarships or programs) IF they self-identify as Hispanic. This means, as part or all of their ethnic (not racial) identity, do they think of themselves as Hispanic? It doesn’t matter if they speak Spanish, what race they are, what color their hair and eyes are, what their surname is, etc., the only thing that matters is do they consider themselves Hispanic?</p></li>
<li><p>European refers to a continent. Yes, Spain is in the European continent, but I think you are referring to being white? Ethnicity (of which Hispanic is the only one of significance for college admissions purposes) is a cultural/social concept, race is a biological concept. Hispanics can be and are of any race(s). So yes, one can be of Hispanic ethnicity and white racially.</p></li>
<li><p>For what it actually means to be Hispanic for college admissions, see the threads linked to in post #2 here:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/1311583-high-income-hispanics.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/1311583-high-income-hispanics.html</a></p></li>
</ol>
<p>Here are some examples of Hispanics of different races:</p>
<p>American Indian or Alaska Native (including all Original Peoples of the Americas): Many people with backgrounds from Latin American countries w/a large mestizo population, for instance, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador:</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2075.html[/url]”>https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2075.html</a></p>
<p>Asian: Alberto Fujimori, ex-president of Peru; my kids who are half Hispanic/white and half Asian.</p>
<p>Black or AA: Many people from the Dominican Republic.</p>
<p>Native Hawaiian or other PI: Can’t think of any specific examples, but like my kids, hybrids of all possible stripes abound.</p>
<p>White: Many Cubans, Spanish, Argentines (from both Spain and Italy).</p>
<p>This is just a start. And any of these people may or may not identify as Hispanic depending on their individual upbringing, experiences, etc.</p>
<p>MODERATOR’S NOTE: Before posting a question on this thread, please read post #1. It gives the definition of Hispanic used on college applications, and it describes the difference between the concepts of ethnicity and race. If that post does not answer all your questions, THEN post here.</p>
<p>Hello. I would really appreciate an honest response, as this is an issue that has been bothering me for a long time. I have two biologically white parents who never married. When I was about 8, my mother married a completely Puerto Rican man who adopted me. I have and do consider him to be my father. I lived in florida, and grew up with only my (adoptive)father’s family near by, and definately really experienced Hispano culture. When I was young I didn’t care much for it, but when I moved to Virginia a year ago, which is much more white, I didffenately felt like I identified with Hispanics in many ways. I have discussed it with my Hispanic side of he family, and a few Hispanic friends, and they all feel I should classify myself as Hispanic, but my other friends and white side of the family disagree. My mom pointed out that i would face any discrimination becuase of my hispanic last name anyway. I just want to make sure that I am not misleading anyone, including myself. And I dont eant to take away any opportunities from those who really need it. Any insight would be much appreciated.</p>
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<p>Did you see the Moderator Note in the preceding post and read post #1 of this thread? It will really help to clarify:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The difference between ethnicity (Hispanic) and race.</p></li>
<li><p>How Hispanics are defined for the college admissions process. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>If you still have questions, by all means ask here.</p>
<p>Really good thread</p>