<p>So for my applications (for fall 2014) I am confused what I should put as my ethnicity. I am half white, half korean (with a korean last name). I often hear that putting asian is a disadvantage, but to what extent? While I am applying to selective schools (such as bucknell, lafayette, penn state, sewanee..these schools typically have an asian population of less than 10%, some even less than 5%), I am not applying to any ivy league level schools. Would marking myself as multiracial help me the most in admissions? This is what I think of myself as. Which race would be the most beneficial to me in the application process? Thanks!</p>
<p>If I can’t put “white” and “Asian”, I put “other”. If I can put both “white” and “Asian”, I put both. If I can put “multiracial,” I put that. My children are part African as well, so they will add “African” to the mix.</p>
<p>And I teach college at a decent tech university (undergrad and grade programs), so I can tell you that if they are making any considerations due to Asian ethnicity, it does not show by numbers of Asians in my classes (many) and the quality of their schoolwork (the same as whites; namely, some are failing out, some are average, some are getting A’s).</p>
<p>I’ve been told that religion and both your first and last names matter to admissions people, but I hope not.</p>
<p>On the common app, and most every app I have seen, this info is optional. If you do fill it out, there are many choices and you pick all that apply as you please.</p>
<p>If you happen to be in the URM category at the school, it could help you. Many schools are trying to add diversity, and being URM is not a being any specific race, ethnicity, but in a category that is underrepresented at each particular school Anyone Asian is not going to be in the URM category at Stanford, for example, but would be, at say, Fairfield University where there are not many Asians there. Some who is African American is certainly not going to in the URM category at any of the HBCs like Morehead, Coppin State, but would be at some schools where there are few students of color. There are many schools where AA does not get URM status, It varies as to how much of an impact any particular ethnic category gets any tip at all from school to school and from year to year at the same school depending on what the applicant pool looks like at the time.</p>
<p>However, there are those who feel uncomfortable in giving that info at schools where Asian students are plentiful, and feel that it could result in an unfavorable bias and outright discrimination. I don’t happen to believe this, even as I am Asian, but if you feel this way, even an inkling, then don’t put down the info. Simple as that. A lot of students don’t. If you count the Asians in the school facebook visually, they rarely match up to the percentages the school reports as they report only as the students report. They don’t try to figure out what you are. </p>
<p>There are always people who have their preferences, prejudices and bigotry, so reporting anything can mean any number of things if someone like that is dealing with your app. It can be preferential as well as anti, be aware, and you just don’t know what could spur any reaction. It’s the chance any and everyone deals with. So do as you please. I can honestly see, that I have not seen discrimination except in that URMs do get tips and hooks, which, yes, does result in reverse discrimination.</p>