I’m a Vietnamese male. I’m applying for most the Ivies and a good number of privates, but I feel like by talking about my Asian culture, which is a BIG part of my life will end up hurting me. I’m involved in several festivals, raising money for Southeast Asian countries, have volunteered in one, lion-dancing, teaching, but I’m afraid that I will be discriminated. The thing is, I don’t feel like there’s anything else in my life that is of any importance but I have counselors encouraging me to make myself seem as little Asian as possible because I’m not a minority and stuff along those lines.
My D talked specifically about her Southeast Asian heritage/traditions( identified the specific country of our heritage) in her common app essay) – and how it shaped her to become who she is , and was accepted at several high reaches , including Stanford, without a hook .
Asian is a huge umbrella. Vietnamese is a tiny subset of Asian. If participating in and contributing to the Vietnamese community is what makes you you, then don’t feel bad about writing about it.
Don’t buy into this perceived anti-Asian bias. If you got the grades and tuition check, colleges want you. Asians are very well represented in colleges – for a reason. you’re fine.
I think if you’re applying to Ivies, you need to learn what they look for and forget innuendo that they will reject Asians for being Asian. Be smarter than that.
Even the few words you wrote sound interesting. Show the attributes those colleges will look for.