What Race should I put

[EllaBean]

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So my mom is hispanic and my dad is white. Can I put both Hispanic and White on my apps, since I identify with both equally and are equally involved in both sides of my heritage? Thanks.

 

[SpaceyWacey]

You can put both.

 

[EllaBean]

I know they tend to group by ethnicity, so would I be put in 2 different groups?

 

[ZedsDed]

So my mom is hispanic and my dad is white. Can I put both Hispanic and White on my apps, since I identify with both equally and are equally involved in both sides of my heritage? Thanks.

Yup!

 

[EllaBean]

Yup!

Am I considered a URM even though i'm part white though?

 

[AlphaBeta<3]

Am I considered a URM even though i'm part white though?

Where is your mother from

 

[EllaBean]

Where is your mother from

She's half Dominican and half Mexican. She was born in America. Would she still be considered Hispanic?

 

[ZedsDed]

She's half Dominican and half Mexican. She was born in America. Would she still be considered Hispanic?

Hispanic is not synonymous with URM. Mexicans are considered URM. So, yes, you are technically at least "1/4 URM," though I doubt anyone would look at your application in such an absurd way. I'm not sure about Dominicans.

 

[Mad Jack]

Hispanic is an ethnicity- you can be white hispanic, black hispanic, Pacific Islander hispanic, etc. You can put both. Just be aware that there might be some questions as to whether you qualify for URM status if you do not have ties to the community.

 

[EllaBean]

I mean my mom's whole side of the family is from Latin America/Mexico, so I feel like i'm as close to the community as I am to my father's relatives. I dont' know how I can prove my community ties besides volunteering.

 

[OchemOficionado]

I mean my mom's whole side of the family is from Latin America/Mexico, so I feel like i'm as close to the community as I am to my father's relatives. I dont' know how I can prove my community ties besides volunteering.

Language maybe.

 

[ZedsDed]

I mean my mom's whole side of the family is from Latin America/Mexico, so I feel like i'm as close to the community as I am to my father's relatives. I dont' know how I can prove my community ties besides volunteering.

More of the bold should do the trick

Language maybe.

And this

 

[EllaBean]

More of the bold should do the trick


And this

I've done a lot for my community, in terms of volunteering and tutoring. Although my family is "Americanized" by way of my mom and grandparents not teaching us the language beyond the basics.

 

[OchemOficionado]

I've done a lot for my community, in terms of volunteering and tutoring. Although my family is "Americanized" by way of my mom and grandparents not teaching us the language beyond the basics.

That's awesome. I don't think anyone will doubt your ties to your community. Language may just make those ties seem stronger. You could always learn it though. If you want. I am because I want to be able to communicate effectively with as much as my community as possible. The largest portions of my community either speak English or Spanish. . . so, what else am I supposed to do if I want to help my underserved community and not just part of it? Ya know?

 

[Mad Jack]

I've done a lot for my community, in terms of volunteering and tutoring. Although my family is "Americanized" by way of my mom and grandparents not teaching us the language beyond the basics.

If you've got the volunteering you're fine. Language is pretty much an automatic in, but be prepared for an interviewer to conduct the entire interview in Spanish if you claim you can speak it.

 

[EllaBean]

If you've got the volunteering you're fine. Language is pretty much an automatic in, but be prepared for an interviewer to conduct the entire interview in Spanish if you claim you can speak it.

I never claimed I could speak it though. Does that mean I shouldn't put Hispanic down?

 

[EllaBean]

That's awesome. I don't think anyone will doubt your ties to your community. Language may just make those ties seem stronger. You could always learn it though. If you want. I am because I want to be able to communicate effectively with as much as my community as possible. The largest portions of my community either speak English or Spanish. . . so, what else am I supposed to do if I want to help my underserved community and not just part of it? Ya know?

Absolutely! One of the reasons I think I dont' know as much as I should, is that so much of the youth in the Hispanic community speaks mostly English nowdays, at least where I live. I am really scared i'm going to get an interviewer that will mark me down for not speaking it fluently though. I don't want to be considered a "fake".

 

[OchemOficionado]

If you've got the volunteering you're fine. Language is pretty much an automatic in, but be prepared for an interviewer to conduct the entire interview in Spanish if you claim you can speak it.

I'm guessing language is also a boost for an applicant NOT from that community? I've heard that about the interview a lot! Makes me nervous and want to practice my Spanish every freaking day, haha 🙂

I never claimed I could speak it though. Does that mean I shouldn't put Hispanic down?

That isn't at all what that person said.

 

[Mad Jack]

I never claimed I could speak it though. Does that mean I shouldn't put Hispanic down?

You can put hispanic, like I said, you've got the volunteering for it. I was just warning against claiming to speak Spanish on your app if you don't fluently.

 

[EllaBean]

I'm guessing language is also a boost for an applicant NOT from that community? I've heard that about the interview a lot! Makes me nervous and want to practice my Spanish every freaking day, haha 🙂



That isn't at all what that person said.

I mean if I put Hispanic down, i'm worried that the interviewer will assume I speak fluent Spanish.

 

[EllaBean]

You can put hispanic, like I said, you've got the volunteering for it. I was just warning against claiming to speak Spanish on your app if you don't fluently.

Oh yeah, I'm not putting that down. Lol

 

[OchemOficionado]

Absolutely! One of the reasons I think I dont' know as much as I should, is that so much of the youth in the Hispanic community speaks mostly English nowdays, at least where I live. I am really scared i'm going to get an interviewer that will mark me down for not speaking it fluently though. I don't want to be considered a "fake".

Well, become fluent 🙂 Also, if you aren't fluent by the time you apply, you have the option on your app to mark down how well you speak the language. The youth may not speak Spanish among themselves, but the older generations definitely do and the youth have to when communicating with them. I've mentored youth that spoke mostly English, but as soon as their parents/grandparents arrived to participate or pick them up they had to switch to Spanish quickly.

 

[OchemOficionado]

I mean if I put Hispanic down, i'm worried that the interviewer will assume I speak fluent Spanish.

You will mark the languages your speak on your application. That leaves no room for assumption.

 

[EllaBean]

You will mark the languages your speak on your application. That leaves no room for assumption.

Yes but on the app it says to only mark down languages you are fluent in. There is no box for semi-fluent or conversational

 

[OchemOficionado]

Yes but on the app it says to only mark down languages you are fluent in. There is no box for semi-fluent or conversational

You said a few posts ago that you will NOT be marking that box, so in response to your comment about an interviewer assuming, I'm saying that they most likely will not.

I was under the impression that there were boxes that could be checked labeled native, fluent, advanced, etc. but I guess not :/

 

[LizzyM]

The AMCAS application for the coming cycle permits to you list the languages you speak.

When selecting your level of proficiency, follow these guidelines:

Native/Functionally Native :
I converse easily and accurately in all types of situations. Native speakers
may think that I am a native speaker too.

Advanced:
I speak very accurately, and I understand other speakers very accurately.
Native speakers have no problem understanding me, but they probably
perceive that I am not a native speaker.

Good:
I speak well enough to participate in most conversations. Native speakers
notice some errors in my speech or my understanding, but my errors rarely
cause misunderstanding.

Fair:
I speak and understand well enough to have extended conversations about
current events, work, family, or personal life. Native speakers notice many
errors in my speech or my understanding.


Basic:
I speak the language imperfectly and only to a limited degree and in limited
situations. I have difficulty in or understanding extended conversations.

 

[EllaBean]

The AMCAS application for the coming cycle permits to you list the languages you speak.

When selecting your level of proficiency, follow these guidelines:

Native/Functionally Native :
I converse easily and accurately in all types of situations. Native speakers
may think that I am a native speaker too.

Advanced:
I speak very accurately, and I understand other speakers very accurately.
Native speakers have no problem understanding me, but they probably
perceive that I am not a native speaker.

Good:
I speak well enough to participate in most conversations. Native speakers
notice some errors in my speech or my understanding, but my errors rarely
cause misunderstanding.

Fair:
I speak and understand well enough to have extended conversations about
current events, work, family, or personal life. Native speakers notice many
errors in my speech or my understanding.


Basic:
I speak the language imperfectly and only to a limited degree and in limited
situations. I have difficulty in or understanding extended conversations.

I guess that is only for AMCAS. I was planning on applying to UTSW via TMDAS and they don't have that option.

 

[Lost in Translation]

I mean if I put Hispanic down, i'm worried that the interviewer will assume I speak fluent Spanish.

They won't assume so. I listed Latino as my ethnicity and while my knowledge of Spanish is barely high school level, I wasn't asked any questions about my "qualifications" nor was any question asked in Spanish.

I'm also Asian.

 

[EllaBean]

They won't assume so. I listed Latino as my ethnicity and while my knowledge of Spanish is barely high school level, I wasn't asked any questions about my "qualifications" nor was any question asked in Spanish.

I'm also Asian.

Did you feel like it was easier getting in? Like I know if I just put white I would be judged against tougher standards, which sucks but it is what it is. Did you put both Asian and Hispanic.

 

[AlphaBeta<3]

,

Did you feel like it was easier getting in? Like I know if I just put white I would be judged against tougher standards, which sucks but it is what it is. Did you put both Asian and Hispanic.

...Don't put that you're only Mexican, that would be a blatant lie.

 

[EllaBean]

,

...Don't put that you're only Mexican, that would be a blatant lie.

Lol like I said in the very beginning- i'm putting both races as I identify equally with both. I'm pretty sure i'm not lying.

 

[Lost in Translation]

Did you feel like it was easier getting in? Like I know if I just put white I would be judged against tougher standards, which sucks but it is what it is. Did you put both Asian and Hispanic.

I honestly don't know. 18 apps, 7 II, 3 WL (all withdrawn), 1 accept. I feel like maybe my Latino identification got me some IIs, but the post-interview results were not dependent.

 

[EllaBean]

I honestly don't know. 18 apps, 7 II, 3 WL (all withdrawn), 1 accept. I feel like maybe my Latino identification got me some IIs, but the post-interview results were not dependent.

Did you get into MD or DO, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Lost in Translation]

MD

 

[EllaBean]

My stats aren't extremely stellar though so i'm a little worried. If you don't mind, what was your gpa/mcat?

 

[LizzyM]

@EllaBean to compare your stats to the pool of recent applicants who self-identified as Hispanic, Google AAMC Table 24 and open the pdf for Hispanic applicants. This doesn't include applicants to the Texas schools but it will give you an idea of how you might do outside of TX.