Race on Common App

Applying to College
1

Hello, I’m a junior in high school, and I’ve been wanting to ask this question.

So there’s “demographics” section on the common app, and there are sections like “geography”, “language”, and “citizenship” as well.

If I do not check anything for the race section, but my name, the activities that I participate in, and answers to “geography”, “language”, and “citizenship” sort of “reveal” that I belong to that race, would the admissions office change my “race” to whatever I am??

In other words, would they remove me from “miscellaneous” race (or whatever) to the category that I belong to (“white/asian/black/etc.”)?

2

If you don’t put anything for race, colleges will automatically assume that you are White or Asian. There’s no reason for a URM to leave that space blank.

I would just be honest on that section.

3

They don’t change it. They don’t assume, either. And they don’t ding you for not checking anything. If they can tell you’re X, so be it. Don’t fret over this so much that you end up leaving out, eg, cultural activities, fearing they’ll affect your chances.

Be frank about citizenship, that does matter to many colleges.