another ethnicity question

[no beans]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

My mother is a Cuban refugee and my father is American. I was born in this country and identify most with the American culture. However, in our family we do follow traditions from my mother's Cuban background and I feel I understand the culture from my mother and relatives. I am moderately proficient in Spanish but not fluent. I would feel comfortable catering to Hispanic patients, but would not necessarily seek to solely serve them. My surname is anglican and I don't think hispanic patients would necessarily seek me out except by word of mouth.

I don't know what to check off on the AMCAS application. I know Cubans aren't URM's, but maybe there is some benefit to checking off the Hispanic box? Human nature is that I should try to get any advantage I can if it is legit. At the same time, when I interview, I speak perfect English, so I would not want interviewers to think I am just checking off the box for an advantage. At the same time, I don't want to negate my hispanic roots. What is the right thing to do? Perhaps in my secondaries I could explain all of the above?

 

[noshie]

My mother is a Cuban refugee and my father is American. I was born in this country and identify most with the American culture. However, in our family we do follow traditions from my mother's Cuban background and I feel I understand the culture from my mother and relatives. I am moderately proficient in Spanish but not fluent. I would feel comfortable catering to Hispanic patients, but would not necessarily seek to solely serve them. My surname is anglican and I don't think hispanic patients would necessarily seek me out except by word of mouth.

I don't know what to check off on the AMCAS application. I know Cubans aren't URM's, but maybe there is some benefit to checking off the Hispanic box? Human nature is that I should try to get any advantage I can if it is legit. At the same time, when I interview, I speak perfect English, so I would not want interviewers to think I am just checking off the box for an advantage. At the same time, I don't want to negate my hispanic roots. What is the right thing to do? Perhaps in my secondaries I could explain all of the above?

Cubans are considered Hispanic (I wikied this fact 🙂 )... I don't think you need to feel in any way guilty by checking this box since you are half Cuban/Hispanic. You would be considered a URM if you did this... And you say Cubans are not URM, but actually, they kind of are...

I wouldn't worry about what is going to happen when you go to your interview and they don't think you are Hispanic looking and have no accent. If they ask, just tell them that your mother's family is Cuban and you have grown up with that culture. I am sure no one will ask though... I once had a friend that applied a few years back and checked the African American box even though he didn't have any of the features someone would expect (he was totally white)... He was born in South Africa, and he wanted to identify himself this way, which in no way is wrong since it defines his birthplace. As long as you are not lying and can back it up if asked, you will be just fine. I would definitely check the Hispanic box if I were you. If you don't tell them, they will never know.

 

[LizzyM]

Frankly, if you list your ethnicity as Cuban, don't list Spanish as one of your languages on the application and don't have any experiences that focus on the hispanic community, your application will be treated as it would if you hadn't identified as Cuban.

Whether you do or you don't, it will be about the same.

 

[no beans]

Thank you for your input, Noshie and LizzyM.