URM Status

Graduate School Law School
1

<p>I’m quite tan. Surprisingly, just after completing the college application process, my mom has befriended a librarian that is also a geneaologist and she looked into our family history. She found info that my mom is 1/4 Native American (cherokee) and that I am therefore 1/8. While I could certainly pass for Indian due to my skin color (inbetween normal Caucasian and Indian/Mexican color) I do not really identify with Native Americans obviously as I’ve not known a/b my ancestry. Would it be wrong to indicate that I am of Native American heritage (as I am 1/8) and if so how do I do it without claiming to be solely Native American: that is, on the LSAC profile page it makes you select one, and if I have to choose one I will pick Caucasian, though that obviously doesn’t really represent all of who I am.</p>

2

<p>I believe that Native American racial status is the only race which requires a person to be at least 1/4th of said racial background to legally qualify in the United States.</p>

3

<p>ah I see. thanks.</p>

4

<p>Thats just me talking off the top of my head, and likely applies to federal benefits and government treaties with tribal nations, its practice in law school admissions is something i’ve got no clue about.</p>

5

<p>I dont think that’s correct … I remember hearing that you could be as little as 1/16 Native American for college purposes.</p>

6

<p>Cool :). Its a large gamble, though, as the admissions office will give you great attention for such a status, but in the event they determine you have no formal affiliation to a native American group then it would make to appear as a less than genuine person who is concerned more with college admissions than being loyal to ones genuine self-identified race.</p>

7

<p>Law school is different from college as many law schools want to know why are you checking the box and what perspective as being a native american will you be bringing to law school.</p>

<p>from the LSAC:</p>

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<p><a href=“http://www.lsac.org/LSAC.asp?url=/lsac/faqs-and-support-minority-applicants.asp#1[/url]”>http://www.lsac.org/LSAC.asp?url=/lsac/faqs-and-support-minority-applicants.asp#1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p><a href=“http://www.lsac.org/LSAC.asp?url=/lsac/minorities-in-legal-education-selected-articles.asp[/url]”>http://www.lsac.org/LSAC.asp?url=/lsac/minorities-in-legal-education-selected-articles.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

8

<p>You could always acquire said affiliation. I’d imagine there are some groups who are willing to help you with that.</p>

9

<p>Why are you trying to take advantage of this when you know that your “heritage” hasn’t affected your life up to now? You’d be risking your integrity if schools find out. Try keeping up good grades and studying for the LSAT like the rest of us.</p>

10

<p>Having been a student leader in the Native American groups and a former employee of higher education, I would like to tell you YES it is unethical to apply as Native American if you: 1) are not enrolled at a tribal member [either state/federally recognized tribe]; and 2) can not show proof that you have a connection to the Native American communit.</p>

<p>More importantly, law schools want to have people of high moral and ethical character. And they take it very seriously if they notice or identify flaws in your application like misleading or falsifying information for admittance. It is simply best not to try.</p>

<p>In fact, some law schools retain reviewers who are employees or faculty from their Native American prograsm to identify whether this applicant has a legitimate connection to the community. If you identify as a Native American and your application shows no connection to the community then you will have greatly decreased your chances of admittance to the school. This puts you at a greater disadvantage then actually “checking the box.”</p>

<p>Don’t do it - too risky unless you actually come from a Native American community. BUT seek your tribal enrollment with your tribe. You may find that the genealogical information may not be sufficient for tribal enrollment. It is often that people assume that they are Native American because of information they received when in fact, the information is faulty and their ancestors have no Native American heritage. Contact the tribe or the local Bureau of Indian Affairs agency for enrollment information. And if you are enrolled, start making a connection to your lost heritage.</p>

<p>Wish you well in your admissions process!</p>

11

<p>Thanks - that was my main question. What are the guidelines for being considered “Native American” and is it ethical to check NA status if I’m 1/8 but overall consider myself white? These questions have been answered.</p>

12

<p>If a law school is silly enough to give special consideration to somebody who is 1/8 Native American, there’s no reason not to take advantage of it, IMHO.</p>

<p>What I would consider doing is to check off the box for part Native American and include a clear statement in the application that you are not asking for any special consideration based on your ethnicity. In that way, your integrity is protected. My guess is that the school will still give you a leg up since it will be able to report higher numbers for minority representation. I don’t see how it could hurt you.</p>

<p>JMHO.</p>

13

<p>You might want to verify your ancestry before you do anything. Anecdotal evidence or hearsay should not be acted upon. You need documentary evidence.</p>

14

<p>I wouldn’t do it. I probably could get away with it, unless they require you to show tribal affiliation. Considering how rare they are (percentage wise), they will probably expect you to write about it in your personal or diversity statement. If you don’t consider yourself NA, and you didn’t know about it until recently (or identify with them) then I just would do it.</p>