1/4 Hispanic - how do I indicate on app?

[Avoidthetiger]

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While it's true that some people get away with it, this is not always the case and you do not want to be the one student they decide to make an example of. I knew a classmate who I knew well do this, he was white as white could be and checked off Hispanic on his AMCAS. His first Interview was at Einstein, his interviewer called him out on it. He started to talk to him in Spanish. When he couldn't reply, the interviewer asked him, if he had ever lived in a Hispanic community or lived outside the US. He said no and the interviewer went on to say "how can you relate to a culture you cannot communicate with or know nothing about the struggles of. You have no idea what it means to be Hispanic" and was offended by the students actions. The interviewer WAS Hispanic.

This guy did Not get into Einstein or did he get any other interviews after that (his stats were 3.6 and a 30s). He also received a letter in the mail from AMCAS regarding the situation and an explanation on why AMCAS has changed his Application to White, Non-Hispanic. Not sure more to the story than that, but it should be enough to know that you shouldn't lie about something like this. Do not take away from the struggles of another culture just for your gain. Just because your grandparents were from a different country does not mean that you inherit their beliefs, struggles or views. Be honest about who it is you identify with and make sure it is for the right reasons. If you infact identify with Hispanics then put it, but if you have to think about it, chances are you are really don't.

I find fault with how your friend was treated above - though he shouldn't have lied. I have a good friend that is 1/2 Puerto Rican, 1/2 Irish. She grew up in a middle of nowhere Southern town, and then a middle of nowhere midwestern town (aka mostly white). Her dad never spoke spanish to her, and she never interacted with the Hispanic community. She indeed acts very white - but as she is an actress, often gets typecasted into Hispanic roles (aka - pregnant hispanic girl). Should she or shouldn't she have marked "hispanic" on her application. If the interview started asking talking to her in spanish or asking about her work with hispanic communities - she got nothing. But her "ethnicity/race/whatever" is clearly hispanic. [btw - you bet your bottom she marked herself as Hispanic. She went to a top Midwest "Ivy" for college on a full ride... and it was one of those schools were no one got a full ride]

Meanwhile, I'm a european mutt that includes atleast one spanish great(-great)-grandparent. I have many relatives [my grandma, aunt and brother] that get super dark in the summer, and often people mistake them for being hispanic (strangers talk to them in spanish). I took spanish in HS and grew up in a very latino neighborhood. I could pass myself off as Hispanic [my brother even more so than me] if the interviewer tried to "question" my ethnicity by the way you describe above. I'm sure many people could. But I know I am white, and was honest on my AMCAS. Now... if the Spanish ancestry was more recent... who knows, I might consider myself Hispanic.

 

[StephenMaturin]

A white kid checking Hispanic on his app isn't going to be called out about it by adcoms? Do you think they are stupid or something?

Not if he speaks Spanish and has a Spanish last name.

 

[LizzyM]

OP, don't waste our time here. When you are ready to fill out the application, you will see what is there and you will click on the racial and ethnic descriptions that best describe you. If you need help when you are making your application, come back & ask for help but until you are ready to apply, these questions are a waste of everyone's time.

 

[LifeTake2]

OP, don't waste our time here. When you are ready to fill out the application, you will see what is there and you will click on the racial and ethnic descriptions that best describe you. If you need help when you are making your application, come back & ask for help but until you are ready to apply, these questions are a waste of everyone's time.

👍 AMEN!

 

[PlacentaSac]

I find fault with how your friend was treated above - though he shouldn't have lied. I have a good friend that is 1/2 Puerto Rican, 1/2 Irish. She grew up in a middle of nowhere Southern town, and then a middle of nowhere midwestern town (aka mostly white). Her dad never spoke spanish to her, and she never interacted with the Hispanic community. She indeed acts very white - but as she is an actress, often gets typecasted into Hispanic roles (aka - pregnant hispanic girl). Should she or shouldn't she have marked "hispanic" on her application. If the interview started asking talking to her in spanish or asking about her work with hispanic communities - she got nothing. But her "ethnicity/race/whatever" is clearly hispanic. [btw - you bet your bottom she marked herself as Hispanic. She went to a top Midwest "Ivy" for college on a full ride... and it was one of those schools were no one got a full ride]

Meanwhile, I'm a european mutt that includes atleast one spanish great(-great)-grandparent. I have many relatives [my grandma, aunt and brother] that get super dark in the summer, and often people mistake them for being hispanic (strangers talk to them in spanish). I took spanish in HS and grew up in a very latino neighborhood. I could pass myself off as Hispanic [my brother even more so than me] if the interviewer tried to "question" my ethnicity by the way you describe above. I'm sure many people could. But I know I am white, and was honest on my AMCAS. Now... if the Spanish ancestry was more recent... who knows, I might consider myself Hispanic.

My point is he lied on his application. If you decide to embellish on your AMCAS and say things you know that are not true, then expect to face the consequences of your actions. Regardless of if it’s your ethnicity or some experience you never did, if you lie it becomes an ethics issue.

If the interviewer got the feeling that the applicant is lying, they have every right to inquire about it. Why do you think there is contact info on experiences? If something sounds sketch, then the school or interviewer is in their right to verify the information.

Honestly, this is such an obvious situation I'm surprized it got 64 posts. Just be honest and you have nothing to worry about. Stop trying to cheat the system, if you're latino/hispanic you'll KNOW it, if you have to think about it, then you're not and clearly don't identify with their culture. Enough said.

 

[cdm3413]

nvm don't care meow

 

[bajastapler]

-_____-

 

[Avoidthetiger]

My point is he lied on his application. If you decide to embellish on your AMCAS and say things you know that are not true, then expect to face the consequences of your actions. Regardless of if it's your ethnicity or some experience you never did, if you lie it becomes an ethics issue.

If the interviewer got the feeling that the applicant is lying, they have every right to inquire about it. Why do you think there is contact info on experiences? If something sounds sketch, then the school or interviewer is in their right to verify the information.

I agree with you - you shouldn't lie on your application. But the interviewer and AMCAS has not right to change your application from Hispanic to White, just because the "Hispanic" applicant couldn't speak spanish, had not connection to the latino community, and can't relate to other latinos. The question on AMCAS doesn't say "Are you Latino and actively participate in the latino community?" No, it just asks "ethnicity".

The interview does have the right to question your EC in the interview, and to call the ECs you list to verify that they are really... but no one should be allowed to question your identity or change your application. If medical schools get a "Hispanic" applicant that looks "white", and didn't struggle to get a good education and/or has no participation in the latino community (no interest in practicing medicine with hispanic patients), then just treat them as a white applicant. Don't actively change their application or excuse them of lying about their ethnicity. that is a law suite waiting to happen.

 

[PlacentaSac]

I agree with you - you shouldn't lie on your application. But the interviewer and AMCAS has not right to change your application from Hispanic to White, just because the "Hispanic" applicant couldn't speak spanish, had not connection to the latino community, and can't relate to other latinos. The question on AMCAS doesn't say "Are you Latino and actively participate in the latino community?" No, it just asks "ethnicity".

So you mean this whole time I could have claimed African American, although I look white, and have no ties? You mean no one would question me and I could have gotten away with claiming URM even though I am white, but I identify with the African American culture so well? I believe my great, great, great, great, great, great ancestors came from Africa, I love Hip Hop, Oh man, i had AMCAS all wrong.

I would have loved how that would have played out in the interview, especially if my interviewer was African American. I'm sure she would just let it slide! 👎 You just gave me some ideas, I think I'm going to apply for some African American Scholarships. I never thought I could get away with so much since no one can question my identity!! I'm going to go watch the movie "Malibu's Most Wanted" again and get some inspiration!!

By the way I'm just giving you a hard time and mean nothing by this post. I just feel that one should never lie PERIOD.

 

[Narmerguy]

I agree with you - you shouldn't lie on your application. But the interviewer and AMCAS has not right to change your application from Hispanic to White, just because the "Hispanic" applicant couldn't speak spanish, had not connection to the latino community, and can't relate to other latinos. The question on AMCAS doesn't say "Are you Latino and actively participate in the latino community?" No, it just asks "ethnicity".

Don't make the mistake of confusing race with ethnicity, and "hispanic" is not a race.

An ethnic group (or ethnicity) is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture (often including a shared religion) and an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy.[1][2][3] Another definition is "...a highly biologically self-perpetuating group sharing an interest in a homeland connected with a specific geographical area, a common language and traditions, including food preferences, and a common religious faith

A big part of ethnicity is shared culture like language and etc.

 

[Kphrogg]

The question on AMCAS doesn't say "Are you Latino and actively participate in the latino community?" No, it just asks "ethnicity".

And this is what happens when we don't use a dictionary and assume that "ethnicity" is synonymous with "racial background." Ethnicity is not just "hey, I'm a quarter hispanic!" It includes shared language, culture, religious, and so on. So, if you were raised white and have no connection to hispanic culture other than a sperm or egg, you are ethnically white.

 

[deleted307836]

And this is what happens when we don't use a dictionary and assume that "ethnicity" is synonymous with "racial background." Ethnicity is not just "hey, I'm a quarter hispanic!" It includes shared language, culture, religious, and so on. So, if you were raised white and have no connection to hispanic culture other than a sperm or egg, you are ethnically white.

Yeah, this.

 

[PlacentaSac]

What if I am white, but I was adopted by two African American parents. Do I get to be African American...? I'm soo confused. 😱 J/K

 

[Kphrogg]

This is an oversimplification because what people are calling "white culture" in the U.S. seems more like generic American culture to me.

That seems to be a fair way of looking at it.

This also seems to imply that people of mixed backgrounds should be forced to choose one race to identify with because there is no defined mixed culture. Even though I have one white parent, live in a majority white area, and people would probably think I'm culturally white, I'm not white. I don't look like a white person, I have never believed myself to be white, and I have been treated differently by others because I am not white despite cultural similarities. And frankly, if I were to call myself white, people would call me a liar or self-hating.

Unfortunately, the reality is that for purposes of the AMCAS, someone must choose their culture. It is unfortunately true that skin color is often used as the determining factor for ethnicity when you first encounter someone.

I'm confused about something though. You say you don't consider yourself white, but you also seem offended that people don't treat you like you're white. Am I misunderstanding?

Finally, if you called yourself white, I would probably do a double take (ah, the joys of being a species that relies so much on its eyes) and then accept your classification. After all, you would not be the first person I encountered that did not "look like" their ethnicity. Heck, I encounter it daily in the mirror. 😀

 

[Kphrogg]

You act as if "raised white" is an actual thing...as if you can put down an actual definition for it as opposed to "raised Latino/Hispanic" or "raised black" etc. There are no real clear cut definitions for any of this and that's why these are self-designated categories.

If we're going to start using Wikipedia for a reference:


Plus, you obviously don't realize the absurdity of what you guys suggest. If someone is a third-generation Mexican-American whose grandparents came directly from Mexico and both parents are Mexican but has been living in a primarily well-off white neighborhood his whole life (due to the success of his/her parents), interacting with mostly non-Hispanic whites his whole life and (as is the trend with many third generation Hispanics) doesn't speak Spanish, what is he going to put down on a survey? Non-Hispanic White? It doesn't even make sense.

How does it not make sense? If he has absolutely no connection to his Hispanic heritage, how is he Hispanic?

I see your point with the "raised white" thing. "White culture" in the U.S. is hardly a defined thing. It may be easier to define it as the absence of being raised in a minority culture.

 

[Kphrogg]

Would all of these things put him in the same position culturally as a first generation Mexican-American living in a predominantly Mexican neighborhood? No, but it doesn't put him in the same position as another random white kid in his neighborhood either.

That is a strong point. It is true that he is not in the same position. However, unless he feels a genuine connection to his background, he is being dishonest to claim the ethnicity. To put it in more familiar terms, ethnicity is nurture, not nature.

Its also been shown that many people grouped into this Hispanic/Latino category would prefer to identify themselves based on national/locational background.

Ugh, I feel like going on an old man political correctness rant. Who cares what they prefer? The AMCAS is not some hippy huggy let's all feel good about ourselves application. If it was, more people would apply to medical school. 😀

 

[NickNaylor]

Ugh, I feel like going on an old man political correctness rant. Who cares what they prefer? The AMCAS is not some hippy huggy let's all feel good about ourselves application. If it was, more people would apply to medical school. 😀

😕

 

[Kphrogg]

I don't experience life in the U.S. the same way a white person does; I'm not faced with the same challenges. Culture doesn't matter, the area of town I grew up in doesn't matter. I have had to deal with the same negative stereotypes that other black people in the U.S. deal with.

OK. I think I get it. A few years ago, I definitely would not have gotten it, but after four years as the only white guy in a town of 30,000 Japanese, I think I can begin to grasp what you're getting at. Everyone expects me to fit within their limited understanding of what it is to be American even though my background does not fit the stereotype.

 

[jpkotor]

As a person with a Latin mother and white father who looks completely white, I'll weigh in. I put Latin and white on my application. I suck at Spanish and don't look Latin at all. That doesn't make me not part Latin. It's not cheating the system. Maybe the 1/4 is pushing it but if you consider yourself part Hispanic why not put it. AdComs are not likely going to call you out or reject you without at least verifying it. A lot of Latin people look white. My mom, the Latin parent, is whiter than my dad, the white one.

There are plenty of reasons for not speaking Spanish. In my case, neither of my parents' first languages was English. English was a language they both spoke so I was raised speaking their common language. I was afraid in the beginning of putting Latin and thought if need be I'd just bring up my mom on speed dial and challenge them to a Latin-off. (Ay caramba!) Wasn't an issue though. I was involved in volunteering in rural Latin-America, but so were many non-Latin, non-Hispanic people (moreso than some full Latin or Full Hispanic people).

Now... this is where I need to tread lightly as to not be labeled a racist. Should a half black student put black on their application? I have a half black friend who looks Mediterranean (people never believe us when it comes up that he's half black). He does not speak any African languages, and he and his dad (very "white-washed") do not speak AAVE (African American Vernacular English, "Ebonics", it's an actual dialect of English I'm not poking fun at it). We grew up in an area of all whites and Latinos with almost no black people. What are his personal ties to the black community that would justify him putting black on an application? But I doubt any of you would challenge him.

 

[UnclePhil]

And this is what happens when we don't use a dictionary and assume that "ethnicity" is synonymous with "racial background." Ethnicity is not just "hey, I'm a quarter hispanic!" It includes shared language, culture, religious, and so on. So, if you were raised white and have no connection to hispanic culture other than a sperm or egg, you are ethnically white.

And this is what happens when people get so literal that they miss the point completely.

Anyone with common sense knows if they are a URM on their medical school applications.

 

[Kphrogg]

And this is what happens when people get so literal that they miss the point completely.

Anyone with common sense knows if they are a URM on their medical school applications.

Apparently not. Someone did ask the question after all. 🙂

 

[PlacentaSac]

Ok all of my jokes aside, I will chime in one last time to put perspective on the issue. I recommend that everyone who is interested in practicing medicine in the US get and read a book called "A Guide to Culturally Competent Health Care" by Larry Purnell. This book is given to countless medical students and nursing students. This book will help shed light as to why AMCAS has this question on the primary application.

As a medical student you will learn that often times patients feel most comfortable when treated by someone they can relate to culturally. This is a general statement but holds lots of truth to it as you will see when rounding. If you have a Hispanic female who only speaks Spanish, she will feel more comfortable with a physician who A) speaks HER language B) can Identify with her as a person C) understands the medical implications that HER culture plays in the entire process.

All of this is part of the training you receive as a medical student, to understand your patient and not just their disease. Therefore, your ethnic identity is asked to make sure we are balancing future doctors to the future population they will be serving. The Hispanic population in the US is growing at a very fast pace, yet Hispanics are one of the lowest applicants to medical school (below African Americans). Therefore we need doctors that are the same ethnicity and can TRUELY RELATE to this population. Being a quarter Hispanic and not being able to relate to this population is not the solution the AMA is looking for. Why do you think medical schools like Howard, Meharry, and Morehouse exist? It's to produce more African American doctors to represent a population that is under-represented in medicine. This isn't a game of can I lie on my AMCAS to increase my chances of getting into medical school, it is offensive to people of a culture that are trying to get in to represent their very culture.

I will repeat this for those of you that keep dwelling on this fact. Being Hispanic is more than just having parents or grandparents or an uncle (whatever) that are Hispanic. Hispanics come in all shades from white to black, so it's not about the color of the skin with this culture. If you do not speak Spanish and have not been immersed in the culture you CANNOT relate to the Hispanic population period. For African Americans it is TOTALLY different story!!! For African Americans it's not about if they speak an African dialect, this is just silly!! African Americans have had to deal with so much crap in this country JUST because of the color of their skin. Unless you are black, you will never understand the discrimination that they have had to endure, even in this day and age. If you were white and put African American on your application it would be an insult to African Americans. The book I recommend goes through every culture and describes attributes of each, because YOU MUST consider culture when treating a patient, it does come into play.

This is not about money or where I grew up or where my grandparents were born. If you do not UNDERSTAND or Relate to a culture then you are not a part of that culture. Again there are wealth Hispanics everywhere, ITS NOT A MONEY ISSUE, you can be wealthy and still know and be a part of your community and culture. America is a melting pot of cultures, Hispanics BRING their culture here. African Americans have had to struggle with so much here that they have their own "American" culture. So my long winded point is just to say that if you have to think whether or not you are part of a culture and whether or not an ethnicity applies to you, then you have lost the point of this all together. God Bless America, (Insert dramatic exit here&#8230😉

 

[V5RED]

Ok all of my jokes aside, I will chime in one last time to put perspective on the issue. I recommend that everyone who is interested in practicing medicine in the US get and read a book called "A Guide to Culturally Competent Health Care" by Larry Purnell. This book is given to countless medical students and nursing students. This book will help shed light as to why AMCAS has this question on the primary application.

As a medical student you will learn that often times patients feel most comfortable when treated by someone they can relate to culturally. This is a general statement but holds lots of truth to it as you will see when rounding. If you have a Hispanic female who only speaks Spanish, she will feel more comfortable with a physician who A) speaks HER language B) can Identify with her as a person C) understands the medical implications that HER culture plays in the entire process.

All of this is part of the training you receive as a medical student, to understand your patient and not just their disease. Therefore, your ethnic identity is asked to make sure we are balancing future doctors to the future population they will be serving. The Hispanic population in the US is growing at a very fast pace, yet Hispanics are one of the lowest applicants to medical school (below African Americans). Therefore we need doctors that are the same ethnicity and can TRUELY RELATE to this population. Being a quarter Hispanic and not being able to relate to this population is not the solution the AMA is looking for. Why do you think medical schools like Howard, Meharry, and Morehouse exist? It's to produce more African American doctors to represent a population that is under-represented in medicine. This isn't a game of can I lie on my AMCAS to increase my chances of getting into medical school, it is offensive to people of a culture that are trying to get in to represent their very culture.

I will repeat this for those of you that keep dwelling on this fact. Being Hispanic is more than just having parents or grandparents or an uncle (whatever) that are Hispanic. Hispanics come in all shades from white to black, so it’s not about the color of the skin with this culture. If you do not speak Spanish and have not been immersed in the culture you CANNOT relate to the Hispanic population period. For African Americans it is TOTALLY different story!!! For African Americans it’s not about if they speak an African dialect, this is just silly!! African Americans have had to deal with so much crap in this country JUST because of the color of their skin. Unless you are black, you will never understand the discrimination that they have had to endure, even in this day and age. If you were white and put African American on your application it would be an insult to African Americans. The book I recommend goes through every culture and describes attributes of each, because YOU MUST consider culture when treating a patient, it does come into play.

This is not about money or where I grew up or where my grandparents were born. If you do not UNDERSTAND or Relate to a culture then you are not a part of that culture. Again there are wealth Hispanics everywhere, ITS NOT A MONEY ISSUE, you can be wealthy and still know and be a part of your community and culture. America is a melting pot of cultures, Hispanics BRING their culture here. African Americans have had to struggle with so much here that they have their own “American” culture. So my long winded point is just to say that if you have to think whether or not you are part of a culture and whether or not an ethnicity applies to you, then you have lost the point of this all together. God Bless America, (Insert dramatic exit here…)

Great points. The idea that the URM boost is to bring in more doctors that the patients will feel comfortable with makes a lot more sense than it being some kind of pity/reparation for certain groups.

 

[FattySlug]

Just look in the mirror and ask yourself if your Hispanic patient could relate to you as one of their own. If you don't look Hispanic, don't speak Spanish and not submerged in Hispanic culture then expect medical schools to ask questions to gauge your URM-ness. Of course they are not going to call you out or whatever because if one of your parent is Hispanic then technically you are, but I doubt that is what medical schools are looking for in their URM so you can sure claim URM but don't expect it to help you much.

 

[exquisitemelody]

Thought I'd bump up this thread with this article:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/07/07/navarrette.mexican.americans/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

I feel like I'm in the same position as the guy. I'm Filipino-American, but even my grandparents were born here, and I don't speak the language. I'm Filipino to everyone who's American and American to everyone who's Filipino.

Maybe this article has nothing to do with this thread...

 

[LCSULLA]

Just look in the mirror and ask yourself if your Hispanic patient could relate to you as one of their own. If you don't look Hispanic, don't speak Spanish and not submerged in Hispanic culture then expect medical schools to ask questions to gauge your URM-ness. Of course they are not going to call you out or whatever because if one of your parent is Hispanic then technically you are, but I doubt that is what medical schools are looking for in their URM so you can sure claim URM but don't expect it to help you much.

Well if I look in the mirror I see a white guy with freckles. But according to my father, who I visit in CR almost every year, I am Latino. Do I speak fluent Spanish? No, my parents divorced when I was small and I have forgotten most of it. I understand it, just don't speak it. And I grew up in a lower middle class neighborhood with mostly blacks and whites. So I didn't grew up a Hispanic neighborhood. And I have had internship in grad school from Hispanic organizations. So I may look white, but half my blood is from Latin america.

And I have an ex that was 100% Latino, who was adopted from a Latin american country, but raised but white people. Should she put down white?

 

[Narmerguy]

Well if I look in the mirror I see a white guy with freckles. But according to my father, who I visit in CR almost every year, I am Latino. Do I speak fluent Spanish? No, my parents divorced when I was small and I have forgotten most of it. I understand it, just don't speak it. And I grew up in a lower middle class neighborhood with mostly blacks and whites. So I didn't grew up a Hispanic neighborhood. And I have had internship in grad school from Hispanic organizations. So I may look white, but half my blood is from Latin america.

And I have an ex that was 100% Latino, who was adopted from a Latin american country, but raised but white people. Should she put down white?

Whenever an old thread is bumped I always look to see which awesome dude is responsible and it is almost invariably someone with less than 5 posts. Just a little nugget/observation for the day.

 

[epsilonprodigy]

I am going to be the devil's advocate here, only because I once got flamed for asking a similar question. I am also a small part "Spain-Spanish" but also a lot of other stuff, all unquestionably under the Caucasian umbrella. I finally ended up putting plain old white.

But let's say you look Hispanic, even though you're only a little bit. I don't think it would be a huge extrapolation to suggest that you may have experienced some of the predjudice from strangers that any other member of that community has to put up with. I know that when I moved down south, I had a few older, well-off white folks yell "YOU DO SPEAK ENGLISH, DON'T YOU DEAR?!" when I worked at various service jobs during undergrad. (The urge to mess with them was powerful, btw, but I refrained.)

 

[LaFleur]

Appearance is no way to determine if someone is hispanic or latino.
Although there are people who cheat the system, there are people like me who look white but are of latino heritage. Its not even distant. My mother immigrated when she was 20 from Brazil. I look like any white kid. I am ok in Portuguese and I am currently working on improving my Spanish. I plan on indicating that I am both of white and latino descent.

That being said, having Spanish/Brazilian etc heritage DOESN'T make you URM.

I posted before direclty from the AMCAS website:

Before June 26, 2003, the AAMC used the term "underrepresented minority (URM)," which consisted of Blacks, Mexican-Americans, Native Americans (that is, American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians), and mainland Puerto Ricans. The AAMC remains committed to ensuring access to medical education and medicine-related careers for individuals from these four historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups.

https://www.aamc.org/initiatives/urm/

👍👍👍

To all y'all who think you can judge whether someone is Hispanic or not by their appearance, you obviously haven't met enough Hispanic people.

Also, OP, you should not be trying to cheat the system, and that's what it looks like you're doing from here. Adcoms will see through that--they are not idiots!

 

[FattySlug]

Well if I look in the mirror I see a white guy with freckles. But according to my father, who I visit in CR almost every year, I am Latino. Do I speak fluent Spanish? No, my parents divorced when I was small and I have forgotten most of it. I understand it, just don't speak it. And I grew up in a lower middle class neighborhood with mostly blacks and whites. So I didn't grew up a Hispanic neighborhood. And I have had internship in grad school from Hispanic organizations. So I may look white, but half my blood is from Latin america.

And I have an ex that was 100% Latino, who was adopted from a Latin american country, but raised but white people. Should she put down white?

What is the point of this meaningless post? Put down whatever you feel like. I already made it clear in my earlier post that if you don't look like an URM, don't demonstrate your tie to the URM community then expect adcom to ask you a few things about it. I did not say whether you should or should not claim URM. It is your call to make and really I couldn't care less.

Whenever an old thread is bumped I always look to see which awesome dude is responsible and it is almost invariably someone with less than 5 posts. Just a little nugget/observation for the day.

They are usually pretty lame poster as well.

 

[BarcaBest23]

unfortunately URM status is truly dictated by appearance and perhaps some sort of accent. Amazing how some kids get URM status because their last name is Gonzalez and are tan yet don't speak a lick of Spanish and have no interest to integrate themselves within the latin community.

Had a good friend from South America who was fluent in spanish, was raised there, just didn't look the part .... result: URM status deemed dubious by adcom

Interviewed with someone from Florida who spoke spanglish better than both english or spanish (really couldn't speak either or correctly) .... knew nothing about his heritage/history/culture: bam URM

lovely system.... sorry for the rant but this category is just another large flaw in the med school admissions system

 

[BMEN]

Whenever an old thread is bumped I always look to see which awesome dude is responsible and it is almost invariably someone with less than 5 posts. Just a little nugget/observation for the day.

😛

 

[nicknickp3]

Question then, i'm half hispanic. Look like a total bro, dont speak spanish. But half my family is brown as can be lol.

 

[circulus vitios]

[X] I want an unfair advantage for something I'm not really a part of.
[ ] I don't want an unfair advantage for something I'm not really a part of.

 

[demh23fan]

Ok all of my jokes aside, I will chime in one last time to put perspective on the issue. I recommend that everyone who is interested in practicing medicine in the US get and read a book called "A Guide to Culturally Competent Health Care" by Larry Purnell. This book is given to countless medical students and nursing students. This book will help shed light as to why AMCAS has this question on the primary application.

As a medical student you will learn that often times patients feel most comfortable when treated by someone they can relate to culturally. This is a general statement but holds lots of truth to it as you will see when rounding. If you have a Hispanic female who only speaks Spanish, she will feel more comfortable with a physician who A) speaks HER language B) can Identify with her as a person C) understands the medical implications that HER culture plays in the entire process.

All of this is part of the training you receive as a medical student, to understand your patient and not just their disease. Therefore, your ethnic identity is asked to make sure we are balancing future doctors to the future population they will be serving. The Hispanic population in the US is growing at a very fast pace, yet Hispanics are one of the lowest applicants to medical school (below African Americans). Therefore we need doctors that are the same ethnicity and can TRUELY RELATE to this population. Being a quarter Hispanic and not being able to relate to this population is not the solution the AMA is looking for. Why do you think medical schools like Howard, Meharry, and Morehouse exist? It's to produce more African American doctors to represent a population that is under-represented in medicine. This isn't a game of can I lie on my AMCAS to increase my chances of getting into medical school, it is offensive to people of a culture that are trying to get in to represent their very culture.

I will repeat this for those of you that keep dwelling on this fact. Being Hispanic is more than just having parents or grandparents or an uncle (whatever) that are Hispanic. Hispanics come in all shades from white to black, so it’s not about the color of the skin with this culture. If you do not speak Spanish and have not been immersed in the culture you CANNOT relate to the Hispanic population period. For African Americans it is TOTALLY different story!!! For African Americans it’s not about if they speak an African dialect, this is just silly!! African Americans have had to deal with so much crap in this country JUST because of the color of their skin. Unless you are black, you will never understand the discrimination that they have had to endure, even in this day and age. If you were white and put African American on your application it would be an insult to African Americans. The book I recommend goes through every culture and describes attributes of each, because YOU MUST consider culture when treating a patient, it does come into play.

This is not about money or where I grew up or where my grandparents were born. If you do not UNDERSTAND or Relate to a culture then you are not a part of that culture. Again there are wealth Hispanics everywhere, ITS NOT A MONEY ISSUE, you can be wealthy and still know and be a part of your community and culture. America is a melting pot of cultures, Hispanics BRING their culture here. African Americans have had to struggle with so much here that they have their own “American” culture. So my long winded point is just to say that if you have to think whether or not you are part of a culture and whether or not an ethnicity applies to you, then you have lost the point of this all together. God Bless America, (Insert dramatic exit here…)

I actually bought the book but it is simply a very poor read. I only bought the book because of your comments regarding this book. It became a very sorry purchase though. I sincerely regret this buy and I would not recommend anyone should buy this. The book provides tremendous generalizations and often times ridiculous explanations. One such example of this is the information regarding "mal de ojo" on page 348 describing the Mexican heritage. This is the direct statement from the book, "Mal de ojo (evil eye) occurs when an older person looks at a younger person in an admiring fashion. Such eye contact can be voluntary..... The spell can be broken if the person doing the admiring touches the person while admiring him or her". The only slightly useful information is found in the introduction pages xv and xvi. The rest I consider worthless information.

 

[kpcrew]

Whenever an old thread is bumped I always look to see which awesome dude is responsible and it is almost invariably someone with less than 5 posts. Just a little nugget/observation for the day.

true. it's better than having 10 threads a week asking the same question but i wish the bumps were more relevant to that thread. it's also weird when someone quotes a post from 2001 and replies to the post like that poster is going to reply back.

 

[demh23fan]

true. it's better than having 10 threads a week asking the same question but i wish the bumps were more relevant to that thread. it's also weird when someone quotes a post from 2001 and replies to the post like that poster is going to reply back.

When you order a book, it doesn't come straight to your doorsteps immediately. After receiving the book, all the information in the book does not spontaneouly transfer to your knowledge. That is why, it took a few days to respond.

 

[LizzyM]

Question then, i'm half hispanic. Look like a total bro, dont speak spanish. But half my family is brown as can be lol.

How did you list yourself on the US census in 2010?

 

[postbacpremed87]

I wish I could get URM status for being 1/4 lebanese haha. Don't abuse the system bro.

 

[LizzyM]

I wish I could get URM status for being 1/4 lebanese haha. Don't abuse the system bro.

Where is the "abuse"? If people list themeselves on the US census as x, y or z and then don't list themselves as the same races/ethnicities on the AMCAS application it appears that there is an under-representation in medicine when in truth there is no under-representation, only a failure to self-identify.

(e.g. we have x% of group A reported in the US census but half of the applicants who reported being members of group A in the US Census do not identify as members of group A on their application... it looks like the proportion of applicants is only 0.5(x%) rather than x%.)

 

[mrwesticles]

Check with whichever one you consider yourself to be.

Do you speak spanish? I know not all hispanic people don't speak spanish, but it would be a little embarrassing if you not only don't look hispanic but don't have any other immediately recognizable traits either (read: stereotypes).

 

[ponyo]

I know a girl, who got in with 3.5 gpa with a downward trend and 26 MCAT by putting herself as either hispanic or Caribbean or perhaps even black. She got multiple Cs in orgo, physics and mostly Bs in upper bios.

She grew up in a middle high class white family. Her father is a lawyer and her mother is a school teacher. She was part of southern sorority during her freshman year and had her own house next to campus. But she decided to utilize her mother's genetic makeup and joined many minority premed clubs to make herself more URM. She got into two schools where working for the underserved is emphasized, and she picked a traditionally minority school because it was cheaper, and now she is going for orthopedics. I used to feel bitter about this, but now I cannot deny that she is a winner. 👍

Actually that sounds pretty legit, since she did actually pursue that part of her heritage. I would say that had the OP been involved in the hispanic community like this girl, it would have been fine to identify as hispanic.

Also just wanted to point out that for the Asian chart, apparently if you're in the 3.6-3.8 range, you actually have a higher chance of getting in if you score 36-38 than 39-45...

 

[Narmerguy]

Also just wanted to point out that for the Asian chart, apparently if you're in the 3.6-3.8 range, you actually have a higher chance of getting in if you score 36-38 than 39-45...

Yeah from like an 86% to an 84%...I'm pretty sure this has more to do with the fact that once your MCAT is in that 37+ range it ceases to really offer much for your application.

 

[zamzee]

I'm a pretty exotic mix but all of my ethnicities are classified as "Asian." On my AMCAS I did NOT put down Asian though, I put down "Other". Did the same thing on the Census when there was an actual box for multiracial. I don't identify with just "Asian" because my heritage is a lot more complex that and since I'm mixed I hate labels.

 

[Etorphine]

why won't this thread die? OP isn't even applying yet for a couple of years.

 

[MD Odyssey]

I have a very common Spanish last name and I look very much like you would expect a Spaniard to look - I have fair skin and dark hair. If an admissions officer invites me for an interview based on my name, I'm not going to complain about it.

 

[JESSFALLING]

Hobbies: mariachi and tequila
Skills: price negotiation

 

[zwitterion34]

As many people expressed, I would go with the honest approach and NOT apply as an URM if you do NOT speak Spanish and/or have NO affiliations with the Hispanic community.