> Among the variables shaping the current numbers is the jump in the percentage of students who chose not to check the boxes for race and ethnicity on their app

> Among the variables shaping the current numbers is the jump in the percentage of students who chose not to check the boxes for race and ethnicity on their applications. At Princeton, for instance, that number rose to 7.7 percent this year from just 1.8 percent last year. At Duke it rose to 11 percent from 5 percent. Universities may not know whether the “unknown” number includes more white and Asian American students. Well that's pretty significant. And ironically, there could be a link between the increased focus on race in admissions and applicants "opting out," so to speak.