You cut me deep lollypotter, you cut me deep.

Honestly, I lolled.

The thing is, if you run a bit of a search, tons of info on Native Americans pops up. Past applicants weigh in and the stats themselves are discussed. It's already known that not all URMs are treated the same and the general consensus is that for Native Americans, URM status needs to be demonstrated. In other words, just claiming it is not enough. Probably because of people like this. Adoms are going to require at least a DS and the OP will have to lie on it. Already it's getting too far for most law applicants. The likelihood is that to get a proper boost he is going to need some NA focused activities on his resume as well, or at least membership in some club/group/anything BEFORE he started applying.

Race is self identified so in this murky category it's not that much of a big deal for the bar. BUT it won't help and I think lying like that could prob bite you on the ass in politics/academia later on if it ever came out. Not worth it.

...

lol.

Perhaps the greatest post I've read at TLS so far. Its freaking hilarious.

What is the difference of a NA claiming URM status and not having any ties to the NA community and an african american claiming URM status that has never been to Africa?

But it helps African Americans. You have have the richest kid wander into a school that their numbers would normally prohibit them from just because they checked a box. I know, I've watched it happen. It infuriates me.

I am a 1/5 Native American and at some point spent time on our reservation, but because I no longer align myself with that culture; i left it off of the "check-box". I touched on it briefly in my diversity statement, but I don't think that if you have never been affiliated with the culture you should claim it.

I doubt that anyone gets caught by the bar. I agree that race is "murkey" BTW...Anyone have any legit stories?

I was surprised (THIS IS WHAT INFURIATES ME) is when people check being black cuz they are 1/8th. Ivey mentioned this in her book about AA. People game the system all the time. I don't get it, instead of people focused on cheating the system they should just study harder and put more effort into their LSAT. AA exists to help those that have a disadvantage not those who are lazy and want to "game the system"

This is how the correct interpretation should be.

I have to disagree. Do you really think that being 1/5 Native American has affected you in no way? When people ask you why you look the way you do what do you say? 'Idk I'm tan.'???
There are definitely varying degrees of self association and I know some girls who are less than 1/16th but really associate themselves and their families with their tribe and I think they're totally legitimate in claiming to be native american. For instance there is a girl at my school who participates in all of the NA club activities etc. and she and her family are very very involved in their history but the girl AND her mother both look like they just stepped off the boat from Sweden.

I think it's unlikely though that having a grandparent being native american hasn't affected you at all. I think you should check the box if you want and not feel bad about it.

Ethnicity is about genetics, not about whether you "feel" aligned with a particular culture. If you are black and raised in a white neighborhood, you may not feel aligned with the black culture, but it would be lying to say you are a white person. You obviously shouldn't write a personal statement about how your race has effected you if it hasn't, but you should check off every box that you are genetically linked to and let the schools decide if they want to give you some sort of a boost or not.

This is the position that LSAC holds as well. I messaged them asking them if I should check only my primary race or every race that applied to me. They said I should check all that apply.