<p>So I saw this post:</p>
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maybe Cal (idk about how I'd feel being a minority there b/c I'm white)
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<p>My first reaction was, what is the big deal, since a lot of students do fine as members of ethnic minority groups at their schools.</p>
<p>But is this actually a significant factor or concern in school selection for many students?</p>
<p>(Please note: this is not intended to be a discussion about admissions policies.)</p>
<p>It’s not a matter of “doing fine”. It is about how you feel, and what institutional policies may or may not be in place to foster inclusiveness.</p>
<p>It may depend on some other factors such as the community that you’re in.</p>
<p>There weren’t a lot of minority students at Boston College back in the 70s but the minority population in Boston was significant so that people in general didn’t find it odd to see a non-white person. I have been to places where people weren’t used to seeing asian or black people and it’s an odd feeling to have people staring at you because you are so different.</p>
<p>I had to chuckle when I moved up to Maine from Texas and heard people talk about how racist southerners are. At that time, Maine was about the whitest state in the country. They had no experience with race relations! When Somalians began coming to the state, one town made national news for its unwelcoming stance. People have started accepting them more now, fortunately.</p>
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<p>Apparently still is (or close to), at 95.2% white (though this can include Latinos who are 1.3% total):
[Maine</a> QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau](<a href=“http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/23000.html]Maine”>http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/23000.html)</p>
<p>However, the major city of Portland is “only” 85.0% white (Latinos are 3.0%):
[Portland</a> (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau](<a href=“http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/23/2360545.html]Portland”>http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/23/2360545.html)</p>
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<p>Was that in Lewiston or where those from Nigeria?</p>
<p>Bangor was where we walked into an Arbys and everyone turned and stared at us as we were walking to the counter.</p>
<p>I though Minnesota won the prize for the whitest state…</p>
<p>Not even close to Maine; Minnesota is 85.3% white (including Latinos), 83.1% (not including Latinos).</p>
<p>[Minnesota</a> QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau](<a href=“http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/27000.html]Minnesota”>http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/27000.html)</p>
<p>AAhh. Thanks. Glad to hear its so diverse :)</p>
<p>NH is 93.9%.</p>
<p>The Somalians are in Lewiston. Bates has made a real effort in not only working with the community but admitting several each year. </p>
<p>As for the OP, my friend’s daughter really didn’t want to go to Berkeley not because she was white and the school has huge numbers of Asians, but because she didn’t want to surrounded by, in her words, grinds. She is there though because of financial reasons, She doesn’t love it but not because of the grind issue, because of the Uni’s size. She really wanted to be at a small LAC. </p>
<p>My son is Asian and at Bates. We adopted him from SK and he has been in a similar environment for 18 years. Very use to being one of only a few Asians where ever he is.</p>
<p>D1 rejected a college as being “too white”. It is about comfort and how ones feels.</p>
<p>As far as Maine goes, the Bush family summer home location in Kennebunkport is even whiter than Maine as a whole (97.1% including Latinos, 96.2% not including Latinos). It appears that if Jeb and his family visit, they would increase the Latino population there by about 6%.</p>
<p>Back to the original subject, would white students coming from such areas tend to be more concerned about this type of thing if considering attending a UC, Hawaii, UTEP, Howard, etc.?</p>
<p>Black, white, brown or freckled, we are all the same color on the inside. Students attending UC will be brilliant, interesting and driven to succeed no matter what they look like or where they are from. My son made friends with people from all over the world, sampled all kinds of ethnic cuisine, and learned to appreciate people for more than superficial appearances. There is a lot to learn by attending a diverse school.</p>
<p>“But is this actually a significant factor or concern in school selection for many students?”</p>
<p>I don’t think you have to be a minority student for it to be a significant factor. My daughter was offered a scholarship at a school that has a beautiful campus and a high ranking. She said she could never go there because it was “too white and too preppy.” Kids want to be comfortable in their environment, whatever their race.</p>
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<p>Minnesota isn’t even in the top 10 among “whitest” or “least diverse” states. Northern New England takes the “prize” with 3 of the top 4 spots:</p>
<ol>
<li>Maine</li>
<li>Vermont</li>
<li>West Virginia</li>
<li>New Hampshire </li>
<li>Iowa</li>
<li>North Dakota</li>
<li>Montana</li>
<li>Kentucky</li>
<li>Wyoming</li>
<li>Idaho</li>
</ol>
<p>Rural Minnesota is pretty white, but Minneapolis and Saint Paul are now both about 60-65% white, with substantial (and growing) black, Latino, and Asian populations. Minneapolis has a huge and rapidly growing community of Somalis and other East Africans. Saint Paul is home to the largest Hmong population in the United States. The Latino population in both cities is also growing rapidly. In fact, the public schools in both Minneapolis and Saint Paul have been “majority minority” for many years now.</p>
<p>I guess they should be proud …</p>
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<p>And I guess I don’t understand that comment.</p>
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<p>This is not accurate.</p>
<p>It wasn’t the “town” that made national news, it was the MAYOR of the city of Lewiston who–operating completely on his own–wrote a letter to the Somali community asking them to stem the flow of Somali refugees then streaming up from the Atlanta area to Lewiston/Auburn. (Reportedly they did not like the crime endemic there, and apparently they did not find Maine “unwelcoming” even though the Atlanta area certainly has a much higher % of African Americans.) The mayor’s stated reason was that L/A is a very depressed area with high unemployment (true) and this was putting an increased demand on their already-stretched social services. (Also probably true. The population in question, being refugees, was generally in need of housing and significant support services.) The mayor–a person of French-Canadian background, which carries within itself an entire story about immigration and discrimination that few outside of the state know anything about–numbered at least one black child among his family, btw. Everyone agreed that his action was unbelievably dumb, and gave voice to racists, even if his action was not actually prompted by personal racism. (Who really knows…) When this gained national attention was when a racist group from OUTSIDE of Maine heard about it and said they were going to come and demonstrate against immigrants. In response, a huge counter-demonstration of thousands of MAINERS in support of the Somali community was immediately organized. I attended that demonstration with my family and many friends. The out-of-state racist group apparently fielded about a dozen on the outskirts of town somewhere. So much for the racist population of Lewiston and Maine in general.</p>
<p>To represent this as an example of MAINERS being racist and non-welcoming is simply inaccurate.</p>
<p>Of course, Maine has had an African American population for hundreds of years, with established churches in Portland. Every year the NAACP MLK breakfast in Portland is a huge deal, followed by a service–usually held in my overwhelmingly white historic church, sorry, I guess we are automatically racist scum–and a small demonstration. I’ve been to it several times. Later in the day there is a huge multi-group gospel concert. I’ve sung in it several times.</p>
<p>I could go on detailing African groups/activities that are actively supported by broad swatches of the white population in the Portland area, at least.</p>
<p>There certainly are areas of the state where people of color are rara avis. It is certainly true that Maine is the whitest state in the nation. This is a matter of historical accident, not intent. (I wouldn’t be surprised if the African immigrant population in Portland far exceeds that of African Americans.) Certainly, there are fewer black Americans here than in former slave states, like Texas, and fewer Hispanics than in states that border Mexico. On the other hand, I bet Texas has fewer francophone French Canadians. My mother grew up in CT, and never knew an Asian person other than the guy who ran the local laundry. My father grew up in Portland OR. His best friend was Chinese and he never knew an Italian. That doesn’t mean that my mother hated Asians and my father hated Italians. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>To return to the original question, it certainly is understandable that people don’t want to stand out too much in their environment, and that they do not wish to be “curiosities” among their peers. There is probably some kind of tipping point for comfort. (Which of course explains why Maine remains very white, too.)</p>