<p>We all know the “holy” trifecta of Native-American, African-American, and Hispanic, but there are more ethnic groups than these 3 that are underrepresented; for instance, I’ve heard that there are very few Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Indigenous Australians at American universities. Are there any other races that are underrepresented at American universities? </p>
<p>Also, of the latter 3 races I mentioned, I’ve heard that Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are beneficiaries of affirmative action. I’ve also heard that Indigenous Australians, however, are not subject to advantages from affirmative action; in fact, I’ve even heard that there is no place to list one’s ethnicity as Indigenous Australian on the common app. Why is there not a correlation between under-representation and admission boost in this situation?</p>
<p>I’m sorry you assume that colleges care about race because it increase diversity or because it is supposed to help those facing huge challenges. </p>
<p>No. You’re not black or latino… they don’t care if you’re from mars… they can’t put that in their viewbook!</p>
<p>(Persians are considered “caucasian” as far as I know… as well as whiter North Africans)</p>
<p>As the Census Bureau says, the categories are based on politics, not science. And the admission policies of particular colleges are not based on science either (in this regard) although they may or may not be based on local or national politics.</p>
<p>Because this is an issue decided by each college, college by college, the best way to find out would be to ask the colleges that you are interested in. </p>
<p>As far as the federal classifications go, Persian people are white people. But maybe some college might consider a Persian person an unusual applicant in the same way some other college might consider an Icelandic person an unusual applicant. It depends who else is applying and how much you make a case that your way of being different will be meaningful to the enrolled class at the college.</p>
<p>Yeah thats what i was going at tokenadult. The official CENSUS BUREAU does say Persians are white, I understand that.</p>
<p>But colleges want DIVERSITY and a rich environment. There is definitely a difference between a Persian and a characteristic, Western-European originated white American. Admissions game is based on what makes the school the best and most enriched, not just how diversity based on govt. classifications.</p>
<p>Would a persian just be best off saying “Other”? And perhaps stressing their Persian identity in their essays…?</p>
<p>Why not Hispanic? Earlier in this thread it was made pretty clear that anyone who is from a Spanish-speaking country, from Spain itself, from a country that sends an embassador to Spain, who has ever spoken the word “Spain”, or who has an ancestor who may or may not have eaten at a tapas bar can check the Hispanic box.</p>
<p>Common Application’s Demographic Section is like this:
White (including Middle Eastern)
Please describe your background ________________________________________________</p>
<p>Write down “(Partial) Persian” on the line. It will not hurt your integrity. I don’t know it would be beneficial to you or not.</p>
<p>I understand the political rather than sensible motivations of AA, but still, why is there nowhere to state an “Other” race under the common app? Couldn’t this be seen as potentially discriminatory for not being all-encompassing?</p>
<p>^I don’t think we necessarily need more specific categories, but there should be an “Other” category at least for other racial groups to identify themselves (for example, Indigenous Australians).</p>
<p>hahaha this would sure put me in a pickle…
well you are unsure… putting yourself as cauc. would put you at a tiny disadvantage, but you dont know if youre hispanic… that would help you… if i were you , i would put myself as hispanic just for the advantage ^^</p>