I met an Asian couple at a networking event who plan on having a child next year. They mentioned that they’re going to legally change their last name to a Western sounding name before that happens though with college admissions in mind. Would this actually work in hiding their child’s true ethnicity? Since from what I understand you’re not required to disclose race on college applications. What if their child grows up while omitting anything that may imply he’s Asian in the application.
It would be funny if they did it and in 18 years it was the Asians getting a bump in admissions. 
I pity what’s in store for this kid with such fruit loop parents.
It could backfire. If the parents change their last name and don’t notify the colleges they attended, their kid won’t be able to claim legacy status at their alma maters.
My Asian child has an Irish name. Didn’t help or hurt with college admissions. She did check the ‘Asian’ box but that was the only indication on her application - no language clubs, no essays about traveling to her birth country, nothing indicating she was Asian at all. In fact, I think the lacrosse coach was a little surprised by her appearance when she showed up - they always are!
It is very common for Asians to change their names or the first names of their children when they become US Citizens. It’s a personal choice and many just want to make it easier for everyday life, to not have to put up with mispronunciations for the rest of their life. Even if they don’t change their name, if the child chooses not to select ‘Asian’ on the race or ethnic origin section of the forms, that student will be processed as ‘no selection’ for that very minor consideration. My child struggles with this choice as she doesn’t ‘feel’ Asian at all. Sometimes she leaves it black, sometimes she checks Asian.
Wow really interesting, did she apply/get accepted to any ivys? What was her overall academic profile like?
Oh no, she had no interest in Ivies, but if she had she would have gone in as a recruited athlete so it would have been known before the application, at least by the coaches. There are thousands of Asian children who have been adopted by Americans with western names applying for colleges in these past few and upcoming years. Some still have Asian names as part of their names while others do not. Some have clear indications on their applications that they are Chinese or Korean or VN or Indian because of activities and of course by checking the race or ethnicity boxes. Some schools ask for pictures, but I don’t think they are required, and we have some pictures (or could manufacture some) where my daughter’s ethnic features are not apparent. She’s often mistaken for Hawaiian, Hispanic, or just ‘plain’ (rarely mistaken for Irish!) If we had wanted to, we could have hidden it.
I also used to process name changes as part of my job. Most were women changing back to a maiden name after a divorce, but there were a few surprises (to me) of people wanting a less/more ethnic name like putting the O’ back into an Irish name, changing a name that ‘sounded too Jewish’ before a trip to the middle east, changing a very Polish name that was hard to pronounce to a western version. As long as they weren’t being changed for a criminal reason, who was I to question that ‘Przykyrat’ wanted to be ‘Prince’ or ‘Mark’ now wanted to be ‘Debbie’?
If they are going to change their names, why choose Caucasian rather than Hispanic?
This is the stupidest ******* thing I’ve ever heard of. I suppose this is where affirmative action has got us.
^Because in a country still full of prejudices, away from college admissions, I can think of ZERO instances where being hispanic gives one a leg up in the United States.
Are they planning plastic surgery too? This is beyond ridiculous.
People should be proud of their ethnic heritage regardless of how they think it will affect college admissions.
Two couples I know each have 2 adopted Chinese daughters. One couple is Jewish, but their last name wouldn’t be identified as Jewish. One of their daughters has a Chinese first name, the other is something like “Jane Roberts.” No one would think she is Chinese or Jewish by her name. The other couple has a Polish last name, the girls have “Catholic” first/middle names.
My dad changed his ethnic first name. Change your name to whatever you like. Fine with me. I doubt it will make a significant difference in college admissions 18 years from now.
I think those of us who are white have a hard time understanding why someone would do this because we don’t face discrimination in this country. I’m sure Asian discrimination exists in some places, often unintentionally, and not just college admissions. Immigrants have been changing their names for years to fit in and avoid being stereotyped or even dismissed. I get it. It’s sad that they feel they have to do that, but I don’t blame them.
My son is Asian (adopted from Korea when he was an infant) He does not have an Asian name - but he checked Asian on this college app and though it’s not well known, Asians are URM on many college campus - especially small LAC’s.
He got into every school he applied to - even his reach school (a top 20 LAC.) I don’t know if this is true or not - but I think it helped with his admission to schools and, imo, was one of the reasons his FA package was way more than our EFC suggested at his need based only school. They gave us a package that we could not refuse. A lot of these schools are really trying very hard to have a more diversified student body.
He didn’t apply to any Ivies/Mit/Stanford where he would be an ORM because he didn’t have the stats for those schools.or big urban universities because he wanted a small school - though he applied and was accepted to SUNY Binghamton (instate for us) where Asian is an ORM.
So basically it seems that it really would work as a race hiding tool. I’ve never heard of colleges asking for pictures before, which seems very creepy to me. Did they give a reason why they needed pictures?
Also I was thinking what happens during interviews with alumni if you show up as “Jane Johnson” with nothing to imply you’re Asian on your resume. Would they view this as deceitful if you’re not an adopted child? I don’t think they can disclose anything about race in their recommendation reports. So theoretically, an adcom can admit you without thinking you’re caucasian, but actually Asian.
HAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHA
That’s ridiculous some parents take it too far, college isn’t EVERYTHING
Jzmagic…there are tons of people with names that don’t have any relationship to any ethnic group. When I was in college, there was a guy…last name Wong. He was Caucasian, not Asian. My last name is Irish. I don’t have a speck of Irish blood in me…not a speck.
Taking it too far? I don’t think it takes much time to change your last name. What’s the downside really if they feel it will help their kid get into a better school?
Many slaves took the surnames of their masters so there are a lot of blacks with Irish names with no Irish blood (unless the master also provided that).
My daughter checked the Asian box despite having a name that isn’t Asian. She talked about being adopted and being Chinese in her common app essay.