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I am not a URM, and I am not from the European Union. What happens if I just do not answer this section? Will that look bad?
So you are Asian, Russian, Eastern European, Middle Eastern, Northern African, or some form of South American Hispanic. So what? No one will care and you will come off as more suspicious if you don’t check the box if it is even optional. If they have a ‘decline to answer’ box then you can...but why? It literally doesn’t even matter.
 
This question is truly optional, and I have not seen an applicant hurt (or helped) by not answering this. Personally, I would just answer the question.. It's not meant to be complicated. If someone doesn't answer, I assume that they're either white or Asian.

We also get to see everyone in-person on the interview day, so schools will eventually know every applicants' race unless someone plans on going to the interview in a hazmat suit or full body costume a la Mysterio (nb: neither is recommended).
 
This question is truly optional, and I have not seen an applicant hurt (or helped) by not answering this. Personally, I would just answer the question.. It's not meant to be complicated. If someone doesn't answer, I assume that they're either white or Asian.

We also get to see everyone in-person on the interview day, so schools will eventually know every applicants' race unless someone plans on going to the interview in a hazmat suit or full body costume a la Mysterio (nb: neither is recommended).

Spoiler alert!
 
When I was applying, I was pretty conflicted about including my race. On one hand, I didn’t want to legitimize the current system of racial discrimination in higher education admissions. On the other, I didn’t want schools to assume I was Asian and discriminate against me to a greater extent than they otherwise would.

In the end, I chose not to include my race on any of my primaries or secondaries. I guess my decision didn’t hinder me too much, since I ended up getting in.
 
I never answer those questions on principle, if someone is going to maje some racial decisions about me (and adcoms do that) I want to get some face to face time first

I’m better in person than on paper 😉
 
Anyone have insight on whether adcoms look you up online prior to interview? I remember hearing people have LinkedIn views from schools during previous cycles.

So, even if you were to exclude your race, they would find out anyway by just googling your name and undergrad and likely finding a photo of you somewhere.

...Unless you go super incognito with your online presence.
 
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