out of curiosity

[yesm]

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So a few days ago my roommate and I were talking. For some reason, I mentioned to him that I am 1/4 Portuguese (in addition to being Russian, Norwegian, other nationalities, and also having a Catholic Mom and Jewish Dad). He was shocked and immediately asked if I put that down on my application. The thought had never even crossed my mind. He says that if you're an 1/8 or more minority, you are considered a minority. Is this true? Is Portuguese even considered minority? I then pointed out that I look as white as any other European-American and he said that it didn't matter b/c I would still be "in the numbers" for the school. Anyway, I was just wondering...

 

[LetMeInPlease]

Here are my thoughts on the situation. If you didn't even think about saying you were Portuguese on your application, it's not a big part of your life. Also, is one of your grandparents full Portuguese, from Portugal? Or are you 1/4 Portuguese cause both of your parents have some ancestors from Portugal? Lots of people are mostly one nationality, but they haven't had relatives in that country for years. For example I am at least 1/4 Irish, but none of my close family is from there, so I just call it my heritage, not my nationality. Lastly, I don't think Portuguese counts as URM. I'm not sure, but I don't think so.

 

[ramonmcguire]

Unless you are African-American, Native American, Mexican-American or Puerto Rican you are not considered a URM. Being any other type of minority carries very minimal importance. And being 1/4 anything in the United States, a land of immigrants, carried even less import w/adcoms.

 

[gower]

Ramon is correct on the definition. Even if you were to fit the definition, there is more to it than that. You usually must identify with your group; that is often one reason that URMs get separate interviews with a URM faculty member or student. If not a separate interview, they are encouraged to meet with URM students/faculty. If you don't want to be singled out that may possibly--I said only possibly--be taken a a sign of not identifying or not wanting to identify.

Being a mongrel--a little bit of this, a little bit of that, with a little bit of something else--by itself doesn't qualify.

Native Americans are expected to be on a tribal roll.

Anybody can claim to be something, but there has to be evidence for the claim. Among African-Americans there is a complete spectrum of color and other physical features. Walter White, a founder of the NAACP, was not physically recognizable as African-American, but he knew who he was!