<p>The Common App does NOT ask you your race, except where it is asked, “Are you Hispanic or Latino?” For everyone else, it asks ‘WHICH ethnic group do you identify with’. If you identify with a different ethnic group, then by all means, check that box. If you are of Asian ancestry but were adopted and raised by black parents, but grew up in an all white community, then you can put white, black or Asian… but most likely white or black. </p>
<p>Some College supplements ask for the mother’s maiden name. Very Tricky. And they will be able to identify you in an interview or, possibly, through a google image search. But then again, in California, there are so many people of mixed racial makeup, that you really can’t tell by looking at some people if they are 1/4 this or 1/2 that. </p>
<p>There is no racial number caps at Cal or the UCs. That is why they have a high percentage of Asians. Other California schools also have a high percentage of Asians. USC has about 30%+ Asians (25% Asian Americans plus international Asians). They have climbed in the rankings to #23. And is expected to jump several more spots in the next year or two. </p>
<p>Let that be a lesson to the East Coast Schools who set up 20% caps on their racial makeup. USC will start surpassing more of them in the rankings in the near future - this year USC had close to 47,000 applications and will accept only 8,500 for their entering freshman class of 2900. </p>
<p>The UCs have the cut-back issues, so not sure what will happen in that camp.</p>