Possible Consquences about lying that you are a URM?

[sc3pt0r]

It's probably because there are less Hispanics than Blacks in college.  From my understanding, the Hispanic graduation rates are WAY lower than that of Black graduation rates.

[c0in]

My mom is part Creek Indian and part African American but she looks more like a Native American. When she went to college she always checked the "other" box under race. My dad was part African American and Part Cherokee/Chickasaw Indian (he looked black) and always checked the "Black/African" box.

Sometimes I check "Other" and sometimes I check "Black/African." Mainly it depends upon what you want to be classified as, but as for outright lying about your race? It's shady, but insofar as I know it's a decision you can make and deal with the consequences if any.

[wellpreserved]

Interesting comments here.

All I know is I do not know of too many white people who would willingly trade URM status for the privledge of being white in America. I mean if someone IS willing and knows of a way to do the switch (and I get to keep my bootie and love of soul food) I'd be interested in discussing a trade. If being a URMs have it so good and so many white people are getting the shaft why don't I see more white people self-identifying as something other than white? I've never heard of it happening. Granted, I've taken no scientific poll. If you guys know of someone or some kind of research on the matter I'd be interested.

[sc3pt0r]

What else could a white person self identify as?  I didn't check any box.

[wellpreserved]

Interesting comments here.

All I know is I do not know of too many white people who would willingly trade URM status for the privledge of being white in America. I mean if someone IS willing and knows of a way to do the switch (and I get to keep my bootie and love of soul food) I'd be interested in discussing a trade. If being a URMs have it so good and so many white people are getting the shaft why don't I see more white people self-identifying as something other than white? I've never heard of it happening. Granted, I've taken no scientific poll. If you guys know of someone or some kind of research on the matter I'd be interested.

I see this as silly logic.  I don't think many white people are saying that because of AA, URMs have it so good. However, it reminded me of a Chris Rock bit...

"There's not a single white person in the audience tonight who would trade places with me. And I'm rich!"

My point exactly. This whole conversation is always rooted in silly logic to me. How minorities recieve both preferential treatment AND racism is dead is always a funny bit of sociology. The OP's original assertion is that the benefits of being considered a URM outweighed the potentially devestating consequences of lying about being a URM. That's what's silly. And pretty funny. Like it's that good to be one. *shrug*

I don't really care. I divested myself of such craziness years ago.

and it's a TOTAL CR rip-off! LOL  That's one of the best lines ever delivered.

[ilsox7]

 The OP's original assertion is that the benefits of being considered a URM outweighed the potentially devestating consequences of lying about being a URM. That's what's silly. And pretty funny. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How is that silly/funny?  You are telling me that checking a box saying that you are a URM isn't worth it - when that leads thousands of dollars in scholarships and admittance into schools for which you have no chance of getting accepted to otherwise?  How is it not worth it to save hundreds of thousands of dollars and/or get accepted to higher ranked schools and have better job oppurtunities?  Especially when noone can really prove what race you are.  I don't know if they(law schools) even care.  I think they just want the ability to report that a certain % of people are URMs.  I doubt they do a physical "skin count" of different minorities to see if the balance is really there. 

State Bar Associations do extensive background checks.  Part of that check is to review your law school application.  There is probably a good chance they'd discover lying about race.

[Matthew]

 The OP's original assertion is that the benefits of being considered a URM outweighed the potentially devestating consequences of lying about being a URM. That's what's silly. And pretty funny. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How is that silly/funny?  You are telling me that checking a box saying that you are a URM isn't worth it - when that leads thousands of dollars in scholarships and admittance into schools for which you have no chance of getting accepted to otherwise?  How is it not worth it to save hundreds of thousands of dollars and/or get accepted to higher ranked schools and have better job oppurtunities?  Especially when noone can really prove what race you are.  I don't know if they(law schools) even care.  I think they just want the ability to report that a certain % of people are URMs.  I doubt they do a physical "skin count" of different minorities to see if the balance is really there. 

State Bar Associations do extensive background checks.  Part of that check is to review your law school application.  There is probably a good chance they'd discover lying about race.

What could they discover?  It's not like there's something out there that lists the "truth."

URM is self-identified and can really not be proven to be a lie.

[ilsox7]

 The OP's original assertion is that the benefits of being considered a URM outweighed the potentially devestating consequences of lying about being a URM. That's what's silly. And pretty funny. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How is that silly/funny?  You are telling me that checking a box saying that you are a URM isn't worth it - when that leads thousands of dollars in scholarships and admittance into schools for which you have no chance of getting accepted to otherwise?  How is it not worth it to save hundreds of thousands of dollars and/or get accepted to higher ranked schools and have better job oppurtunities?  Especially when noone can really prove what race you are.  I don't know if they(law schools) even care.  I think they just want the ability to report that a certain % of people are URMs.  I doubt they do a physical "skin count" of different minorities to see if the balance is really there. 

State Bar Associations do extensive background checks.  Part of that check is to review your law school application.  There is probably a good chance they'd discover lying about race.

What could they discover?  It's not like there's something out there that lists the "truth."

URM is self-identified and can really not be proven to be a lie.

Just wait until you go through the background checks some State Bars put applicants through.  It is absolutely insane the type of information they request and dig up.  I would not put it past them at all to ask for solid proof that someone is part of the URM group they claim.  Lying on the law school application is a fairly major offense.  I have several friends who misread the question about being convicted of a crime (school said speeding tickets had to be disclosed) and answered no.  When they realized this during 1L review of applications, the school put them in front of a disciplinary review panel and a letter was put into their law school file, which goes to the State Bar, saying the student was dishonest on their application.

[Matthew]

You keep talking about these documented issues.  Your race is not documented, and there's no way to provide "solid proof" of URM statuses.  Even the administrators of genetic tests would tell you that such tests a merely probable and do not prove anything.

How would someone prover they are 1/8 black or 1/4 hispanic?  The simple answer is that they can't, and the C&F review would have no way of proving dishonesty.

[ilsox7]

You keep talking about these documented issues.  Your race is not documented, and there's no way to provide "solid proof" of URM statuses.  Even the administrators of genetic tests would tell you that such tests a merely probable and do not prove anything.

How would someone prover they are 1/8 black or 1/4 hispanic?  The simple answer is that they can't, and the C&F review would have no way of proving dishonesty.

They can dig up (or make you dig up) other applications you've filled out in the past.  For instance, what did you put on your college application?  If you put white on the college application and now all of a sudden are claiming to be hispanic, there could be an issue.