Should I indicate my Race on Scholarship Applications?

For scholarship applications, indicating your race or ethnicity may be somewhat more relevant than it is for college admissions, depending on the scholarship.

When it may be beneficial

• Some scholarships are specifically designed to support students from particular racial, ethnic, tribal, or historically underrepresented groups.

• Diversity-focused scholarships may use race or ethnicity as one factor in determining eligibility.

• Scholarships may seek applicants who can demonstrate a commitment to serving their communities or advancing equity, and your background may provide important context for those experiences.

When it may not matter

• Many merit-based scholarships focus primarily on:

  • Academic achievement

  • Leadership

  • Community service

  • Research accomplishments

  • Financial need

  • Career goals

In these cases, race may be collected only for demographic reporting and may not affect selection.

My advice

If the application provides an option to identify your race and you are comfortable doing so, I generally recommend being truthful and complete. More importantly, use essays and personal statements to explain:

• Your life experiences

• Challenges you have overcome

• Leadership roles

• Community engagement

• Cultural perspectives

• Commitment to helping others

For scholarship committees, these narratives are often much more influential than the demographic checkbox itself.

As someone who has reviewed applications for academic and health-professions programs, I have found that a compelling story about resilience, service, leadership, and future impact usually carries far more weight than race alone. The strongest applicants connect their personal experiences to their goals and demonstrate how they will contribute to their profession, institution, or community.