<p>If you're not Latino, Black, or Hispanic, etc. </p>
<p>The information is optional but I dunno if it would detract from my application in the least bit if I said Asian...</p>
<p>hey - contrary to what some folks have said, i firmly believe it wont hurt your application (consider the majority of applicants to Columbia are not Black or Hispanic) so you are just one of a couple thousand. you still have to be incredible and cover all your basis - but i am pretty sure you are more than anything considered just another applicant - and they want you to stand out accordingly.</p>
<p>which is also why the more information you offer - i believe - the better someone who has never met you can figure something about you. and i am sure you know there is a big difference between being Chinese, Korean or Indian in terms of cultural norms and expectations that might help the reader in getting into your head. </p>
<p>which brings me to a final thought - schools like CU care about diversity beyond just underrepresented groups. and they have a stronger preference for students who will bring their perspective to the classroom - which also means they are unafraid of sharing their perspective in the application. if you pretend that your ethnic or socioeconomic background has had no impact in your life, you a) deny the adcom of something about you, b) it is naive to presume that your upbringing didn’t influence you in some capacity. also: having affinity to your culture, town, etc., gives someone a sense of what kind of community member you will be. the point is not to harp on it until it is obnoxious. but be proud of who you are (in the broadest sense) and make sure it shows on the application.</p>