<p>Since race is a big factor in admissions, if you don't put your race on the common app (since it's optional) will the adcoms still find out about your race? Will it still be a factor?</p>
<p>If you don’t put your race, then they wouldn’t know. If you get accepted then of course they will find out. What’s your race if you don’t mind me asking?</p>
<p>I’d say it’s a factor, but I don’t consider it a “big” factor. I’m Asian, and I always fill out the race info; I have nothing to hide, haha… I guess I just fill out as much info as possible so that adcoms have as complete a picture of me as possible.</p>
<p>If you’re asian, might as well not point it out on the app. People need all the chance they get in top schools to get in.</p>
<p>Wow, haha. I love how people always say that. You know, I think if you have a strong app and good essays it really doesn’t matter. Asian kids don’t not get in because they’re Asian; it’s because of their flat personalities. Besides, if you’re Asian, it’s usually pretty obvious from your name anyways.</p>
<p>@neuroscience 1234: </p>
<p>My race: 100% homo spaien :D:D</p>
<p>^ I wonder if we can put that in the app under “Other”</p>
<p>will it hurt the applicant if he/she doesn’t fill out the race part?</p>
<p>Unless you have a rather race-specific stereotypical name, I doubt they’ll figure it out.</p>
<p>It shouldn’t hurt not to fill out optional info. I just don’t see what the big deal is. Your race isn’t going to make or break your application. I honestly think that it wouldn’t make a difference for me either way.</p>
<p>Race does play a noticeable role. For example, studies show that given the same background and SAT scores Whites have twice the chance of getting into an ivy as an asian and blacks/hispanics have seven times the chance as whites of getting into the same schools.</p>
<p>Well, it’s not very reliable to compare only SAT scores. And how do you measure “similarity” of background? Seems very sketchy to try to assign an objective measurement to something that’s inherently subjective. Even if you could measure background objectively, comparing only that plus SAT scores would be pretty useless for a holistic admission process. </p>
<p>If it’s harder for Asians to get into an Ivy, it’s because it’s harder for them to stand out, which is not a product of being born a certain color or in a certain geographic region. In the end, standing out is a product of your own efforts.</p>
<p>Anyway, I’m just saying that not filling out race would probably not make that much of a difference in <em>my</em> case.</p>
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<p>Unless you have a stereotypical name (like Pedro Gonzalez for a Hispanic, LaShon James for an African-American, or Tuong Lu Kim for an Asian), the admissions office probably won’t be able to tell.</p>
<p>^^lol at example names :D</p>
<p>
Hahahahahaha.
Haha.
Ahhhh.</p>
<p>I agree with 314159265…</p>
<p>It’s pretty stupid if your name is Soon Yi Chang and you don’t put your race… it’s not like adcoms are dumb.</p>