I’m an undergrad at Muhlenberg, and there seems to be very few people who actually go here active on the forum. Please re-think coming here if you are a POC. While professors are nice and good to talk to about academics, the campus lacks resources for minority groups and seems to be more focused on attracting students than making sure that they stay. Though it’s a residential college, clubs (apart from EMS, greek life, religious life and acapella) are rather weak and struggle with retention/fostering community. Maybe it’s just me (it’s really not though), but I spend a lot of my time alone. To add on to escalating tuition prices (to fund athletics and a renovated career center that no one asked for), I would rather attend a college that can help me rather than un-relentlessly hound me for donations after I graduate.
I have struggled for a while and would like to prevent others from going through the experience. Go somewhere else (I only stayed for the merit aid!)
@periwinklepop I believe the administration would want to hear from you about your concerns. Have you sought anyone out? It would help them to know that you have not been happy and what you think about the school. They very much want POC to apply to Muhlenberg. Your dissatisfaction with Muhlenberg would be of great concern to them. Please go talk to them about what you have said here. My impression is that they want everyone to feel comfortable and like they belong at school. If they are not aware of the problems, they cannot fix them.
I’ve talked to faculty, multicultural advisors, and peers who have mostly sympathized. Sure, Muhlenberg is working towards making the school more “diverse” by spending $$$ getting evaluated by diversity consulting companies, but the fact of the matter is that the school today is not an environment that helps POC thrive + many people’s social success is dependent on how they interact w the predominantly white population. Muhlenberg admin is trying, but has a long way to go and can only do so much without change in student culture. They have support groups for black and Latino students freshman year via “Emerging Leaders”, but what about other minority groups?
Just know if you go here as POC, you’ll feel pressure to be a poster kid for your racial identity.
@periwinklepop So sorry you are feeling such pressures. Best of luck to you. I do think that the President of the school should see all of this that you wrote. It might really help. I can definitely understand how it feels to be in the minority at a school. having been one at the school I attended as an undergraduate. It is hard for the majority to understand what you are going through or to even realize that you are going through something.