Admitted student days: modern-day segregation?

Applying to College
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<p>Who else feels kind of weird about it? I'm not a huge opponent of affirmative action or anything, but most schools that I know have separate admitted student days for white people and for minorities. I also understand that having segregated admitted students days is intended to cater to the minorities (to help them acclimate better to a mostly white campus, I guess?), but couldn't you just peg that as reverse racism?</p>

<p>I'm really tired and have a ton of homework, so I'll come back and build a stronger argument later if people actually discuss this, but staying with a friend at her college campus recently and witnessing the separate white and non-white admitted student days was just the strangest thing for me.</p>

<p>How would you justify the separate-but-equal student days? Do they rub you the wrong way, too? Or do you view them as necessary? I mean, ultimately the class of '13 will be integrated, and the preview days are meant to give you a sneak peak of what life is actually like as a student at ___ College, no?</p>

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<p>I agree with you. It’s completely counterproductive. One of the purposes of affirmative action is to bring diversity, and having separate admitted student days just encourages segregation, which is why you will see the campuses at nearly every university segregated by race.</p>

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<p>generally there is an admitted students day for minorities and then an admitted students day for everyone(including the minorities), not a specific whites only day, and the latter is completely different than the former so they aren’t entirely comparable, many minorities probably only go to the regular day, although I’m sure many only go to the minorities one and some go to both.</p>

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<p>I have never understood this either, but to each her own. I guess a lot of people who are minorities feel, uh, different? I’m African-American and I’ve never felt uncomfortable in one situation or another. I can’t really figure out how an applicant would feel weird at the regular day just because he or she is a minority, unless he or she is international (generally an entirely different ball game). But if some people want minority days, uh, go for it.</p>

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<p>I don’t think the minority-only days are needed any more. I think they were needed decades ago when many schools were just integrating or were just beginning to admit more than a couple of URMS. Things are different now.</p>

<p>I’m black, and neither of my sons felt the need to participate in black-only orientation activities. They both were used to being around people of all races including being among the few black people in many situations.</p>

<p>Younger son also said that he didn’t like how in regular orientation activities for college and other organizations, he was always paired with another black student in situations in which students were given mentors, etc. He didn’t like the fact that it appeared that race was the only basis for the matches. He also didn’t like how in at least one situation, his black peer mentor assumed that S would have fears, etc. about being in a predominantly white institution, and the mentor kept giving S unneeded reassurance about that situation. The same well-meaning mentor also assumed that S would be eager to participate in a black organization’s occasional “soul food” meals. S grew up in a family that loves cooking from a variety of cultures, and the fried chicken dinners that the mentor thought S was longing for aren’t something that we eat at home.</p>

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<p>Oh wow. I just know of admitted students day for all races. I think I will feel odd if I attended a admitted students day aim just for my race. I mean, I feel comfortable around all races.</p>

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<p>They are well intentioned to give minority students extra time to acclimate if needed, like other posters have said. My alma mater offered one and I went (I’m Asian)–not b/c I was fearful of attending a majority white institution, but so that I could get more time to meet folks before school started. The pgm had some academics but we really just hung out, explored and had a good time. Dates, dances, even a huge concert that was in town. We then participated in the larger freshman orientation programs.</p>

<p>There were pluses and minuses but I understand the planners’ intentions. While I had no issues, I did notice that some kids needed that time due to the extreme culture shock that was my Ivy school. Indeed, one young lady from TX withdrew about 4 days into the semester.</p>

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<p>I’ve attended admitted days for minority applicants at several schools so far. i find them very helpful bc it important to talk to students of your own race abt their experiences, and how they fit in at the college. When you only make up 6-10% of a school, you need to know how you will fit in, especially for those minority students coming from areas where they are not minorities. all of the programs I went to made an effort for us to have interaction with students of all colors. The main goal was for me to room with someone of the same race and hear their experiences.</p>

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<p>Which specific colleges are you talking about?</p>

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<p>Hahaha, I got an “Asian Perspectives” invitation from Johns Hopkins. I think I stared at it and went “WHAT??” for a minute…</p>

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<p>please watch the impact/implication of your words. your use of “reverse racism” is not only ignorant and naive, but also a heavy expression. I know you didn’t mean any harm – but people often like to peg things as “reverse racism” – please think of what the word “racism” denotes and what your scenario denotes – and note the difference!</p>

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<p>I’ve never heard of an admitted students day for whites only. What school does that?</p>

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<p>Mount Holyoke just started one pFNMCp.</p>

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<p>Some programs exist to assist returning veterans ease back into civilian college life. Some programs exist for people with disabilities. Some programs exist for International students. Some programs exist to help athletes whose academics may lag behind a bit or need assistance given their schedules. </p>

<p>Separate but equal? Not meant to be. My alma mater’s Minority pre orientation program opened up to all races – but the obvious emphasis remained with helping minorities acclimate to campus – especially those who came from very different backgrounds. Does this seem more “unjust” than a program where returning veterans are brought to campus early to learn the ropes after having just mustered out of the armed forces? </p>

<p>I don’t think so.</p>

<p>Emory: You’re saying that Mt Holyoke has a “whites only” orientation program? Really? Can you post a link to that info? </p>

<p>All I could find was this:
<a href=“http://www.mtholyoke.edu/offices/dos/12586.shtml[/url]”>http://www.mtholyoke.edu/offices/dos/12586.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>One of the topics (among 5 others) of this discussion is white identity: but that’s hardly a “whites only” orientation program. The pages which discuss incoming students’ orientation make no mention that I can find. </p>

<p>I just looked at an article posted about it on CC. The discussion was certainly lively but to imply that it is a freshman orientation program is a stretch. The Integroup dialogues (which are optional attendance) cover these topics:</p>

<p>Race/Ethnicity Dialogue
White Students Intragroup Dialogue
Gender / Sexual Orientation Dialogue
Class Dialogue
Interfaith / Religion Dialogue</p>

<p>In this context, what’s the problem? Really? </p>

<p>And it CERTAINLY IS NOT an admitted students day for white students only. Do you agree?</p>

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<p>I don’t have a problem. I wish more places would. And read the “featured discussions” list</p>

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<p>I’ve never heard of white people only admitted student day. Actually, I have never received an invitation to a minority admitted student day either (I’m Asian). Maybe because I’m international (Canadian), but none of the invitations that I received for admitted student day denotes the races welcomed. I never even knew there were segregated admitted student day until I read this thread.</p>

<p>However, on this subject, I have mixed feelings. On one hand, it does present some benefits for URM. Sometimes there will be <5% of them in the university, and it is a nice time to introduce them to the university, other students, and sometimes, a new culture. However, for many people, it is unnecessary. I think for minorities that are not really in the minority (Asians [especially Southeast Asians], African Americans, Latinos), it isn’t all that beneficial, especially if you have lived in the US your whole life. Then university is likely nothing new, and you are used to the multiculturalism. Plus there are plenty of clubs and societies for minorities only, such as Asian women club or African women society, and if you want to meet people of your ethnicity, you can always join those when you go to university. Or just you know, talk to a person of your ethnicity. I don’t know if you can request roommates base on their ethnicity, but that could be another way to meet someone of your own ethnicity. </p>

<p>In the end, I think the admitted student days for minorities are only beneficial to international students, and URM. Otherwise, it’s pretty unnecessary. I for one, would feel weird going to an admitted student day only for minorities. But I do think that the universities mean well, and as long as the minority day is optional and there is an admitted student day open to all, then really there are worse things to be worried about.</p>

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<p>These types of segregated admit days for minorities are also starting to feel a little weird to me.</p>

<p>My URM son is used to being around non-minorities, and it would actually be a new experience for him to be thrown in with an all-minority group in an academic setting.</p>

<p>Some of this seems to me that colleges stereotype URMs as having certain “needs” that must be met by these programs. Which makes me wonder, if my S doesn’t have these “needs”, would he still be considered an “authentic” URM by some? This AA situation is a bit messed up.</p>

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<p>“My URM son is used to being around non-minorities, and it would actually be a new experience for him to be thrown in with an all-minority group in an academic setting.”</p>

<p>This was my experience when I went to college back in the 1970s. Then, it was rare for blacks to come from my kind of background. Except for being around my own family and attending one junior NAACP meeting when I was growing up, I had never been in an all black setting until I was invited to Brown U’s black student weekend when I was a Brown applicant. I found the black weekend useful, but not for the reasons it was created. It helped me learn to connect with peers who were of my own race, something I hadn’t had a chance to do before.</p>

<p>My sons grew up in a home in which we’ve always welcomed people of all races and ethnicities. They also went to schools/magnet programs in which blacks were very much in the minority. They were fourth generation college students, second generation students at mainstream colleges, and had no fear of going to mainstream colleges where they’d racially be in the minority.</p>

<p>Older S was accepted to Vanderbilt, and was invited to some weekend they had for black students. He didn’t bother to go, though he would have gone to a mainstream weekend if Vanderbilt had invited him.</p>

<p>Younger S happily went to a multicultural orientation at his mainstream LAC to which all students – including white students – were invited. S was given two peer mentors who were very different-- a black male and a Hispanic female. The back male was well meaning, but assumed that S had come from an all black background like the black student had, and kept offering S reassurance and advice that didn’t meet S’s needs. </p>

<p>For instance, the student let S know that when he got homesick for soul food, he’d be able to look forward to attending the black student organization’s soul food dinners that would have things like fried chicken and greens. I’m a vegetarian and my husband is a wonderful cook of ethnic foods that include Chinese, Indian, German, African and Caribbean. The only fried chicken S has had was stir fried. S hates greens.</p>

<p>Students could opt to remain active in the multicultural organization for the rest of their college stay, including becoming peer mentors. At the end of orientation, they could select whomever they wanted as their peer mentor. S chose the Hispanic female, S did click with the Hispanic student, who shared many interests with him including a love of volunteering and dancing. They became close friends.</p>

<p>S has applied to be a peer mentor for next fall’s entering freshmen.</p>

<p>I think that this is a wonderful model that other colleges could use. Certainly students who were in racial minorities had plenty of opportunity to bond and talk about their concerns with other people of their race. At the same time, students of all races had the opportunity to meet each other, get their concerns addressed, and bond while doing fun activities including community service. </p>

<p>S and I both loved the inclusion of community service. Too often colleges view URMs as being students who are needy, not students who have lots to give to others. Too often colleges view students of all races as being in need of services, but not as people who in the greater world are extremely privileged and have lots of skills and talents to give back to society.</p>

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<p>I continue to receive these invites to “multi-cultural” and “diversity” events being held at the schools I’ve been accepted to, and it’s starting to make me feel a little weird. I can fully understand how something like this could still be useful, especially for URMs who’ve spent their entire lives around other URMs, moving to a school where they’ll make up less than 7% of the school population. But for me, it does feel like a form of segregation that starts before anyone even moves onto campus. I’m African American, but I’ve had to interact with practically every race (priv. elementary- mostly Asian, pub. middle school- mostly black and latino, pub. high school- mostly white), so I’ve got no problem meeting and connecting with anyone. In fact, I’ve already spoken to many kids from the school I’m planning on going to, and only one or 2 were the same race as me. I’m afraid that if I go to those black student days or whatever, I’ll be pegged as someone who self-segregates, and have to listen to others try and reassure me on issues I don’t need reassurance on…</p>

<p>If that made any sense! Haha, the thoughts just got scrambled in my mind, so I feel like someone is going misunderstand what I was trying to say.</p>

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<p>collegebound91,
You made sense to me, and your background and perspective is similar to how my sons viewed such invitations with the exception of the one that I described at younger S’s college that was open to students of all races, including whites.</p>

<p>I wish that colleges would understand that just because a student is black, Hispanic or Native American doesn’t mean that they need help adapting to college or a predominantly-white environment.</p>

<p>I think that what needs to be done is helping very low income students and first generation college students of all races adapt to college, which can be a big culture shock. That can be done, too, as part of the kind of multicultural orientation that S’s college offers.</p>