<p>Well it can't hurt you if you're an ORM to mark Race Unknown so if it makes you feel better then why not? Some people don't want to be characterized by their race- even if the Ad officers can assume anyway it soothes their conscience that they didn't mark a box...</p>
<p>Supposedly some universities use your zip code to attempt to gain diversity. This has been used a lot supposedly by schools in states that have recently declared affirmative action illegal (Such as the University of Michigan) - i guess this is a more discrete way to do affirmative action. So in this case, the check your race box is not needed to insure diversity.</p>
<p>It would be discriminatory to place someone into the "Asian" category because their last name was "Chen" or the "Hispanic" category because it was "Rodriguez". Many people have last names that don't "match up" with their appearance because they have multiracial parents or they married someone of another race and changed their last name.</p>
<p>I identified myself as Chinese, despite knowing that by doing it I could put myself at a little disadvantage in the top schools. But I believe it's better to do so since it shows them you are proud of your heritage and not afraid to identify yourself. </p>
<p>I will just have to show admission that I'm unique and great through my essays and application.</p>
<p>haha is jang a very asian name
i think it sounds korean
i'm not korean tho</p>
<p>Well yeah sure shingge, if you think that they view "being proud of your own race" as more important in your application than being "being of an overrepresented group".</p>
<p>Tell me if this reasoning makes sense:
"Oh look, this guy's Asian and we've got enough people who have marked themselves down as Asians. But the fact that he put down that he's Asian shows that he's proud of his race, so we should let him in"</p>
<p>
[quote]
Supposedly some universities use your zip code to attempt to gain diversity.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Well, considering that my own wife and I are supposedly of different "races," but definitely live at the same address, this is doomed to failure. I am very glad to live in an integrated neighborhood, and among the families with the same ZIP+4 code as in my address there are a lot of ethnic groups represented. </p>
<p>Again, I return to the fact that the most recently reported year shows lots of colleges reporting lots of enrolled students as "race unknown," so colleges are doing the minimum to meet federal requirements and not worrying about it if students decline to identify an ethnic group.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Well yeah sure shingge, if you think that they view "being proud of your own race" as more important in your application than being "being of an overrepresented group".
[/quote]
i dont think he was thinking about being accepted when he said that</p>
<p>Well my name could be white or native American....</p>
<p>I did the same thing as shingge.</p>
<p>Maybe I should change my name to Sitting Bull or something...or Simba</p>
<p>Vicente, college admission isn't that simple.</p>
<p>Well then make sure that you put down in one of your application essays how the Chinese race is so great and how you are so different from White people because of your choice of parents. And be sure to voucher your recommenders to comment on how your Chinese-ness has made you better than the other students who aren't as fortunate as you are to be Chinese.</p>
<p>Seriously, please explain how putting down that you are Chinese can possibly benefit you in the eyes of the admissions committee.</p>
<p>I never mention benefit myself in admission and I never mention "my superior race" to anybody. Please reread my original post. No need to get mad at me for you misunderstanding.</p>
<p>All I said was putting down your race shows that you are not afraid to be categorized, but the important thing is your essay and application.</p>
<p>Ease up guys. The OP said, "Self-report or not as you wish." This should be up to each applicant, with no guesswork about what each applicant meant by reporting or not reporting an ethnic category. </p>
<p>Good luck to all of this year's applicants.</p>
<p>well, isn't the real point the fact that collleges don't have to report it if you leave it blank?
So is it true that colleges don't care how many asians they admit, only how many asians they have to report they admitted? so isn't it in the best interest for, going along with the same example, an asian to decline to answer, even if the last name is Chen or Kim?</p>
<p>My bad. </p>
<p>Tokenadult, you moderate the College forum at the AoPS, right?</p>
<p>To be honest, I doubt race is such a big deal as everyone makes it out to be. I'm sure it's one of many factors but isn't the almighty factor by any means at all. </p>
<p>Ease up folks.</p>
<p>^ doubt it. Race can make or break a borderline student.</p>
<p>Good point though JohnC613. It does seem it would be much more advantageous not to indicate it if you are not an URM. But, ethically speaking, its pretty f-ed up. I should shut up though because I haven't indicated mine on any of my apps. I suck.</p>