<p>I applied already because I like what the school has to offer from scholarships and study abroad programs and of course football. Ive been scaring myself by looking up recent encounters of racism on the campus, for a while I just didnt care. However, my friends and family are scaring me into believing its not the right place for me because first of all ive never been to south ( im from california) and second im black. Ive started to believe everyone's story's and point of views and Ive havent been on my grind about sending in the last things i would need( so they can review my application) to apply because im scared i just wont be accepted socially there.....Any advice?</p>
<p>Sadly, incidents involving race happen on many college campuses throughout the US. The best thing you can do is visit the campus for yourself to see how you feel and assess the academic programs. You could Google almost any college and racism and find a story. Submitting your application information doesn’t commit you to attending, but not doing it soon could result in you missing deadlines for scholarships and special academic programs like the Honors College. At minimum, I would suggest contacting your admissions counselor and getting your application completed. That way, you have plenty of time to make a decision.</p>
<p>You will be fine. My son is a freshman there and having a wonderful time. I guarantee you when you arrive for orientation or just a visit that there will be a vibe that doesn’t exist elsewhere. It’s like a family feel. The department heads , leaders and professors give out their cell phone numbers in case there is any question you may have. My son has an academic advisor as well as an academic mentor that he meets with 3-4 times a semester as he is in the Fasttrack program. Of the freshman class that started in 2013, 84.6 percent have returned for their sophomore year. There is a reason for the high retention rate. We are from Ohio and could not be more happy with Ole Miss. I graduated from Indiana U and never thought I would see a better undergraduate experience out there. You pass people on the street in Oxford and they actually greet you and ask where you are from. A number of my friends had kids that graduated from there and wish they could go back. My son’s fraternity, Beta, has like 6 kids from California.</p>
<p>My daughter will be a freshman there next year. The racial problems have been a concern for my wife and I until we examined the school with great scrutiny. The concerns have been alleviated after visiting the school, meeting the directors of several departments, and reviewing many forums online. We realized that the problems have been minimal and isolated. I have been impressed that the school has taken the racial issues head on while most other schools seem to minimize the existence of their racial problems. My daughter has many opportunities to attend other schools as a NMSF, but Ole Miss is by far her top choice. We believe we found a hidden gem and can’t wait for her to matriculate there. We are completely comfortable with her being 7+ hours away at Ole Miss. Please do your research, visit the school and ask them all of your toughest questions about the racial issues.</p>