<p>Why would the reader be annoyed? Putting our race down is OPTIONAL if I remember correctly.</p>
<p>Isn’t it sad that asians have to hide the fact they are asian.</p>
<p>My son is 1/2 jewish, and I have told him to hide it, for similar reasons.</p>
<p>Colleges seemingly don’t want over-represented minorities.</p>
<p>Being jewish or not on the common app isn’t a big deal…race is considered more, religion isn’t too big of a deal. Caucasian is relatively neutral since it’s the majority of the US population.</p>
<p>Immigrants last names weren’t shortened or changed as much as people make it out to be. There were minor spelling changes to some because a lot of immigrants couldn’t read/write their names and had accents but other than that their names stayed close to the original.</p>
<p>My point is that adcoms don’t go off making assumptions and/or getting annoyed because you didn’t state your identity. There are plenty of other ways you can “go wrong” on your app. And, plenty of other factors that count in final decisions. (Btw, they don’t use the word “race” on the CA.) I can’t tell if the Asian-bias thing is a myth. Anyone have a legit reference?</p>
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<p>I agree with this. I don’t think that not checking the box will help you at any rate–the only thing that would help you would be if you were actually a URM, not a lack of Asian- or whiteness. Also, as an Asian myself, I think you should just check the box and show your Asian pride! 
No one should have to make you hide or deny what makes up a large part of who you are.</p>
<p>yes, i agree. as an asian myself too, i say check the box and be proud of it!</p>
<p>maybe I wasn’t clear. if your last name is Xu, then the adcom will probably guess that you’re Asian. however, they are not (at least legally) allowed to consider your race in the admissions process. and not reporting your race is a legal right. no one is going to look down on you for it. adcoms use your race to help judge you in the context of your background. if they don’t have that info., they’ll still have a good amount of info. on your background.</p>
<p>Just put “Asian” on your application. Are you naive enough to believe that if the college finds out your Asian, your chances of acceptance will be negatively affected?</p>
<p>That’s the problem, if you are Asian they automatically take 50 points off you SAT. But if your are, black they add about 200. I don’t think it is fair.</p>
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This. People seem to imagine that a college official might say: “Oh no, I suspect that this applicant may be Asian, because his name is Li, he plays violin and tennis, and tutors at Kumon. But because he didn’t mark the Asian box, I am powerless to discriminate against him! Curses, foiled again!”</p>
<p>Let me put it this way: if the school really couldn’t tell from other parts of your application, then you probably want to mark the box, because you are likely to stand out from other Asian applicants.</p>
<p>^ That is exactly what I did :)</p>
<p>Are you naive enough to believe that if the college finds out your Asian, your chances of acceptance will be negatively affected?</p>
<p>Yes, I do! (for many selective colleges)</p>
<p>And, based on my experience, I dont think anyone can change my view.</p>
<p>^ Then you are inflicting self induced unnecessary worries on yourself.</p>
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Private schools can consider anything they want. For public schools it’s not yet resolved:</p>
<p>[College</a> affirmative action back on Supreme Court’s horizon - The Washington Post](<a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/college-affirmative-action-back-on-supreme-courts-horizon/2011/07/28/gIQApXnwlI_story.html]College”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/college-affirmative-action-back-on-supreme-courts-horizon/2011/07/28/gIQApXnwlI_story.html)</p>
<p>“Let me put it this way: if the school really couldn’t tell from other parts of your application, then you probably want to mark the box, because you are likely to stand out from other Asian applicants.”</p>
<p>Are you saying that having a not-so-Asian application/ECs will help?</p>
<p>It could be true that being Asian might hurt your chances at some colleges. But even if that’s true, it’s naive to think that not marking the box might protect you from that impact. As I suggest, it could even backfire if you happen to be an accordion-playing hockey star with prizes in animal husbandry.</p>
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I am saying that it might help. At highly selective schools, part of the process is standing out from others who (at least on paper) look like you. If they get a hundred applications from high-scoring Asians who play the violin, and one from a high-scoring Asian who plays the harmonica, who stands out? This is not to criticize violin-playing at all.</p>
<p>Just man up (or the equivalent if you’re a girl) and check the damn box. I can tell you right now that about every Asian in my school will check off the box, including me. Don’t try to cop out and just accept it. Jeez</p>
<p>“Just man up and check the damn box.”</p>
<p>Best answer!!!</p>
<p>I hope MedicalBoy is joking.
And, I assume you are all talking about “desirable” colleges, whether they are public or private.</p>
<p>Because so many CC’ers (and others) think getting admitted is a matter of stats, a few key ECs and “passion,” when they see results go awry, they assume it’s prejudice, unfair URM advantages, a creepy adcom or all sorts of other conjectures. (“I’m Asian.” or “My kid’s 1/2 Jewish.”) The myths endure. It makes people feel better to blame it on something beyond their control.</p>
<p>Sure, most intelligent schools value diversity and seek it. Given two kids who are exactly equal in stats, one may get in because he is from an under-represented part of the country, is URM or first-gen, legacy, etc. Or, he could come from a hs the adcoms have ignored for a few years. Or, he could play tuba and they want a tuba player. Or, he could be interested in a major with a dwindling number of students. Or, yes, it could be a female STEM kid. Or, he/she could write a brilliant essay, have all sorts of challenges he mastered, have a clear sense of who he is and where he’s going and clearly have the energy and maturity the college wants.</p>
<p>But, you have to realize how many kids, even with great stats, blow their own apps. Since reviews are holistic, EC’s, essays, short answers, LoRs all matter. It’s not all about stats. You really don’t know how your friend came across in his app. Even if you saw his whole app, you don’t know what adult adcoms thought of it and how it compared with thousands of others. You don’t realize how often LoRs are either blah or subtly dismiss the kid or even flat out state problems.</p>
<p>I have never seen any reviewer write: Oh, no, not another Asian. I have “heard” rumblings about some of the UCs being concerned- but don’t have any reports that can prove they discriminate. Someone can send a link- but I don’t mean something from a hotheaded org or another “probably” or yet another unsubstantiated report from USAToday or other media outlets that thrive on building fear. The fact that you know someone who… isn’t sufficient.</p>
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I mainly agree with this. But I think standing out matters more than you seem to suggest. I think it pays to think about this when deciding what to emphasize in your application. How will somebody who reads your application complete the following sentence: “Oh, yes, littlepenguin–isn’t he the applicant who __________?”</p>