A couple Qs about W and M??

Colleges and Universities A-Z College of William and Mary
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<p>While it is certainly true that colleges and universities ACROSS the nation could and should continue to expand student diversity, to imply this is a weakness at W&M specifically is inaccurate and misleading. What is the representation of AA and Hispanic minorities as a % of college students nationwide (as opposed to as a total % of the general US population)? My personal belief is that W&M has come a LONG way in improving student diversity and hope they and other schools of higher learning will continue to do so. </p>

<p>I took a quick peek at the 2011 C**<em>ege Pr</em>w*ler Book of Colleges which lists % compositions of each school’s student body.
In looking at several “similar” peer schools and a couple of VA state schools that often “compete” for the in-state kids, W&M seems to be doing just as “good” a job, if not “better,” than many others. Clearly this is a nationwide issue and not simply a W&M one.</p>

<p>It lists W&M at 7% AA, 6% H</p>

<p>A few other schools:</p>

<p>Bucknell 3% AA, 3% H
Boston College 6% AA, 8% H
Wake Forest 7% AA, 2% H
Virginia Tech 4%, 3% H
UVA 9% AA, 4% H
U of Rochester 4% AA, 4% H
Tufts 6% AA, 6% H
Lehigh 3% AA, 5% H
James Madison 4% AA, 2% H</p>

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<p>I agree with most of what you’re all saying, but I’ll respond to individual points.</p>

<p>tiharo, you can object to northern Virginia’s affluence all you want, but it’s absolutely true. 46% of the population is making over $100,000 a year, and about 14% are making over $200,000 a year. The area has the highest concentration of 25-34 year olds in the nation making more than $100,000 per year. 55% of adults in northern Virginia also hold bachelors degree, and 34% hold professional/graduate degrees–which is quadruple the rate of the United States as a whole. Northern Virginia is highly educated and highly affluent. Object all you want, but it’s absolutely true.</p>

<p>soccerguy315, it’s hard to disagree with your point, given literacy rates and other measures of achievement. I will say, however, that there are measures in the admission process that are outright biased against students of colors. There is a wealth of research that indicates standardized testing is biased students of color–particularly Hispanic students. It is, frankly, pretty ridiculous that SAT and ACT scores are given such credence in admission offices, when their predictive value of success doesn’t extend beyond a student’s first semester in college. This is not a criticism of William & Mary; it’s a criticism of the process as a whole. </p>

<p>travelfun, I am aware of such statistics. Pointing out that other schools are failing in this measure isn’t really a defense of William & Mary. If you were to catch your children jumping on your bed–an activity which you have absolutely forbidden them from doing–would they escape punishment because they pointed their fingers at each other and screamed, “He’s doing it, too!” Even if all of these other schools are failing, William & Mary is still failing. It just has company in its failure. But, if it will make you happier, I will extend this criticism to all of those institutions you criticize, as well as the uncounted other institutions that are also failing.</p>

<p>All that said, I still love William & Mary. It’s a great place, but it is not a perfect place. I am all for school spirit, but not to such an extent that it clouds our judgment and keeps us from offering constructive criticism regarding things that can be improved.</p>

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<p>Just took a look at the CDS - what’s reported there is:</p>

<p>Total undergraduate enrollment: 5,862 - the first percentage is W&M’s student percentage, the second percentage is the state of VA’s (since they comprise the majority of the student body): </p>

<p>White, Non-Hispanic: 3,251 - 55% - 68.6%
Unknown: 995 - 17% - ?
Hispanic: 445 - 8% - 7.9%
Asian: 426 - 7% - 5.5%
Black: 406 - 7% - 19.4%
Two or more: 134 - 2% - 2.9%
American Indian or Alaska Native: 37 - 0.6% - 0.4%
Native Hawaiian: 8 - 0.1% - 0.1%</p>

<p>If you define “diversity” as being reflective of society at-large, W&M seems to be doing pretty well, at least in the racial make-up. IIRC, the last admissions class was 31.8% students of color - I think that’s pretty good. </p>

<p>Where race doesn’t tell the whole story is the background and viewpoints of each student - white males from Odessa, TX and Berlin, VA, are hardly the same as white males from Odessa, Ukraine and Berlin, GE. Economic and cultural and political diversity are all a part of the story as well, and I find the diversity in those areas at W&M to be particularly rewarding, compared to many, more homogenous schools. </p>

<p>And in fact, some of the most highly-ranked campuses are badly flawed when it comes to that multi-layered view of “diversity” - I mean, what percentage of students at, say, Amherst and Harvard do you think went to prep / private school and are otherwise from economically privileged backgrounds? </p>

<p>The obvious discrepancy in the above numbers in the numbers of “Black” students - but I think in large part, the social issues that create that imbalance are well beyond the ability of a single school to address - those decisions have been made long before the application deadline - a topic, perhaps, for another day.</p>

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<p>@wmwunderkind:I am not disagreeing with you OR justifying OR excusing…no school is perfect, including W&M. I did not say it was okay to jump on the bed or ignore issues of diversity. At all. It is also not about “making me happier.” But to leave prospective students or others reading this forum with the impression that this is an issue specific to W&M is unfair to the College and oversimplifies/diminishes the real and large scale challenges related to this issue on a national level (just a couple of which you alluded to in your comments to socccerguy in the same post). </p>

<p>If you read what I wrote I said ALL universities (including W&M), “…COULD and SHOULD continue to expand student diversity…” and that, while W&M has come a long way in expanding the numbers of URM students, I hope they will continue to work to improve in this area.</p>

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<p>All right. I guess we can go ahead and end this huge derail then, since we’re pretty much in agreement.</p>

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<p>In the vein of “getting back on topic”, the OP, a young woman, apparently asked abiut science and research opportunities - thought this a relevant article:</p>

<p>[Young</a> women making strides in STEM fields | Richmond Times-Dispatch](<a href=“http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2011/nov/03/tdmain02-young-women-making-strides-in-stem-fields-ar-1431064/]Young”>http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2011/nov/03/tdmain02-young-women-making-strides-in-stem-fields-ar-1431064/)</p>

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<p>@wmwunderkind - Agreed. :slight_smile: </p>

<p>Nice article, Squiddy.</p>

<p>I do think one of the useful things about this “exchange” was that it served as a demonstration of a W&M strength…the value and power of enquiry and discussion…that there can and should be thoughtful, civil, reasoned, and respectful discourse/debate over questions and issues (perhaps some of our politicians could learn something). No name calling or mud slinging…just folks engaged in critical thinking and offering various perspectives and information. Certainly the topic of diversity in higher education is large and out of the purview of this thread, but it seems to me an interesting and important topic, worthy of consideration at both the local and national level. It certainly made me think today. So, thanks.</p>

<p>(Perhaps we can now move on to super important things that all Tribe members past, current, and future need to consider…like what is the BEST Cheese Shop sandwich combo?)</p>