Is being portuguese considered Hispanic? Forum

[baldersgait]

Are those who are of Portuguese descent considered Hispanic?

According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management being Hispanic is "A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race"

According to the Dept of transportation:
"Hispanic Americans," which includes persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, Central or South American, or other Spanish or Portuguese culture or origin, regardless of race"

I am 1/4 Portuguese. Grandmother is full Portuguese with the family name Rodrigues and very proud of her heritage. I grew up very mixed (also half asian) so I am not sure if my heritage/race would qualify me as Hispanic.

Thanks.

[lapolicia]

Lol no. Or even if it technically is, it won't give you a URM boost. Same with Spaniards. That's kind of like white South Africans labeling themselves African-American.

[Rigo]

Have you always checked the Hispanic box? Now is not the time to start as it brings up a C&F question.

I'm 1/4 Portuguese too, but have never ever identified myself as Hispanic.

[baldersgait]

Sounds good to me.

On a side note: would checking asian hurt me in any way? I have heard that its a negative thing to check for medschools. How is it in law? I have always identified as asian in most of my applications. Most likely will for law as well. Just curious.

[LoganCouture]

I'm pretty sure the US Dept of Education defines Hispanic/Latino as such:

A Hispanic or Latino person is of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. The term "Spanish origin" can be used in addition to "Hispanic or Latino."

Source: http://nces.ed.gov/statprog/2002/glossary.asp#hispanic

ETA: Pretty sure it doesn't hurt you to check Asian but I'm not sure. I don't know if Asian Americans are overrepresented in law school to the same extent that they are in undergrad/med school.

[UMichUG2015]

http://www.pewhispanic.org/2009/05/28/whos-hispanic/

[Atmosphere]

Everybody wants to be a minority once application time comes about.

[cc78]

Everybody wants to be a minority once application time comes about.

A reminder yet again of the greatest of all truths: people respond to incentives.