Withholding Your Ethnicity

[amalgamgrillz]

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hey i was just wondering if it would be a bad idea to not disclose your ethnicity on your application?

do they see your Name on the application, or is an anonymous application type of thing?

thanks!

 

[SugarNaCl]

Probably not many people know the answer to this. If it would benefit you ie if you are black or hispanic, native american etc I'd tell them.

Personally if I was on and Admissions Committee (which I am not so they likely don't think like this) and I saw someone who purposely left off their race, I'd probably think either...what are they hiding? Are they too sensitive about race? or are they a jerk. I mean face it... they find out your race in the interview anyway so I guess I'm just a point blank straight shot kind of person. I'd tell them my race off the bat.

 

[amalgamgrillz]

Probably not many people know the answer to this. If it would benefit you ie if you are black or hispanic, native american etc I'd tell them.

Personally if I was on and Admissions Committee (which I am not so they likely don't think like this) and I saw someone who purposely left off their race, I'd probably think either...what are they hiding? Are they too sensitive about race? or are they a jerk. I mean face it... they find out your race in the interview anyway so I guess I'm just a point blank straight shot kind of person. I'd tell them my race off the bat.

i'm asian, but have a spanish last name. so, if i go undeclared, will they see my last name and maybe assume im hispanic? haha..that's why im asking if its an anonymous review of my application.

 

[rose786]

Most secondaries require a photo anyways, so I don't see how with-holding this info would help.

 

[SugarNaCl]

i'm asian, but have a spanish last name. so, if i go undeclared, will they see my last name and maybe assume im hispanic? haha..that's why im asking if its an anonymous review of my application.

LOL... OH, I see. Wow, that's a tough one but yeah, they will know anyway with your interview. Are you at all (half) Spanish? If so, you may be able to put that down? On second thought, maybe not 😉

 

[amalgamgrillz]

LOL... OH, I see. Wow, that's a tough one but yeah, they will know anyway with your interview. Are you at all (half) Spanish? If so, you may be able to put that down? On second thought, maybe not 😉

haha all i want is an interview. I know i can sell myself if i can get to that step, so every advantage would help. And i dont look like the stereotypical "asian".. i can look hispanic if i tried in my 2x2 lol

 

[SugarNaCl]

haha all i want is an interview. I know i can sell myself if i can get to that step, so every advantage would help. And i dont look like the stereotypical "asian".. i can look hispanic if i tried in my 2x2 lol

LOL... It's not annonymous. They know your name when they review your application. Good luck with whatever way you choose.

 

[sang86]

i would not hide, it would be better just telling.

 

[TheGreenWave]

I dont think you will gain much from withholding your ethnicity. Adcoms are going to assume youre a majority i.e. white, asian, indian. Also, your last name will likely be a giveaway as to which one you are. So far, you have gained nothing. Additionally, they might wonder if you were embarassed by your race. Not good.

Hopefully, I have not offended anyone, I love people from all races 🙂. I just think it would work against you. Good luck with apps!

 

[whoispittsnogle]

damn this is some desperation hail mary from your own 20. but hey i fully support this move and i can't knock you for trying. throw one up there.

 

[amalgamgrillz]

I dont think you will gain much from withholding your ethnicity. Adcoms are going to assume youre a majority i.e. white, asian, indian. Also, your last name will likely be a giveaway as to which one you are. So far, you have gained nothing. Additionally, they might wonder if you were embarassed by your race. Not good.

Hopefully, I have not offended anyone, I love people from all races 🙂. I just think it would work against you. Good luck with apps!

Thanks for the input everyone!

but like i said earlier, my last name is spanish..so if they're going to assume things based on my last name, I guess i will not disclose my ethnicity. If they ask me why i didnt disclose it during my interview, i'll just say that I wanted my application to be based on my credentials and what I could bring to their university - not given favoritism or anything based on my ethnic roots...i dunno, im sure i can pull something outta my arse lol

 

[Hugh Mannity]

Since every school has a, "We do not discriminate based on race, gender, religion, etc," why do they have it in the first place. If you are to make a decision w/o race/gender influences, why even ask for it?

 

[FreshOffTheBoat]

Probably not many people know the answer to this. If it would benefit you ie if you are black or hispanic, native american etc I'd tell them.

Personally if I was on and Admissions Committee (which I am not so they likely don't think like this) and I saw someone who purposely left off their race, I'd probably think either...what are they hiding? Are they too sensitive about race? or are they a jerk. I mean face it... they find out your race in the interview anyway so I guess I'm just a point blank straight shot kind of person. I'd tell them my race off the bat.

1) some people dont want to possibly be judged by their race.

2) some people might not be able to identify with any of the race options offered.

3) theyd find out your race in interviews anyways? only if they are curious enough to ask. many people ask me "what are you" but then again many people also ASSUME what I am when they look at me and dont ask and then dont find out my actual ethnicity/race. A lot of people can be mistaken for other ethnicity/races.

 

[btizzels]

I didn't put it on my application because I didn't want to be judged on the basis of my race. I don't think it really matters anyway, like someone said if they interview you they will know right away anyway or at least they will have a pretty good idea.

 

[FreshOffTheBoat]

I didn't put it on my application because I didn't want to be judged on the basis of my race. I don't think it really matters anyway, like someone said if they interview you they will know right away anyway or at least they will have a pretty good idea.

disagree. you said yourself you are asian. maybe they will disregard how you look and figure think she is hispanic (doubt theyll think you look spanish..most likely hispanic though) that happens to look somewhat asian. but i think your reasoning on not wanting to be judged by your races is cool.

but whatever, i have a different take on this simply b/c i have known many people who have been ethnically or racially mistaken.

by the way are you ethically from philippines? its common for them to have spanish last names...

 

[amalgamgrillz]

disagree. you said yourself you are asian. maybe they will disregard how you look and figure think she is hispanic (doubt theyll think you look spanish..most likely hispanic though) that happens to look somewhat asian. but i think your reasoning on not wanting to be judged by your races is cool.

but whatever, i have a different take on this simply b/c i have known many people who have been ethnically or racially mistaken.

by the way are you ethically from philippines? its common for them to have spanish last names...[/quote]

sorry, you quoted btizzles..i'm guessing you are referring to me though?
1) what exactly don't you like about my reasoning?..i'm not sure what you mean.

2) yes i'm filipino.

 

[FreshOffTheBoat]

disagree. you said yourself you are asian. maybe they will disregard how you look and figure think she is hispanic (doubt theyll think you look spanish..most likely hispanic though) that happens to look somewhat asian. but i think your reasoning on not wanting to be judged by your races is cool.

but whatever, i have a different take on this simply b/c i have known many people who have been ethnically or racially mistaken.

by the way are you ethically from philippines? its common for them to have spanish last names...[/quote]

sorry, you quoted btizzles..i'm guessing you are referring to me though?
1) what exactly don't you like about my reasoning?..i'm not sure what you mean.

2) yes i'm filipino.

my bad. i mixed you two up. i thought you had said the stuff i quoted. you can disregard my reasoning since you didnt say that stuff. but essentially i was saying that i disagree [w/ btizzles] that adcoms will always know or have a good idea of what race/ethnicity a person is when they see the person if they hadnt already known the race/ethnicity before.

 

[btizzels]

my bad. i mixed you two up. i thought you had said the stuff i quoted. you can disregard my reasoning since you didnt say that stuff. but essentially i was saying that i disagree [w/ btizzles] that adcoms will always know or have a good idea of what race/ethnicity a person is when they see the person if they hadnt already known the race/ethnicity before.

And again I will disagree, I really think adcoms look at you more as a person then just the color of your skin. Remember the people that sit in these committees are highly educated and would probably care less what your ethnicity is. With that being said if you had a special circumstance, pertaining to your minority status then they might take that into account. For example, your parents had to flee their home country with only you and the cloths on your back and how you struggled as a family to make a life for yourself here in America. They would be interested in this, but only because it shows how you have overcome hardship in your life... ie character. In short it doesn't matter, unless you are applying to Meharry or Howard.

 

[FreshOffTheBoat]

And again I will disagree, I really think adcoms look at you more as a person then just the color of your skin. Remember the people that sit in these committees are highly educated and would probably care less what your ethnicity is. With that being said if you had a special circumstance, pertaining to your minority status then they might take that into account. For example, your parents had to flee their home country with only you and the cloths on your back and how you struggled as a family to make a life for yourself here in America. They would be interested in this, but only because it shows how you have overcome hardship in your life... ie character. In short it doesn't matter, unless you are applying to Meharry or Howard.

i never disagreed to what you just stated above in this particlar quote. i only disagreed with your previous statement that adcoms pretty much have a good idea of what race you are when they see you. other than that statement you made i do agree with the underlined above.

 

[amalgamgrillz]

And again I will disagree, I really think adcoms look at you more as a person then just the color of your skin. Remember the people that sit in these committees are highly educated and would probably care less what your ethnicity is. With that being said if you had a special circumstance, pertaining to your minority status then they might take that into account. For example, your parents had to flee their home country with only you and the cloths on your back and how you struggled as a family to make a life for yourself here in America. They would be interested in this, but only because it shows how you have overcome hardship in your life... ie character. In short it doesn't matter, unless you are applying to Meharry or Howard.

Well, i agree to some extent..they do base your admission on your personality/character/credentials..but you have a better chance if you are certain minority..just because they have to fill a certain quota of minority applicants..i think