@dreamer929schools you are the one that is advertising your background and color as an advantage. Obviously you want your ethnic /biracial status to help your chances. Any full pay applicant has a statistically better chance of acceptance than almost any FA applicant regardless of color. Need blind or not, these schools are filling spots in a variety of categories that fill their needs. A better qualified minority who needs FA will get offered a spot over a full pay minority that is less qualified. Every year the schools try to build a diverse class. clearly you are a very good candidate but there are thousands of very good candidates who get rejected.