<p>I'm a soon-to-be senior and I want to go to Penn State. I have friends who say no because it's not racially diverse. I'm African American and all I want is to go somewhere where I can be friends with anyone-no matter what color they are. I want to have a good 4 years filled with friends and fun-of course some studying, but i want to truly be happy. Does anyone else believe that it is pretty difficult to go to Penn State and have a racially diverse goup of friends?</p>
<p>It looks like some schools do better than Penn State for diversity, but, seriously, with 35,000 it seems like you should be able to find plenty of friends...</p>
<p>Here some somewhat comparable schools and their African American percentages:</p>
<p>Penn State, 35,000 kids 4% AA
U Maryland, 26,000 kids 13% AA
Ohio State, 37,000 kids 8% AA
U Pittsburgh, 17,000 kids 9% AA
U Illinois Urbana Champaign, 30,000 kids 7% AA
U Florida, 34,000 kids 9% AA
U Wisconsin, 31,000 kids 3% AA
U Cal Urvine, 20,000 kids 2% AA
U Connecticut, 16,000 kids 5% AA
U Michigan Ann Arbor, 25,000 7% AA</p>
<p>I really don't think it'll be a problem at PSU. Like weenie said, there're so many people, it'd be impossible to not make any friends. You'll make friends and have fun anywhere you go, and if you want to go to PSU, don't let that stop you.</p>
<p>Also, I don't think many PSU graduates would say they regret their 4 years. ;)</p>
<p>No way. :) I think you'd have a great time at Penn State. At times, it may seem like statistically, there are no minorities around, but there are plenty to go around. My roommates this fall are African-American, Italian, and Jamaican-Chinese. It's going to be really fun, I bet.</p>
<p>There are plenty of people that want to help you adjust to college life as a minority, too. I signed up for the FastStart program, which is a mentoring triad between you, a faculty mentor, and an alumni mentor. The multicultural resource center is always available for more resources as well. </p>
<p>There are lots of Facebook groups for African Americans and it doesn't seem like they mind going to Penn State at all. Come visit the campus and see what you think. Don't count it out just because of some numbers on paper. </p>
<p>Though, the other poster is right, there are some schools that have more of a minority population.</p>
<p>believe me you got nothing to worry about. Dont get it twisted, there is a relatively low number of minorities, but there are enough to make friends with many of them. Dont go expecting to look for minority friends, just go out, and youll see some ;).</p>
<p>Thanks for everyone's advice. I guess it's my job to make friends anywhere I go and now it seems that there won't be any added difficulty because of your advice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>