Questions asking: Are you Hispanic/Latino?

[ashowmega]

While filling out applications to fulfill my 'American Dream' of getting a PhD, I frequently came across this question that I am actually somewhat annoyed and at the same time, curious on what makes the universities to ask this question "Are you Hispanic/Latino o Yes o No" separately while they ask about the racial profile of an applicant. I assume most of us have seen this while filling out the application and might have some knowledge it.

P.S. I am not Hispanic myself, and I don't intended to offend anyone.

[badphysicist]

Hispanic/Latino isn't a "race" in the sense of being white, black, asian, etc. For example in Brazil you have black hispanics, white hispanics, and brown (native american) hispanics. Hispanic is more of a description of where your lineage comes from geographically, ie the places the Spanish conquered.

I am a half hispanic/caucasian mix of Chicano (US born mexican) and Western European (primarily UK). I've been listing myself as such since all the apps have had the disclaimer that it's only for survey purposes.

[YodaT]

For the survey form (absent of your application) I'm sure it's for research purposes (e.g., http://www.aip.org/statistics/). If it's included in your application the school may have an active Affirmative Action policy.

[badphysicist]

For the survey form (absent of your application) I'm sure it's for research purposes (e.g., http://www.aip.org/statistics/). If it's included in your application the school may have an active Affirmative Action policy.

That would be true if I weren't applying to just the public universities in California. The voters repealed affirmative action a few years ago.
http://vote96.sos.ca.gov/Vote96/html/BP/209.htm

The diversity essay that an applicant submits to these schools use it to get him (or her) various types of fellowships. So being a minority does help, but only to the point that it might be easier to get funding through those fellowships.