<p>I'm Asian, and I'm thinking of not reporting my race. However, I'm afraid that colleges might assume that I'm Asian based on my last name (which isn't a very common Asian last name, but still sounds kinda Asian) and my ECs. Do you guys think colleges will automatically put me in the Asian pile based on stuff on my app?</p>
<p>Most likely</p>
<p>If you don’t choose to mark your race, they won’t assume. After all, you could be some kid who’s 99% white, with one Asian ancestor who happened to pass on the last name. Or it could actually be some obscure Scandinavian last name that just sounds Asian. They don’t want to make any mistakes, so they won’t assume.</p>
<p>“which isn’t a very common Asian last name, but still sounds kinda Asian”</p>
<p>My suggestion: Check the Asian Box</p>
<p>^That was very direct.</p>
<p>Yeah I’ve been wondering the same thing especially because I hear that they have higher standards for Asian students. Or is this ethnicity thing such a minor difference that you would have gotten in anyway whether you were white or asian if your stats were good enough?</p>
<p>They claim not to assume, but I highly doubt that. After all, if you were a URM then you would WANT to put it down for the advantage, and whites are in the majority so it would probably be neutral for them.</p>
<p>Selective schools decide based on the totality of the app, not a single checkbox.</p>
<p>I’m Asian, and I checked off that I speak an Asian language, and my parents were born in that country, but I didn’t check off the Asian box. Where does that put me?</p>
<p>“Selective schools decide based on the totality of the app”</p>
<p>I agree!
Then, why do they ask “race”?
Why do some colleges have the same % of Asians every year?</p>
<p>They have your name.</p>
<p>Take a look at the 2nd page of the Common App. Most times, colleges don’t need to assume.</p>
<p>Look…if there is in fact a conspiracy to keep Asian population at top schools down (not saying there is), then certainly they can figure out if you are Asian by other parts of the application if they want to.</p>
<p>I say put down Asian and be proud and then go on to show in the rest of the application what you have to offer them!</p>
<p>they are NOT ALLOWED to assume your race at all or consider it in the admissions process if you don’t report it. doesn’t matter if your name sounds asian or whatever</p>
<p>Don’t underestimate the intelligence of the adcom reading your application. If you try to game the system by omitting your race as Asian, and the rest of your app clearly demonstrates your Asian-ness, well what message does that send?</p>
<p>Adcoms are allowed to think anything they want. The statistics will be processed by one office; the individual adcom will be judging your character, “fit”, and which pile to toss your folder into.</p>
<p>they are NOT ALLOWED to assume your race at all or consider it in the admissions process if you don’t report it. doesn’t matter if your name sounds asian or whatever</p>
<p>So, admission officers will not assume that you are an Asian even though your name is
Li, Chen, Kim, Jung, Lui, Yamaguchi
…</p>
<p>I wish I would have known that last year.</p>
<p>Geez, up to Yamaguchi, any of those could be shortened versions of surnames common in non-Asian countries, simplified on immigration. Chenowiscz, Jungermann- you get the idea.</p>
<p>Fauve, IME, not noting how you identify yourself (they don’t call it “race”) does not yield an assumption you are gaming anything. Until the final decisions are made (that last pile that gets reduced by 2/3,) there’s more to worry about than this.</p>
<p>And, each reviewer gets to see and comment on the full CA the applicant submitted.</p>
<p>any of those could be shortened versions of surnames common in non-Asian countries, simplified on immigration. Chenowiscz, Jungermann</p>
<p>Really???</p>
<p>*“any of those could be shortened versions of surnames common in non-Asian countries, simplified on immigration. Chenowiscz, Jungermann”</p>
<p>Really??? *</p>
<p>Well, Lui could be Italian, short for Luigi. Other than, not really.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I think you need to check the Asian box if you’re obviously Asian. It’s going to be a slight disadvantage at some schools, but it could be even worse if the reader becomes annoyed. Not fair, I know.</p>
<p>I’m not worried, Lookingforward, the OP is. </p>
<p>^^^ “it could be even worse if the reader becomes annoyed.” Yep.</p>