<p>So I got invited to apply for the Balfour H Scholars Program which is a program that gives you college experience beforehand by offering college credit and stuff during the summer. Plus its all free. </p>
<p>I was really excited until I read the part about it being for "historically underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups"</p>
<p>I didn't get invited cause I'm a good student its cause I'm an ethnic minority?</p>
<p>I kind of want to attend but does anyone else think that this is unfair? It's only offered to underrepresented ethnic minority groups </p>
<p>I am a firm believer in succeeding through your own hard efforts and this advantage just doesn't seem right to me. </p>
<p>They only offer it to specific minorities; the majority of minority students are not invited. I don’t know what their exact formula for determining which students to invite is but I’m thinking that they’re trying to target students that they think might need a greater amount of time to adjust to college life than most of their classmates. In other words, I think they invite minorities that are a combination of various characterisitcs that tend to influence college adjustment.</p>
<p>Okay I know Notre Dame has good intentions and all
but if what you say “notredamebrother” is true then
I am kind of offended. The letter said because of your
“talents” but, I’m going to sound cynical, it’s because they
think I will need more help? Now I really feel like I would
feel embarrassed if I took part in the program.</p>
<p>They dont necessarily think you need “help” but rather want to ensure that that those invited are able to adjust to college-level coursework by the time your the Fall semester begins. Like I said, I don’t know the exact criteria in the selection process but I do know that the participants are enrolled in college-level classes and also participate in group-bonding activities.</p>
<p>I was invited and will probably attend. I can understand it being somewhat offensive, but Notre Dame is making serious efforts to increase the presence of underrepresented minorities on campus; they want ( and need) to be more diverse. I think the program is less of a “remedial coursework” type of situation, than an opportunity for Asians/Blacks/Latinos/Native Americans to feel “home” and welcome at Notre Dame. Although I dont really like the isolation the program seems to encourage, Ive heard from former participants and they absolutely loved it!</p>
<p>If you think of it that way then I guess its not as bad.
I know that ND lacks diversity and I thought I would be fine with it.
I have never really had any issues with racism or anything like that and I
get a long with caucasian people just fine.
I guess I was thinking of it like a “remedial course”.
I didn’t want to have that label as “the person who needed extra help” like I’m some kind
of handicap or something.</p>
<p>No it’s definetly not remedial. I think it’s more of a leadership initiative, they want you to become advisors and peers to future incoming minorities. I’m guessing they chose applicants based on leadership potential.</p>
<p>For instance, When I went on a Spring Visit Weekend, they had a current Balfour Hesburgh Scholar give us a small presentation.</p>
<p>And they are not saying we are incapable of social interaction with Caucasians haha , I think the goal is to have us help other minorities who could have trouble.</p>
<p>Thanks greenmgzee for your insight.
I think I have probably looking at this in a way too cynical way.
I will seriously consider going.
Thanks again :D</p>
<p>Key007,
I am way old, so take my thoughts in that perspective. I grew up in the south under Jim Crow laws, where people of color were made to feel unwelcome everywhere. Whatever institutional doors have opened to URMs are open for more good reasons than bad ones. Our country will never move forward until people with differences big and small can interact and learn from one another. I think of programs like these as marketing tools for universities like Notre Dame. I am grateful that large, prestigious universities recognize that they are deficient if they cannot offer their students the opportunity to interact with a variety of people. I guess I don’t think they are condescending to you: they are using you, in a good way. The campus will benefit if they can recruit talented kids of all races and nationalities, and they know that. In order to attract kids who might not otherwise consider a mostly white university, universities have to reach out and market themselves to get your attention. You get a summer program with college credits and ND gets targeted, hopefully effective, advertising for itself and what it can offer you. If they win you and others over, the whole campus benefits. You are lucky enough to have grown up in a different time than I did. You have the luxury of worrying that an open door might mean you are being patronized, instead of finding all doors closed to you, regardless of your talent and accomplishments, simply because of who you are. Being genuinely welcome is a good thing, especially if the not-so-hidden agenda may be mutually beneficial. Good luck to you</p>
<p>Hi i was also invited for this and I am going away for vacation from May to June 21st so I wouldn’t even know I got in or not. I just want to know if you guys think it’s worth it to apply. If I get in, which is probably unlikely, do any of you know if I can come home after the course is over which is July 20th and then go back to ND August 17th?</p>