<p>For the second year in a row, Harvard has the highest yield of black students of any of the 22 universities that disclosed statistics to the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. At Harvard, 69.2 percent of black students admitted to the class of 2009 decided to enroll, accounting for 9.3 percent of the freshman class, the highest percentage since the journal started recording statistics in 1992.</p>
<p>Definitely bro. I had like this moment of clarity when I was writing my application. I listed the spanish program that I had founded to help Latin Immigrants in my community become naturalized and the question asked: Do you plan to pursue it in college? I was about to mark "no" because I didnt know exactly how I would start it. However, my mom comes in the room and asks me "why not?" I pause, and then tell myself "why not?" I mean, there are hispanic groups at Harvard (like fuerza latina), therefore, I KNOW there are people that will help me start my program back up again when I go to Boston. There are some people here that have volunteered to pick up the program once I leave, and honestly, I dont want to stop teaching. Its so fun, especially when you help these people and especially their kids : ) In my interview I came clean to my interviewer. I told her that at first (middle school) I wanted to attend Harvard because of the name, and the fiscal stability it would bring to my family. However, I told her that it all changed when I discovered how someone can make a change if led in the right direction and with the help of others.</p>
<p>I am a poor latino with national leadership positions. If your claim was true, HYPMS would be drooling over me -which they are not. However, Cornell and Dartmouth are (hmm...doesnt Harvard really care...lol just kidding)</p>
<p>DHA-Have you applied to WashU or Duke? I know those are two schools that offer full tuition scholarships to top minorities.</p>
<p>I wasn't really saying that HYPMS recruit minorities heavily (although they do recruit), more that top minorities tend to have a large number of options, hence the lower yield.</p>
<p>I dont know about that dude. No one ever told me about Ivys and college. It was all my mother and my drive. I dont think i have many options. Once I drop to below top 25 schools, admit-deny comes into play. What middle-tier school wants a poor kid?</p>
<p>I had to look for that myself. When the Adcom came here, she never mentioned anything of that sort. I think they are more into the league of recruiting rich minorities than the poor. Dont take me wrong, i love Harvard, but I can aknowledge its flaws. Just like I love my country but aknowledge its past evils (slavery, discrimination, etc.)</p>
<p>I don't believe that's exactly true. Right before the beginning of the school year, I actually received a phone call from the minority recruitment program. What sense does it make for them to target only rich minorities?</p>
<p>You are middle-class. Therefore, you will prob get around 20k in fin aid and pay the rest. My family, however, makes 17k for 3 people. 1 of them being an ill senior, another a middle-aged lady and I. What would behoove Harvard to accept me? My uniqueness? Culture? I dare to dream.... Its unfortunate, but discrimination still happens. I will only be able to change my mind when I see that letter in my hand</p>
<p>Well, I personally think Harvard has a lot to gain from accepting a student with your family's financial background. Why else would they be pushing their fin aid initiative so much lately?</p>
<p>I wish it was true. However, the only reason thay have the HFAI is for PR and publicity. I met a guy there this summer who's family is connected with Summers. He told me that Summers never really wanted to enact the program, but the corporation made him to improve the image of the school. Remember, reputation is half of the battle at Harvard -how it is percieved in the world.</p>
<p>Middle class only 20K! No way....my parents income is 65,000 so will they reduce my expenses to like 5000 as they said they would do for a family at or under 60000? I certainly hope so! Its not fair that lower/middle middle class get hurt in this tuition deal while the polar extremes poor/rich are helped in a way...low money= awesome financial aid....rich= a way to pay.......</p>
<p>I believe that the whole financial aid for the poor is a scam. Its all PR. The Fin aid goes to asians with awesome stats, and the poor minorities get screwed over. I mean they will prob accept a couple to seem like they are doing things right, but u never know.</p>
<p>DHA-
[quote]
The Fin aid goes to asians with awesome stats, and the poor minorities get screwed over. I mean they will prob accept a couple to seem like they are doing things right, but u never know.
[/quote]
That simply isn't true. There is something that is run through the Undergraduate Council called the Student Events Fund (SEF), where eligible undergrads get free tickets to any campus events that has tix being sold through the Box Office. The eligibility is determined by the Financial Aid Office. If you get SEF, it means you are one of the 100 poorest students at Harvard- I can't remember if that is per grade, or over all (I believe its per grade). I just counted off the people I know with SEF...about 30, myself included...and none of them are Asian. There's a facebook.com group called "SEF works for me :)" and there are no Asians in that group either...it is predominantly Hispanic and Black.</p>
<p>DHA- as you said, no one ever told you about Harvard. </p>
<p>I would suggest, based on anecdotal evidence, that one reason lower income and minority students do not come to Harvard is because they may feel intimidated. I know several students who were accepted who did not come for this reason. Last week, the Crimson ran an article about the divide between socioeconomic classes...someone can find the link...and they interviewed a current Univ. of OK freshman who was accepted at Harvard. She was white and lower income, and she chose not to go because she wants to be a housewife. This is why the Harvard name needs to get into lower income and minority communities, so students will not feel intimidated or out of place for matriculating or even applying here.</p>
<p>
[quote]
However, the only reason thay have the HFAI is for PR and publicity. I met a guy there this summer who's family is connected with Summers.
[/quote]
. I've benefitted from HFAI. I have friends who have. I'm pretty sure that having a tangible effect on students' lives isn't just PR and publicity. 20% more lower income students came this year. As for gossip about Summers- it is a dime a dozen at Harvard. Take what you hear with a large grain of salt.</p>