Should I list myself as African-American or African?

Applying to College African-American Students
1

Im Mauritian so I would be considered African but I was born and currently live in the US. So should i list myself as African or African-American? Which one would be more “URM”?

2

Your minority status, for sake of admission, as a box check doesn’t matter anymore - so unless you express through a club or essay, it won’t impact.

I am caucasian so I wouldn’t hazard a guess but to say - you should acknowledge (assuming you plan to) who you are, who you’ve always been and thus what you go by. Be you.

But unless you have a way to share your ethnicity, it doesn’t matter.

Good luck.

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3

^^^ This.

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4

There is your answer.

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5

ahhhhh - missed born in

6

Thanks for your reply. I do have a clarifying question:
My dad is Mauritian (so African) and my mom is from Fiji.
On the Common App, they kind of combine “Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander” as one.
Would Fiji count as a “Other Pacific Islander”? If so, would that be a better selection than African-American?

7

Thanks for your reply. I do have a clarifying question:
My dad is Mauritian (so African) and my mom is from Fiji.
On the Common App, they kind of combine “Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander” as one.
Would Fiji count as a “Other Pacific Islander”? If so, would that be a better selection than African-American?

8

I dunno. But it won’t be seen by admissions. It’s now illegal. It won’t help you with admission thanks to the Suprene Court.

If you want your diversity seen, you need to include in an essay or via activities where someone may presume you’re a minority.

Label yourself as you feel appropriate. But again it’s just for overall data. Admissions won’t be made aware.

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9

Yeah i plan on my essays to reflect this. The only reason I am asking about this is that while SCOTUS did ban AA, would the colleges really follow that, or would they find some workaround and label it as a “need for diversity within the campus”? Since there has already been a lot of talk about them finding workarounds.

Source: https ://calmatters.org/education/higher-education/2023/11/college-admissions/
https ://www.epi.org/blog/the-supreme-courts-ban-on-affirmative-action-means-colleges-will-struggle-to-meet-goals-of-diversity-and-equal-opportunity/

10

I mean would they disregard the Supreme Court and risk legal charges, federal funding and whatever the penalties may be ?

Hmmm. Noooooooooooooooooo

Can you slip it in - yea I told you how and the Supreme Court noted this.

I suggest you be honest. This isn’t the first time you’ve been asked to identify who you are. Be authentic.

And here’s food for thought - get in because you are accomplished, not because of skin color. Everyone needs to put their best foot forward. You haven’t defined yourself other than wanting to maximize your minority status.

But I’m guessing you have a lot of accomplishment / success that schools will want you just because you’re you.

I’d rather bank on that - especially because some schools already didn’t take race into account b4 the Supreme Court acted.

Be the best you and I’m sure there will be many great spots for you to land.

Best of luck.

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11

This just came up - may be of interest

NYT article about how students are highlighting racial background in college essays - Parents Forum / Politics Forum - College Confidential Forums

12

I would read the instructions on the form(s) carefully. Many forms will now provide the option to “check all that apply.” Or there will be an option to click multi-racial or other (often with an option to self-describe in the Other category).

I am saying this more for others who may read this thread further down the line than for those who are trying to maximize their admissions chances. When I was applying to college (many moons ago) I was told that I was legally required to check one particular box, because if I was at least 1/64th black, then I was legally considered black. And no, I’m not 150 years old, either. Over time, I evolved with my responses (i.e., said to heck with “the law” and I’m going to do what feels right…and accurate) and the nation continued to provide more options and choices for how to identify.

As others have noted, the Supreme Court has outlawed affirmative action, so that should be all the more reason for you to identify and describe yourself the way you honestly view yourself.