Should demographics be included in Common App?

I'm currently filling out my Common App and stumbled upon the demographics section. Is it really necessary to fill out all the demographic details? Would colleges look at my application differently based on this section? I'm just a little hesitant and wondering if it might influence my admissions chances in any way?

In terms of filling out the demographics section on the Common App, it is indeed an optional part of the application. However, it does serve a purpose, as colleges use this information for reporting demographics about their student body. In the past, admissions officers also used it to ensure they were assembling a diverse student body, but that practice, also known as affirmative action, was outlawed by the Supreme Court in 2023—you can read more about the ruling, and its impact on college admissions, here: https://blog.collegevine.com/end-of-affirmative-action.

Even though this information is now only used for statistics, you should never feel compelled to disclose information you're uncomfortable sharing. Your admission chances should not be negatively affected by omitting this information. It's also worth noting that federal laws such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protect the privacy of student education records, which includes demographic information.

In short, the decision to include demographic details is yours. If you believe it provides important context about who you are or if you wish to be considered as part of certain communities for the sake of particular scholarships, it could be beneficial to include it. Otherwise, if you prefer not to share that information, that won't detract from your academic and extracurricular talents.