How Standardized Tests Promote Stereotypes

There's something that's been bothering me for a while. For as long as I can remember, evey standardized test I've ever taken has required that the test-taker indicate his or her ethnicity in the informational section. Surveys ask for that information as well, as do many applications and forms, such as thos required to apply for college, jobs, etc. And every time I am faced with this list of choices - Black? Asian? Caucasian? Pacific Islander? Hispanic/non-white? - each paired with a blank bubble, I ask myself the same question: WHO CARES?! I don't see any questions asking whether or not I volunteer. Or if I'm on a sports or debate team at school. I don't see any about what my favorite subject is. I don't see any asking asking whether I'm liberal or conservative. Shouldn't those things be more important? I know, I know. Supposedly information about a student's ethnicity is wanted for use in statistics - which ethnic group has the highest averate SAT scores or the highest family income level or whatever. But how is this helpful? How does categorizing oneself as being of a specific ethnicity or background for the use of meaningless statistics benefit society? (Ha. Sometimes I mark both the "white" and "non-white" bubbles just to throw them off.) In order to eliminate all forms of racism and prejudice and stereotyping from society - an impossible goal some may say, but a worthy one, nonetheless - it is necessary to stop this pointless labeling. Until people are no longer forced to declare themselves as being of a certian (usually generic) ethnicity, how can we expect society to judge others soley on personal qualities as they should, without considering a person's ethnicity?