<p>How would you describe the URM feeling at Harvard? I have often heard that there are scarcely that many URMs at Harvard. How would you guys describe this?</p>
<p>Why don’t you look up the percentages then do some arithmetic if you want to have the actual numbers? It’s not something you have to hear about. Harvard publishes a racial breakdown. Google is your friend.</p>
<p>Google is always your friend. On a similar topic, what about being an international?</p>
<p>Google is still your friend.</p>
<p>But google has never BEEN to Harvard. First hand accounts are always better…</p>
<p>A year or two ago, Black Issues in Higher Education ranked Harvard as the best non-HBCU college destination in the country for African-Americans. White Americans make up 42% of the student body, along with some in the 15% category “race unknown.” Harvard is one of the most diverse campuses in the country, if not the world, and the interaction of different racial, ethnic, and religious groups on campus is not only extensive, but a distinguishing characteristic of campus life.</p>
<p>Internationals 11%</p>
<p>Blacks are very well represented on campus – the Black Men’s Forum, Black Students Association, African Students Association, and the Association of Black Harvard Women are all highly visible and regularly throw large functions. Tight bonds have been known to form in these organizations. </p>
<p>I know less about Hispanic organizations, but I have some Hispanic friends who get quite a lot of meaning out of them. There’s also an Hispanic fraternity chapter at Boston University – forget what it’s called, though. </p>
<p>And don’t forget, Harvard is in a city, and college one at that, so if you can’t find your type on campus, you can definitely branch out to other schools or Boston-based organizations. I know, for instance, the Boston Black Student Network is pretty active.</p>
<p>fact. it is so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so much harder for asian than to blacks and hispanic. especially for Ivies and MIT.</p>
<p>uh it is so much harder for asian to black and hispanic? …ok then.</p>
<p>^seriously really?that was a joke right?</p>
<p>College-goer was referencing Affirmative Action policies used in elite universities’ admission practices.</p>
<p>But still it is not our fault that colleges have affirmative action… So other races, specifically asians, should get off our case. Im not going to apologize because I am an african american.</p>
<p>You Asians may have it hard, but how about us white people? We’re held responsible for almost every genocide/war in the history of man. Don’t complain. We’re still living colonialism down. ;)</p>
<p>Seriously though, everybody cool it. Everyone who gets admitted to Harvard is more than qualified academically, and extracurricular-ly. Sure, it might come down to race between two equally qualified applicants; they’re trying to create a diverse atmosphere. I’ll be disappointed if I’m passed over because of my race, but I understand why. Life is tough.</p>
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<p>Specific groups certainly have the right to lament past social transgressions as long as it is not countered by more racism since it is not fair to those who are innocent. But yes, I wholeheartedly agree that it is unnecessary for certain non-benefactors of the policy to disparage those who do benefit since they obviously did nothing to create the policy. </p>
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<p>Certainly. Many naturally blame social plights on the centuries-old atrocities of our “ancestors.” Unfortunately, this often only serves to breed further animosity, which is actually antithetical to the main purpose of the policy. </p>
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<p>I realize that being political correct is necessary when discussing such a volatile issue, but Affirmative Action policies are more extreme than simply choosing “between two equally qualified applicants.” Moreover, the purpose behind Affirmative Action in elite universities’ admission policies is often unrealistically evaluated. They are not attempting to expeditiously close the inequalities in occupational distributions or compensate for previous social ills. Colleges are after color since providing advantages to certain ethnicities will inevitably work to attract the largest demographic possible by appealing to the burgeoning minority population for the sake of increasing marketing power and selectivity.</p>
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<p>I respectfully disagree. In this same way that Harvard actively searches for specially talented musicians, artists, athletes, and academics, Harvard also looks for those with unique ethnic, socioeconomic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. One of the main driving factors in my decision to apply to Harvard was the fact that they are notorious for creating incredibly diverse classes comprised of people from varied nations and backgrounds.</p>
<p>Once again, I will state that anyone admitted to Harvard, regardless of race, religion or cultural background, has proven over the course of their education career thus far, that they are fully capable of handling a Harvard education. I challenge you to find one Harvard undergraduate student who was admitted solely upon the necessity to fill a quota. I do believe you will find your quest nigh impossible.</p>
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<p>Colleges are managed more like businesses than they are to benefit their students. That is, institutional needs precede social needs. The primary motivations for attaining a diverse class is for the maintenance of reputation, marketing purposes, and competition with peer institutions to attract the largest demographic possible. They may want you to believe that non-meritocratic admission boosts are exclusively provided for the sake of a heightened social experience, but that is simply too idealistic and untrue.</p>
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<p>Please do not deliberately misconstrue the argument or insinuate any such accusations. I did not suggest that Harvard (or any other institution for that matter) would accept a student if he or she demonstrated an inability to manage the academic rigor - nor would any reasonable individual.</p>
<p>While I do believe that the policy of creating of a diverse class does significantly enhance one’s education experience, I will agree with you that the policy also works towards fulfilling the “institutional needs” of Harvard. I myself have no qualms with this; I want Harvard to be just an attractive educational option for my children as it is for myself now, and if these are the lengths to which Ivy League schools go to maintain the high ground, then so be it.</p>
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<p>Yes, I agree. Personally, I consider diversity admissions to be beneficial in the case that they recognize unique talents, perspectives, life experiences, and any other demonstrated circumstances that are not conducive to individual achievement. However, I fully realize that my own conceptions of the merits of diversity may be different from those of another individual. But policies that indiscriminately assume the extent to which a person has these qualities without first considering the social context of the individual are not the most objective assessments.</p>
<p>Well put, mifune. I would like to listen to you debate; I have a feeling you’re rather good at it.</p>