What does this mean: 4th ancestral line?

Question:It's for a scholarship application, it says I have to submit documents for my ethnicity up to the 4th ancestral line. Do they mean my grandparent, my great-grandparent, or great-great grandparent?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: It's for a scholarship application, it says I have to submit documents for my ethnicity up to the 4th ancestral line. Do they mean my grandparent, my great-grandparent, or great-great grandparent?

If it said 4th generation, it would be your great grandparents. Not all the people who create application forms are clear, brilliant writers, so It could be a confusing way of saying 4th generation.

On the other hand, If you don't have to be full-blooded {Chinese / Cherokee / Canadian} for the scholarship, it could be they want to make sure 4 of your eight great GPs or 4 of your 16 GG's or 4 of your 32 GGG's are whatever ethnicity they are asking for. The "line" to your 16 great great grandparents is different for each one, usually, giving you 16 ancestral lines. (There is a lot of overlap, but they are different combinations.)

The best answer I can give you - they know and we don't. The question is ambiguous. Call them in the morning and ask what it means. You can quote me if you like. I'm an amateur genealogist with 30 years experience and a college education. Their question confused me. I can see how it would confuse a bright high-school student. (Or a bright college student, if you are going into graduate school.)