s/o If my child is half-Asian with an anglicized last name, should we only check the white box for r

[Anonymous]

We're a few years out from applying to colleges, but the discrimination threaded me wondering if we should skip checking the "asian" box and just write my kids down as white. What have other parents of mixed race kids done?

[Anonymous]

I think there is an option for 2 or more races. If your kid is half-white, I think it’s ok. We are mixed race (Aa and white) and I know people who view that as black and some as 2 races. My kid is in the latter group as we are not comfortable solely putting one race.

Not specific to you, but My only concern is parents instilling in kids that it’s okay to lie if you think something is unfair and you are getting the short end of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're a few years out from applying to colleges, but the discrimination threaded me wondering if we should skip checking the "asian" box and just write my kids down as white. What have other parents of mixed race kids done?

My S is biracial and he indicated he was both Asian and white on his applications. So far, he's been accepted EA to Yale and UVA as an Echols Scholar so I don't think it affected him one way or the other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there is an option for 2 or more races. If your kid is half-white, I think it’s ok. We are mixed race (Aa and white) and I know people who view that as black and some as 2 races. My kid is in the latter group as we are not comfortable solely putting one race.

Not specific to you, but My only concern is parents instilling in kids that it’s okay to lie if you think something is unfair and you are getting the short end of it.

It’s not a lie if the child doesn’t particularly identify as Asian. Focus on the child not on gaming the system.

[Anonymous]

I really don't understand all these people who seem to not know what race or ethnicity box to check when their children are applying to college. What have you been selecting for the previous 17-18 years? That's what you should select. Anything else is lying/cheating/gaming the system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really don't understand all these people who seem to not know what race or ethnicity box to check when their children are applying to college. What have you been selecting for the previous 17-18 years? That's what you should select. Anything else is lying/cheating/gaming the system.

Well, when the system is already gamed against Asians, you do what you can.

[Anonymous]

My brother claims they will check "white" but I really hope they leave it up to my nephew to decide.

[Anonymous]

Check black

[Anonymous]

And for gender, check “other” or “fluid” or “questioning”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really don't understand all these people who seem to not know what race or ethnicity box to check when their children are applying to college. What have you been selecting for the previous 17-18 years? That's what you should select. Anything else is lying/cheating/gaming the system.

What we have chose for him and what he will choose for college or even high school may be different boxes. We may choose white for him, but he might choose Latino later in life. I don't know what he is going to do. DC speaks Spanish, his father was born in South America and grew up there. The last name however is is from China, think "Lee", because great grandfather moved to SA from China. I'm from Northern Europe and DC also speaks my mother tongue. Strangely, my child's last name is very common in my country. I did no change my last name.
I have no idea what to mark. We will probably put "other" and let the kid decide when he is old enough.

[Anonymous]

Mine are 1/4 Asian and identify as white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don't understand all these people who seem to not know what race or ethnicity box to check when their children are applying to college. What have you been selecting for the previous 17-18 years? That's what you should select. Anything else is lying/cheating/gaming the system.

Well, when the system is already gamed against Asians, you do what you can.

No words to express how silly it is for privileged Asians (and whites) to cry foul on stuff like this. Plenty of schools out there and if your kid doesn't get into one, they will surely get into another. You are not helping your kids out by telling them they are not getting into X school because they are being discriminated against for being Asian/white/black/Hispanic/whatever. College admissions are a crapshoot and you can't always get what you want. Parents just can't fix everything for their kids.

[Anonymous]

I would think that colleges would only ask you about your race because they will treat you differently based on your answer. If the college is federally funded in any way, this should be a violation of the "equal protection" clause. I would think that colleges might want to add a box labeled "I wish to save the college a lawsuit by not answering this question."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would think that colleges would only ask you about your race because they will treat you differently based on your answer. If the college is federally funded in any way, this should be a violation of the "equal protection" clause. I would think that colleges might want to add a box labeled "I wish to save the college a lawsuit by not answering this question."

There is the option to not report race at all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

No words to express how silly it is for privileged Asians (and whites) to cry foul on stuff like this. Plenty of schools out there and if your kid doesn't get into one, they will surely get into another. You are not helping your kids out by telling them they are not getting into X school because they are being discriminated against for being Asian/white/black/Hispanic/whatever. College admissions are a crapshoot and you can't always get what you want. Parents just can't fix everything for their kids.

Why is this answer not the same if you are not Asian, white or privileged?