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<p>My comment was in reference to how our HS recognizes and records race and ethnicity. This year they are asking the questions like the CA does for college admissions, but in the past they had a very poor system that combined ethnic and racial categories and did not give people to ability to represent mixed backgrounds.</p>
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<p>While the CA asks about enrollment it also goes to the effort to state, “(including all Original Peoples of the Americas)” in their definition of NA. While enrolled members of US tribes may be the most desired in the NA category, they are not necessarily the only group within that category that is considered when a college is seeking diversity (see more below).</p>
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<p>Perhaps, or perhaps they want to be able to give a factual description of their background. Does a legacy always mark that box to get an edge or could it just be considered a factual description of their family’s history at the college? Seems to me it could be either or both. </p>
<p>IMO applicants have every right to present the facts about themselves, it is then up to college adcoms to determine who they are interested in. All Hispanics or just MA & PR? All NA or only those enrolled in US tribes? This will most likely vary from school to school. While some selective schools may get enough qualified applicants to use a relatively narrow definition of who they believe fit in these categories, other colleges that due to various factors (eg. location) have a more difficult time getting a diverse student body may utilize a broader definition. Even a school as selective as Amherst includes Asians in their diversity weekends, so I don’t think that broad generalizations work, and that’s why applicants should state the facts about who they are and how they identify and leave it up to colleges to put a value on those qualities.</p>