Proving ancestry Forum

[180lawstudent]

I have a two part question:

In this day and age of getting your Ancestral (Genetic/DNA) Origins test and map... it used your DNA and matched it to the regions of peoples whose DNA structure yours most closely matched.

My question is could you use that as a proof of being a URM? I ask because I have Native American and Black in my family lineage, but as most people, I can't prove the NA portion of it.

My second question is if you want to be considered as a URM; it's the consenous that you should write a diversity statement instead of a personal statement?

[newyorker88]

Diversity statements are optional and written in addition to a personal statement. Also writing one doesn't make you a URM and not writing one wouldn't make you not a URM. URM status is dependent on which ethnic minority group you belong to, African American, Native American, Mexican, and Puerto Rican. You indicate this by checking the appropriate box on your application. Also, schools rarely ask you for proof that you are a URM.

[rundoxierun]

No, to the first question just no..

[fear&loathingintexas]

No law school in their right mind would demand a DNA analysis to prove your ethnic/racial background. Privacy issues, political incorrectness, shades of that old "one drop" test from the Jim Crow days...

Besides, it would be much cheaper for them to just include a brown paper bag with the admissions paperwork.

[Sh@keNb@ke]

OP, don't be an idiot. If you're 1/12th African-American because of your great great great great great grandpa, but you don't look black at all then that's just immoral.

[ResolutePear]

OP, don't be an idiot. If you're 1/12th African-American because of your great great great great great grandpa, but you don't look black at all then that's just immoral.

What if you're 1/4th black because the father's half black but you're as white as powder?

[Sh@keNb@ke]

Someone who's 1/4 black does not say that they have African-American blood in their lineage lol.

[sibley]

If you're under 50% minority then I think you should only state URM status if you're currently living in a black or native american community or if having either portion clearly influenced your parents' lives and therefore yours. Like if they went to a segregated school or something.

[20121109]

If you're under 50% minority then I think you should only state URM status if you're currently living in a black or native american community or if having either portion clearly influenced your parents' lives and therefore yours. Like if they went to a segregated school or something.

Just no.

What a fail of a thread.

[GATORTIM]

I think you can just provide your Ancestry.com report

http://www.ancestry.com/

[sibley]

You don't think a non-native living on a reservation experiences exactly the same setbacks as someone who is actually a minority?

[sibley]

You don't think a non-native living on a reservation experiences exactly the same setbacks as someone who is actually a minority?

I'm going to jump in right here and remind you that this is NOT OP's question.

I was just pointing out that my original response had the potential to be valid. We don't have all of OPs details. I gave a generic example.

[20121109]

You don't think a non-native living on a reservation experiences exactly the same setbacks as someone who is actually a minority?

I'm going to jump in right here and remind you that this is NOT OP's question.

I was just pointing out that my original response had the potential to be valid.

No it didn't. It was nothing but mere speculation and completely baseless.