<p>The on-line application requests information on ethnic background. How does does this figure into the selection process? My son has applied and we are Asian-American. Would this have a positive or negative effect? Or no effect? Thanks.</p>
<p>somewhat negative to no effect. definitely not a positive.</p>
<p>Asians form 4% of the U.S. population but they usually constitute at least 10-15% of the student body at top universities. On the other hand, Hispanics, Blacks, and Native Americans are over a quarter of the general population but are very underrepresented. So when colleges say they want "diversity", it usually means they want more Hispanics, Blacks, and Native Americans. Asians get no benefit. In fact, being Asian could even be a disadvantage because the race is so overrepresented. Some colleges might even have invisible, unacknowledged quotas on Asians. UIUC, fortunately, does not take affirmative action too far. Underrepresented minorities are given a boost, but the university doesn't go out of its way to get as many of them as possible.</p>
<p>Race could really have a negative effect?</p>
<p>...that's gotta be violating some sort of something, no?</p>
<p>Like... i know the whole affirmative action things isn't exactly helping caucasians/asians/pacific islanders, or anything...but truly a negative effect?</p>
<p>Yea, I think being Asian-American/Pacific Islander does indeed have a negative effect even tho they're protected under Affirmative Action regulations. My oldest son applied to a top university 4 yrs ago with highest credentials and he was denied admission because he was Asian-American. The school didn't exactly say that, but they implied it. I had thought by now, 4 yrs later, that maybe this sort of thing wouldn't be such an issue, but I guess it's still rampant. BTW, Thanks all for your input!</p>