Can my son omit all parent information from his application?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no place on the FAFSA for race.

The common app has no place for parent race.

This.
https://www.collegeraptor.com/paying-for-college/articles/financial-aid/the-question-by-question-fafsa-guide/

[Anonymous]

They don’t ask the parents race. Only the kids. My daughter is adopted and has a different race and nationality than I have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: They don’t ask the parents race. Only the kids. My daughter is adopted and has a different race and nationality than I have.

I don't know why it's hard to understand that the race is obvious from the parent's name.

[Anonymous]

What if a white couple adopted a Chinese child at birth? Does that child face tougher admissions criteria like other Asians do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if a white couple adopted a Chinese child at birth? Does that child face tougher admissions criteria like other Asians do?

That's pretty much why I started this thread. It's completely unclear and I hoped someone would have information. I'm pretty sure an admissions officer will glance casually at the application (what do they give, 1.5 minutes per application?), see "chinese mom name" and then say "oh, 1450 SAT, that's not that good... plus this kid has a bad personality." BAM. Instead of getting much advice or help, I got a bunch of replies, "U CONFUSED, APP NO ASK FOR PARENT RACE." Gosh, THANKS!!

[Anonymous]

After marriage, women can use their husbands last name and their maiden name, for different purposes. She can decide to use OP’s name personally, use it for the FAFSA, and continue to use her maiden name professionally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After marriage, women can use their husbands last name and their maiden name, for different purposes. She can decide to use OP’s name personally, use it for the FAFSA, and continue to use her maiden name professionally.

Is she also allowed to use an English sounding nickname for her first name, because “weijiang smith” isn’t fooling anybody

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What if a white couple adopted a Chinese child at birth? Does that child face tougher admissions criteria like other Asians do?

That's pretty much why I started this thread. It's completely unclear and I hoped someone would have information. I'm pretty sure an admissions officer will glance casually at the application (what do they give, 1.5 minutes per application?), see "chinese mom name" and then say "oh, 1450 SAT, that's not that good... plus this kid has a bad personality." BAM. Instead of getting much advice or help, I got a bunch of replies, "U CONFUSED, APP NO ASK FOR PARENT RACE." Gosh, THANKS!!

Wonder where the kid got the bad personality?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What if a white couple adopted a Chinese child at birth? Does that child face tougher admissions criteria like other Asians do?

That's pretty much why I started this thread. It's completely unclear and I hoped someone would have information. I'm pretty sure an admissions officer will glance casually at the application (what do they give, 1.5 minutes per application?), see "chinese mom name" and then say "oh, 1450 SAT, that's not that good... plus this kid has a bad personality." BAM. Instead of getting much advice or help, I got a bunch of replies, "U CONFUSED, APP NO ASK FOR PARENT RACE." Gosh, THANKS!!

Does your child have a biological mother? Because I think that's going to weigh much more heavily than a step-parent, honestly.

I think the annoyed responses to this thread are partially because you seem to be looking for a grievance. Your child's application is their application at this point. The name you put on the FAFSA is entirely immaterial, except for financial aid purposes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What if a white couple adopted a Chinese child at birth? Does that child face tougher admissions criteria like other Asians do?

That's pretty much why I started this thread. It's completely unclear and I hoped someone would have information. I'm pretty sure an admissions officer will glance casually at the application (what do they give, 1.5 minutes per application?), see "chinese mom name" and then say "oh, 1450 SAT, that's not that good... plus this kid has a bad personality." BAM. Instead of getting much advice or help, I got a bunch of replies, "U CONFUSED, APP NO ASK FOR PARENT RACE." Gosh, THANKS!!

The FAFSA isn't a college application. It's an application for financial aid, and the admissions officer often doesn't even see it.

Also, you're getting pushback because the chip on your shoulder is visible from space.

[Anonymous]

It depends on where your son is applying to, but I think you are overthinking it. The admissions officers will see what is in the Common App or Application profile that the student submits. The FAFSA information generally goes to the back office financial / administrative department. If he wants to be considered for merit aid, then fill out the FAFSA with accurate information as it is reflected in your taxes. Generally, AO's are making decisions based on their read of the application. Once a candidate is admitted, the financial office provides the merit aid. It is very much a separate process at large universities. The exception being smaller schools and private schools that pay more attention to whether the candidate is full pay.

I am 100% white. I married an asian man therefore I have a Chinese surname. We have an adopted child from China who is 100% chinese. She applied to 10 schools (not top tier, mostly public and 2 private) and was accepted to all schools. She was very much above average GPA & SAT scores, but not stellar top tier student. We were full pay and completed the FAFSA as it was recommended to be able to demonstrate to the college financial department that we could pay the bill. I never felt hers or our name affected the outcome of her results. This was last year so she is currently a college freshman.

It's a stressful time. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What if a white couple adopted a Chinese child at birth? Does that child face tougher admissions criteria like other Asians do?

That's pretty much why I started this thread. It's completely unclear and I hoped someone would have information. I'm pretty sure an admissions officer will glance casually at the application (what do they give, 1.5 minutes per application?), see "chinese mom name" and then say "oh, 1450 SAT, that's not that good... plus this kid has a bad personality." BAM. Instead of getting much advice or help, I got a bunch of replies, "U CONFUSED, APP NO ASK FOR PARENT RACE." Gosh, THANKS!!

The FAFSA isn't a college application. It's an application for financial aid, and the admissions officer often doesn't even see it.

Also, you're getting pushback because the chip on your shoulder is visible from space.

That's not true. I've been told that admissions officers do frequently see it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends on where your son is applying to, but I think you are overthinking it. The admissions officers will see what is in the Common App or Application profile that the student submits. The FAFSA information generally goes to the back office financial / administrative department. If he wants to be considered for merit aid, then fill out the FAFSA with accurate information as it is reflected in your taxes. Generally, AO's are making decisions based on their read of the application. Once a candidate is admitted, the financial office provides the merit aid. It is very much a separate process at large universities. The exception being smaller schools and private schools that pay more attention to whether the candidate is full pay.

I am 100% white. I married an asian man therefore I have a Chinese surname. We have an adopted child from China who is 100% chinese. She applied to 10 schools (not top tier, mostly public and 2 private) and was accepted to all schools. She was very much above average GPA & SAT scores, but not stellar top tier student. We were full pay and completed the FAFSA as it was recommended to be able to demonstrate to the college financial department that we could pay the bill. I never felt hers or our name affected the outcome of her results. This was last year so she is currently a college freshman.

It's a stressful time. Good luck!

Thank you for the information. I've heard that the FAFSA is sometimes shared with the admissions office. Maybe that information was incorrect.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP. We didn't submit the FAFSA because we would not qualify for any financial aid and are full-pay.

I am white and my DH is Asian, so our DD is mixed. I thought a lot about the Common and Coalition Apps that our DD filled out and how race would affect her chances. She was thinking of just saying "mixed race" and leaving it at that. However, the apps go into a lot of detail, and it is almost impossible to be vague about race. For example, the apps ask not only parents' names, but also where they went to college. My DH went to college in his home country, so in addition to his very Asian name, his education gives away the race info as well. I'm not sure if those questions could be left blank or not, but I don't think they could.

My DD ended up getting into a top 20 school, so I don't really think it hurt her. But she didn't apply to any Ivys, which are the ones accused the most of discrimination against Asians.

Good luck to your son! It is very stressful and I'm so relieved that DD is going to her first choice school (she's high school class of 2020).

[Anonymous]

Son checks the White box on the Common App. Period, End Of Story. They are not parsing the stepmom on the FAFSA.

You are way, way, WAY overthinking this.