"white African American" getting in trouble?

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Originally Posted by CliveStaples

Long time lurker, but the amount of convoluted misinformation has forced my hand into making an account. I think there's a lot of confusion as to how the primary application asks for information about race, so I'll try and clear this up.

You have primary primary self-identification options. You may select more than one of these, as applicable.

Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish origin
American Indian or Alaska Native
Asian
Black or African American
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
White
Other

Now, the OP has probably three options at his disposal. He can choose the Black or African American option, primarily on the basis that this is geographically the most accurate option at his disposal, as Egypt is without a doubt a country in Africa. He can choose White, as the precedent has been set in the past to call North African countries a part of the Caucasian demographic (although I would note this this option isn't called Caucasian, but White). Finally, there is Other, which allows you to specify why you felt that none of the above options were the most appropriate to self-identify with.

But let's say that the OP (or any other Egyptian or North African) really does strongly feel that African-American can be taken in the most literal sense possible (let's take the idea of the inherent "advtange" or lack thereof and set it aside). African American has a couple of sub-options.

African American
Afro-Carribean
African
Other (specify)

Now we have some options! To the poster that said that native africans shouldn't be considered the same as African American, here is where the distinction can be made. Now, I believe any North African would likely choose the Other option (assuming they are not a native African, and really that "African" subheading would be better replaced by "Native Subsaharan African") and would write in "North African" or "Egyptian," whichever name the individual best identifies with.

Now there's no more deception - no more confusion when faces don't match up to descriptions.

And why do I care about all this? Because I'm Egyptian of course. I'm told I'm not underrepresented in medicine, which is probably true considering how much of a minority Egyptians are in America. I wouldn't call myself disadvantaged, thanks to the hard work of my parents. But I would call myself diverse. I do think that I bring an interesting perspective as a first generation American and someone who traveled to his country of origin dozens of times. I don't self-identify as White, however. I can certainly say in elementary school I was never accused of being White... Most people originally thought I was hispanic until I grew older and developed some more traditional arab/african features (facial structure and nose size like many others in the Middle East, and hair like that of an African American). That is just part of my life experience that makes my self-identification more than just picking White because that's the "safe" thing or what I'm "supposed to do."

Regardless, I applaud AMCAS for expanding the self identification options (Asian in particular has a very hefty list to choose from, including its own Other option). I know there are people out there trying to game the system, and that sucks. Med Schools know that though, and I have no doubt that they have their own systems in place to protect themselves from the crooked. However, I do not think that this particular case is as cut and dry of a situation that the appropriate answer is to pick White or even the original Other option.

OP, quit being so antagonistic and seeking of yes-men. Do what you're going to do, but there's clearly a difference between being African American and URM and while you might be the first, you might not be the latter.

tl;dr... Sup, I'm new.

I think people here think I am picking only African American. I could pick both AA and White. And under AA, I could put Egyptian/North African. That way, I picked two things I identify to.

Originally Posted by plauto

I asked the admission director at my school about your situation...she said they are on the lookout for applications like yours.

They can't say anything If I put half-white, Half-black. What did you tell the director?

My hair curls up into an Afro and I tan easily. This is complete proof I have African American in my ancestry. (Do you see pure Arabs with afro hair? Didn't think so.)

You probably told the director I only picked African American. Why don't you ask her again please. Her final opinion will determine what I can do. But I also want you to know that my race can be multiple things as an Egyptian.

Originally Posted by mclinkin94

My hair curls up into an Afro and I tan easily. This is complete proof I have African American in my ancestry. (Do you see pure Arabs with afro hair? Didn't think so.)

But I also want you to know that my race can be multiple things as I pick and choose.

1. He grows an afro and tans easily, too. Proof of african ancestry?

2. You have no african american in your ancestry. You have african, no african-american.

3. Fixed the last bit for you.

Originally Posted by tiedyeddog

1. He grows an afro and tans easily, too. Proof of african ancestry?

2. You have no african american in your ancestry. You have african, no african-american.

3. Fixed the last bit for you.

Yes I have African ancestry, Not African-american. so?

If you are African and you move to america you are "African American".

Bolded: yes that is proof.

Originally Posted by mclinkin94

Yes I have African ancestry, Not African-american. so?

If you are African and you move to america you are "African American".

Bolded: yes that is proof.

You aren't african. What you're saying is the equivalent of someone with two hundred years of family in Austrailia moving to the United States and calling themselves british-american.

Originally Posted by tiedyeddog

You aren't african. What you're saying is the equivalent of someone with a two hundred years of family in Austrailia moving to the United States and calling themselves british-american.

That works too. They are indeed British American because that is where THEIR ANCESTRY came from you fool. The real Australians are not where modern Australians came from. I see no problem with this.

Look guys, I'm open to new things. I'm not trying to get into Harvard, Yale etc. I have a chance to improve my acceptance chance without really lying. It would defy logic for me not to do so. In fact, it is indeed ethical.

Let McMuffin do what he wants, there's no point in overcooking his sausage on the forums.

Originally Posted by TAMallick

America is a immigrant country and they are collect merit from whole world. So they are always welcome meritorious.

ok welcome to prospective america for make bangladeshi glorious

This thread is why we can't have nice things.

wow no more calling me names, insulting me and threatening my denial from medical school.

Hmm...I think maybe you came to your senses.

Originally Posted by mclinkin94

wow no more calling me names, insulting me and threatening my denial from medical school.

Hmm...I think maybe you came to your senses.

why would you bump your own useless thread just to say that? ...Attention hore?

If you have to explain it or rationalize it, then you already know the answer.

Originally Posted by Blais

why would you bump your own useless thread just to say that? ...Attention hore?

the trolling had stopped reaping as rich a harvest

This guy is the most obvious troll I've ever seen on the internet. Come on, people. Quit feeding it.

Dam, why is SDN all about trolls and feeding them? Let this bull go and respond to the forum! You guys are vultures.

I feel like everyone finally understood that I could pass as AA and I was just commenting on it.


Stop being such babies.

Die, thread, die!

Hello, I would like to bring this thread back and see if Plauto has an answer to my personal previous question. By the way, I am still deciding what route I should take, completely identify as White, or identify as AA and white. What do you guys think? Honest enough?

You have got to be [bleep!] me!

I quickly read through this thread...

My conclusion: Troll...

My question: Do you happen to have Histrionic Personality Disorder?

Originally Posted by Poetic Silence

You have got to be [bleep!] me!

Lmao.. yeah.

Yo, OP, put that you are black. Just put it in there. Stop listening to all of the internet people on here who are *ohhh-soooo* jealous of your skin color and thus, of your krazyyyy suppa secretttt freebie entrance into med skoooool advantage. Just put black. Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee put black. Just do it. Doooo ittt. Do it. Do it. Put it in there. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it.

Originally Posted by Thego2guy

Lmao.. yeah.

Yo, OP, put that you are black. Just put it in there. Stop listening to all of the internet people on here who are *ohhh-soooo* jealous of your skin color and thus, of your krazyyyy suppa secretttt freebie entrance into med skoooool advantage. Just put black. Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee put black. Just do it. Doooo ittt. Do it. Do it. Put it in there. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it.

[YOUTUBE]JoqDYcCDOTg&feature=fvwrel[/YOUTUBE]

LMAO @ this. Please do it.
We dont need to see you in ANY medical school. Please disclose your name so that im SURE no one i know comes to see you for ANY type of treatment.

thank you-- have a nice day.

If I was a mod I would have banned you after you bumped your own thread from the grave for the third time.

I'm Egyptian here too. I thought about checking off AA, but the thing is as you said before Egyptians are mixed. I'm from Africa, but I'm not black and not caucasian either, and middle eastern isn't a race. Its very confusing, not just for Egyptians but for the whole northern african people. We can't identify ourselves as caucasian because we are not, or black because we are not, but we are Africans. Egyptians are Africans/middle eastern/Arabs/Caucasians/Hispanic-like.

While registering for the mcat i had to check a race and an ethnicity off of a list and one of them had pakistani, chinese and even samoans but the only thing that wasn't there is an Arab or north african or anything to identify the people of this region. The question said check all that what applies so I checked "white" and "black or AA" that way I made sure to state I'm African but i'm not black. I think it is close enough.

Originally Posted by tiedyeddog

If I was a mod I would have banned you after you bumped your own thread from the grave for the third time.

dear god, this...

In psychology, I believe they call this "attention-seeking behavior".

Originally Posted by TheMightySmiter

In psychology, I believe they call this "attention-seeking behavior".

Narcissus Personality Disorder.

Originally Posted by Poetic Silence

Narcissus Personality Disorder.

like someone had already said, this would be more aligned with histrionic personality disorder, if she really has a personality disorder...i think it's just a typical case of attention whoreness.

Can't reveal source. Student applies as hispanic, thinks they can get away with it because they're filipino with spanish last name. Doesn't mention anything about being hispanic or filipino during interviews. Gets in, shows up at second look and reveals to other students in his/her class that they are filipino believing it doesn't matter. Adcom finds out, is upset, and tells student to not come there after being accepted. Was student's only acceptance so far, methinks they may have to reapply or just show up at orientation. Explaining why they got accepted but didn't end up going will be AWKWARD in the next set of interviews.

There is no reason for continued bumps of an already thoroughly discussed topic. Thread closed.