<p>As everyone knows, pretty much every application has an optional section for ethnic and racial background, which they claim has no impact on admissions even though everyone knows does.</p>
<p>So, for white people (or Asians at schools predominantly Asian) - fill in your race or not? On my first application, I chose not to - I didn't think it could possibly help, although I guess they'll just assume you are white if you decline to answer since a URM would be dumb not to answer.</p>
<p>What about for a school that's only 54% Caucasian? Would it be different than a school that's 80%?</p>
<p>I just answered it. If it hurts me, so be it. That's who I am, and there's not much I can do about it, so why not be honest? Just my take on it.</p>
<p>Obviously it's also fine to put "no answer" or whatever.</p>
<p>Well, I know its just who you are, and its not like I'm ashamed of being white, I'm just also not ashamed to do anything I can to improve (or at least not harm) my chances.</p>
<p>putting down your race if you're white won't hurt you, it just won't help you. Not putting anything down won't hurt you, but it won't help you either. So, do what you want, but realize that it takes more than that to game the system. :)</p>
<p>sorry for getting a bit off topic, but I completely disagree with having a space on the application where people are able to declare their race... The "system" is promoting "segregation"... psychologically, it toys with the applicant's confidence.... I mean, does it even MATTER what race a person is... aren't we ALL humans... anyway, if I ever become a person of power, I would get rid of that section on the application... then everything is fair and square.</p>
<p>
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since all top schools have established quotas.
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</p>
<p>First off, I don't believe this is true. </p>
<p>I don't believe that for a variety of reasons. My professional experience being just one of them. Michigan is considered by many to be a 'top school' and I can tell you unequivocally and with complete confidence that there is no quota system for any race.</p>
<p>I don't believe leaving your race off will harm or hurt you if you're not an underrepresented minority who would otherwise be eligible for scholarships or programs like affirmative action. The college cannot assume anything. It cannot count you as a white student and it cannot count you as a non-white student. </p>
<p>You will be left off of any admissions reports or analyses that are reported by race/ethnicity, or just lumped in with the other "didn't report/don't know" cases. Doesn't hurt you, really.</p>
<p>I wonder what would happen if, say, a white or asian person were to check off being black on his application. Since the schools all claim it has NO impact on your admissions decision...could they rescind your admission after finding out you are white? I mean, like if a white person with a 1400 on his SATs applied to MIT and checked off that he was African-American, they admitted him, and then later found out he was really white...if they rescinded admission based soley on race, that would be illegal.</p>
<p>Just a thought...not that I'm going to try it.</p>
<p>Its inane for you CC'ers to put so much emphasis on what you put down in this section.</p>
<p>If you get rejected, its because the colleges didnt want you, period.</p>
<p>So dont act like it was your race that got you rejected because more than 80% of all colleges are white and asian. The percentage of URMs in college is much much less than the national percentage. </p>
<p>Colleges want diversity, so if you don't like it then don't apply.</p>
<p>Diamond as you have even said yourself, if you don't like here, then don't come here.</p>
<p>I am not only refering to this post but to all of all posts. Besides discussing SAt answers, all you do is flame people over and over again.</p>
<p>Apparently you look down upon sterotype Asians and really hate people who retake high scores.</p>
<p>Whats wrong with people retaking high scores? Thanks to colleges wanting 'diversity' certain people need to enhance their edges greatly in order to get into the same school. If a 800 looks better than a 740, then let the guy take the damn test without flaming him. </p>
<p>hey guys, if you don't understand what a forum troll is, I reprsent to you the perfect epitome of one - our every own Mr. Diamondt</p>
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Since the schools all claim it has NO impact on your admissions decision...
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</p>
<p>Which schools claim this, live? Are you sure you mean "all"?</p>
<p>They could rescind your admission for the fraud, for the lying. You could argue that it's no more important than saying you're blonde instead of redheaded, but you do sign something saying the application's contents are truthful. Rescinding admissions because someone is a weasel is not "illegal."</p>
<p>But back to my first question--who says its illegal to consider race as a factor, or to rescind an admit decision that appears to have been based on a mistaked notion of race? In a few states, the public universities can't take ethnicity into consideration, but the Supreme Court has generally stated that public universities can do this.</p>
<p>Don't flame me when I am the one advocating people to emphasize the unique aspects of their applications. What colleges want most is passion, and although SAT's scores are important, it will be your passions that will cement your place at an elite college.</p>
<p>You may not realize what colleges see as diversity. Colleges don't define it as only racial diversity but also as diversity of thought, interests, activities, and outlook. When I say that people should stop being common/ordinary I am saying that people should try to emphasize their own unique and special qualities to set them apart in the applicant pool.</p>
<p>Troll ha, although I may sound harsh and blunt, Im trying to help people out, especially here on CC.</p>
<p>In many cases the ethnicity is obvious from the name of the applicant. I have a distinctly Scandinavian last name; they'll know I'm white (and will probably assume I'm blonde and blue-eyed, which is in fact correct) whether I check the box or not. It's really not a big deal.</p>