Half-Asian filling out race portion of Common App

<p>I know that there have already been a billion threads regarding this general issue, but I'm not entirely sure what to do in my situation. I'm half-Asian with a European last name, but my mom kept her maiden name, which is distinctly Asian. The Common App requires me to list both of my parents, so they will see her last name. I have heard of lots of half-Asians marking 'White' as their only race, which I was planning to do, but now I'm not sure if admissions officers will see that based on my mom's surname. Any thoughts as to what I should do?</p>

<p>My D is half-Asian. You can check both White and Asian categories, or leave it blank. Schools will generally count you in the “Other” category if you’re able to check both.</p>

<p>My kids are half-Asian. I’ll tell them to check all that apply. Caveat for you: I’m firmly one who does not believe the so-called “anti-asian” bias. I’ve recruited for an Ivy for +25 yrs. I can tell you that the bias (at least for my college) is against kids who just blend into the mass of other applicants – this has less to do with race than with choices made and pursuits considered.</p>

<p>That’s my perspective however. YMMV.</p>

<p>You’re half Asian, so check White and Asian. Colleges want an honest student. You don’t want to be caught in a lie.</p>

<p>Why would you leave Asian out? You are not all white. Don’t you have to sign the CA to say everything you stated were nothing but the truth? Sheesh, what a sell out.</p>

<p>It’s what yju identify with; so say you identify more with white and you’ll be okay.</p>

<p>How do you identify more with white? What is “white”?</p>

<p>Is it possible you could be more interesting by being bi-racial? Instead of being so white bread?</p>

<p>Also By your mom’s name and if her birthplace is not in the u.s they can tell your half-Asian anyways</p>

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Lot’s of mixed race black kids just call themselves black, so no controversy there. U think Obama’s kids are going to tick black & white?</p>

<p>If it’s a highly selective school w a disproportionately high number of asian students, then strategically, just tick white. I know quite a few asian/white families doing this. </p>

<p>Yes, they can see your mom’s surname, but for official US Dept of Education racial reporting statistics, your half-asianness won’t be another over-represented asian the school has to struggle to balance out.</p>

<p>If your parent has an Asian name, maybe even born in Asia, how could you not check off the Asian box? </p>

<p>You don’t have to check any box at all if you don’t want to.</p>

<p>I think Obama’s kid could claim that they were from Mars and still get accepted anywhere (although imagine the news frenzy if it ever got leaked)</p>

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<p>If blonde Elizabeth Warren can tick Native American w 1/16 Native American ancestry, then I wouldn’t lose a nanosecond of sleep over ticking white, for 1/2 white.</p>

<p>You can tick off more than one box. </p>

<p>Adcoms are average people, like you and I. How would you feel about someone who ticks off one race and not the other when it is clear he/she is bi-racial? </p>

<p>OP, can your mother change her obviously asian last name before you apply? </p>

<p>Or tell them your mother is actually your stepmom.</p>

<p>There is absolutely no need for your mother to legally change her name for the sake of your college applications. If you check white only, I assume admissions officers will believe you. Just because your mother has an ethnic last name doesn’t mean that she is necessarily that ethnicity. For example, it could be her father’s father that is Asian and everyone else in her family is white, making her only one fourth Asian and you even less, but she would still have that name. I understand that this isn’t your mother’s situation, but I’m just saying having an ethnic last name doesn’t mean that one automatically is solely a member of that ethnic group, and hopefully admissions officers aren’t so judgemental to believe that they do. However, I consider it borderline lying to omit one of your races. I think it’s an all or nothing deal: omit both or submit both. I would say that you are Asian as well, but not to avoid being “white bread” as one poster above stated. I would check it because I think you should want to be accepted by colleges as you, not as part of you.</p>

<p>I kind of like how confused everyone is getting over race and ethnicity. Do you suppose we are getting any closer to the point where it really doesn’t matter?</p>

<p>Oh so you would have had a problem with people like Obama ticking off only black when they’re half white as well (not to mention raised by his white mom)?
You’ll be fine ticking off just white.</p>

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No, because too many politicians stand to gain by telling people they are victims.</p>