s/o part-Asians applying to college

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Question: My children are part Asian, part white European. They have a passport from my European country as well as their American passport, since they were born in the US. They have very little cultural connection to their Asian heritage, have never been exposed to the language, but they DO have an Asian last name, because their father is Asian. First names are from their European country, we speak the language at home, have friends from that country, visit the home country often - the cultural connection is there. They will also take the AP in that European language, which will be really easy for them.

Do they check the Asian box?
Do they expand, in one of their essays, on their European identity?
What else can they do to ward off discrimination against Asians?

Thank you.

Which European country?

Germany.

Doesn't it matter more which Asian country they're from?
Like if it's not China or India isn't it better to claim that URM heritage than Germany (many white Americans can also claim to identify as German Americans too)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mixed Asians actually get a significant AA boost, since they tick the "diversity" box without being full-on Asian. I thought this was pretty well-known.

?? I don't think so. Most mixed Asians are white American and Asian, so not the "right" kind of diverse, as in African or Latino.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Question: My children are part Asian, part white European. They have a passport from my European country as well as their American passport, since they were born in the US. They have very little cultural connection to their Asian heritage, have never been exposed to the language, but they DO have an Asian last name, because their father is Asian. First names are from their European country, we speak the language at home, have friends from that country, visit the home country often - the cultural connection is there. They will also take the AP in that European language, which will be really easy for them.

Do they check the Asian box?
Do they expand, in one of their essays, on their European identity?
What else can they do to ward off discrimination against Asians?

Thank you.

Which European country?

Germany.

Doesn't it matter more which Asian country they're from?
Like if it's not China or India isn't it better to claim that URM heritage than Germany (many white Americans can also claim to identify as German Americans too)?

OP here. The last name is recognizably Vietnamese, but neither they nor I have ever visited Vietnam, we don't speak the language and don't celebrate Tet like my husband's relatives do (Vietnamese New Year).

[Anonymous]

Can you check "other" or "mixed race"?

I don't think you have to check what your last name is. There are many 1/2 hispanics that I know without a Spanish surname who are Hispanic (through mother). They are Hispanic, and are white. Why would Asians be any different? I'm sure that you know plenty of 1/2 Asians who identify as both.

Check how they identify. You don't have to be beholden to your last name in the admissions process.

[Anonymous]

I suggest that they check off 'Other'. Schools want to have a diverse class and in general, more Asians apply to college than other groups so statistically, odds are greater with other. I'm half Asian and my kids are 1/4 Asian...one checked off 'Other' and one checked off 'White' during the college application process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is discrimination against Asians and whites that different?

Yes. Being White is a net-neutral to slightly negative factor.

Being Asian is a materially negative factor.

+1.

It's also sad that mixed Asians feel the need to try and downplay their Asianness in order to get a leg up. Not judging those who do, just a sad indictment on our society.

My child chose to be honest rather than hide who she is because: she is proud of who she is, she does not want to go to a school that substracts points because of who she is.
It would also have been obvious on her interviews.

Really, I think this topic is exaggerated and mostly of concern to the status-obsessed.

(My child also benefitted from teachers who "assumed"--and one told me this to my face--that she would be among the strongest students in the class because of her race. You have to accept the cards you are dealt, and make the best of the opportunities before you. Which are legion for strong students of any race.)

[Anonymous]

I'd have them check one or more race. Now, if you are asked to elaborate, it's not going to do you any good, because what the box is really looking for is afro-latina etc.

[Anonymous]

Definitely check the "Other" box. If they feel like opining on their mixed heritage in the essay, so be it - but it doesn't need to be in order to explain away the Asian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is discrimination against Asians and whites that different?

Yes. Being White is a net-neutral to slightly negative factor.

Being Asian is a materially negative factor.

+1.

It's also sad that mixed Asians feel the need to try and downplay their Asianness in order to get a leg up. Not judging those who do, just a sad indictment on our society.

My child chose to be honest rather than hide who she is because: she is proud of who she is, she does not want to go to a school that substracts points because of who she is.
It would also have been obvious on her interviews.

Really, I think this topic is exaggerated and mostly of concern to the status-obsessed.

(My child also benefitted from teachers who "assumed"--and one told me this to my face--that she would be among the strongest students in the class because of her race. You have to accept the cards you are dealt, and make the best of the opportunities before you. Which are legion for strong students of any race.)

Understood, PP. I'm OP. If my children were more connected to their Asian heritage, I would advise them to do that. But I think my question is more about what IS heritage? My kids have no cultural link or particular loyalty to this particular Asian culture (and don't forget this is Vietnam - heavy history, immigrants are not in love with the current socialist regime after so much repression). They DO feel European. So is it unethical to not check the Asian box in those circumstances? I guess it depends on every person's understanding of ethnic vs. cultural affiliation.

[Anonymous]

OP, my kids are white/Vietnamese, just normal UMC good-but-not-extraordinary students with normal ECs. When applying to college (2016, 2018, this year) they checked both Asian and white, and it didn't seem to hurt them, even at UCLA.

This is all anecdotal, of course, and every situation is different, but I wouldn't worry too much about what to check/not check. You'll make yourselves crazy trying to figure out which thing will or won't hurt or help in the process. Just let them present themselves authentically and make their best case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Understood, PP. I'm OP. If my children were more connected to their Asian heritage, I would advise them to do that. But I think my question is more about what IS heritage? My kids have no cultural link or particular loyalty to this particular Asian culture (and don't forget this is Vietnam - heavy history, immigrants are not in love with the current socialist regime after so much repression). They DO feel European. So is it unethical to not check the Asian box in those circumstances? I guess it depends on every person's understanding of ethnic vs. cultural affiliation.

Yes, they have to "claim" it for the same reason a white person can't claim to be AA because they "feel" woke. That's not how it works. They look at least part Asian, and are afforded bias in our society as a result. Mostly, the bias is good because people will assume they are smarter wealthier etc. They don't get to then decide they are not Asian for admissions.

We're white and have no affinity to the Aryan nation, slavery, etc but yet, here we are.

[Anonymous]

My DC is half Asian and half white (southern Europe that we have close ties to as well). But DH was born in Asia and DC has very close connections there as well, has visited every year since birth. DC applied last year and checked both boxes.

Keep in mind, the Common App asks questions about parents - where they went to college for example. DH went to college in his native country, so there is really no way to hide your heritage on these apps.

A good strategy, as a PP mentioned, was that my DC embraced the third culture kid heritage: strong ties to two countries/cultures, speaks multiple languages, has spent considerable amount of time in DH's home country. It seemed to have worked - DC is at a T20 school.

Good luck to everyone - this is a stressful process for kids and parents alike!

[Anonymous]

For some reason, playing a musical instrument and playing sports like Tennis is actually a net negative for Asian students. As is doing well in Math.

[Anonymous]

My child did the opposite - wrote essays celebrating our heritage. We are proud to be Asian - if the college did not want to accept our child - so be it.

Child was accepted to 11 out of 14 with one WL.

I'm a second gen immigrant and I grew up in a time where many of us had pressure to conform to the majority. My kids are lucky that we can now celebrate diversity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC is half Asian and half white (southern Europe that we have close ties to as well). But DH was born in Asia and DC has very close connections there as well, has visited every year since birth. DC applied last year and checked both boxes.

Keep in mind, the Common App asks questions about parents - where they went to college for example. DH went to college in his native country, so there is really no way to hide your heritage on these apps.

A good strategy, as a PP mentioned, was that my DC embraced the third culture kid heritage: strong ties to two countries/cultures, speaks multiple languages, has spent considerable amount of time in DH's home country. It seemed to have worked - DC is at a T20 school.

Good luck to everyone - this is a stressful process for kids and parents alike!

+1 With an Asian last name, and Common App questions asking about parent's names, birthplaces and education, OP cannot hide their children's identities.

So they should own it! Turn a weakness into a strength!

And being German-Vietnamese is quite interesting! The former German Vice-Chancellor Philipp Rosler is a great example. He is ethnic Vietnamese but was raised as a German.