So what is studying in the US actually like?

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>Not to "enter the fray" but I think that rl.hill is saying that a mixed-race person either associates with mostly blacks or mostly whites. </p>

<p>From personal experience, I've never really seen that much. I go to a private school with 90% white kids, 9% mexicans, and perhaps three black students in the entire student body. Even though these students are a minority, I've never seen issues of racism. Of course, it must be considered that I go to a religiously-affiliated high school, but that's just what i've seen. If nothing else, people won't like you if you're a racist, not because of your race. </p>

<p>In general, in America I would say that as long as you're not "Here I am with my ultra-awesome race in your face" and really making your race an issue, people don't care. We're all human beings, and I think most Americans have come to terms with that. We're not the generation of our parents. None of us were alive during the Civil Rights movement, none of us are "shocked" when we see a black person walking a around. </p>

<p>In conclusion: Don't decide to avoid the American college experience because you're worried about racism or "racial consciousness." If you are nice to us, we will like you that much more and probably think it's cool that you're different only because it means that you, coming from another country (not another ethnicity) means you have different life experiences that contribute to our view of the world.</p>

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<p>rl.hill, you don't make sense. Even some of our MIXED celebrities are considered BLACK socially! What on earth are you talking about?</p>

<p>Mixed people can also win BLACK scholarships and awards and such.</p>

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<ol>
<li><p>Racism is very very rare you would probably need to go to a school in the middle of no where Kentucky in order to experience it.</p></li>
<li><p>Everybody under the age of 21 has had alcohol at some point in their lives. So drink up</p></li>
<li><p>College life depends on where you go to college.</p></li>
</ol>

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<p>
[quote]
Mixed people can also win BLACK scholarships and awards and such.

[/quote]

Yeah, but I don't think they could apply for a "whites only" scholarship (if that existed).</p>

<p>I think rl.hill is saying that it doesn't make a difference (socially) whether you have one black and one white or two black parents - you are still black.</p>

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<p>Pleiad, extracurriculars aren't super-important unless you're trying to get into an very good school. Especially when you note that you're an international and systems are different there, the school will take that into consideration. As someone who goes to a regionally well-known state school which accepts slightly-higher-than-average test scores and grades, I can tell you from working in the admissions department here that extracurriculars aren't even considered that much. Other state schools (besides the nationally well-known ones, like the UC system in california) are probably very similar. </p>

<p>Personally, what I would recommend is take the SAT and when you get your score, look for schools with that score in it's middle 50% range and also schools where your score may be at the higher end of their ranges. </p>

<p>Also, I honestly don't think race matters as much as rl.hill seems to think it does. As a white girl, I have friends of all races: white, black, hispanic, asian, and some that are mixed of those races. From what I've seen, there is sometimes a self-segregation among some groups of people. it seems like they flock together just because they look alike, which I always thought was weird. I'm a 5'9" fair-skinned white girl, does that mean I should only spend time with other tall white people? Of course not, my best friend is 5'3" and a quarter-Native American with tan skin and black hair. My ex is from Central America. Another good friend of mine is a half black-half Puerto Rican girl who grew up in Japan. I just don't see the big deal in what someone looks like. Why make a big deal about a random evolutionary trait that developed because of Vitamin D production and sunlight exposure?</p>

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<p>I don't want to stereotype anyone, but it seems to me that black people are on average more outgoing and Asians are often less outgoing than the 'average' person. That might be one reason why certain racial groups tend to "flock together" - not just because they have the same skin color.</p>

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<p>Re. race: I'm brown and international, and I don't even have an awesome British accent, and I've never faced any racial issues. I have white friends, black friends, Asian friends and international friends. It's not something you have to deal with in a college environment.</p>

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<p>Rl you are making things far too complicated.</p>

<p>OP, I'm black. First off, the race issue, don't worry about it. If you are really concerned go to the west or the northeast or Miami florida area. Those are our most metropolitan and diverse areas. Honestly though, you are mixed, there's nothing to worry about. There is going to be racism everywhere, but I think that we probably have the best kind in the sense that most people who are racist are in two extremeties:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>They are straight enough to admit it. I'm fine with this, you don't like me it's cool, we just don't talk.</p></li>
<li><p>Who are too fearful to say it so they keep it bottled in.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Generally though you are going to get along GREAT, especially if you have that sexy british accent going (guys AND girls in america go crazy for it). People are awesome, and I'd venture to say we have the craziest and most outgoing teenagers in the WORLD. I've got an exchange friend who's going to our school from Germany this year and he LOVES it here so far, so much so that he's decided he wants to go to california or new york for schooling in the future. There's something about Americans and foreigners that we just kind of embrace and love showing you guys a good time. I can't count how many times I've done things with friends who've NEVER experienced them and turned them on to something new.</p>

<p>In short, if you really can't come here for school, at least visit, hell, hit me up, I'll make sure you party hard, see the sites and go back with stories for decades :p.</p>

<p>Edit: Oh and being mixed doesn't mean you have to associate with one race, where are you from, the midwest? I have to say that the midwest and the "bible belt" states are probably the states where you'll find more racial tension than anywhere else, i'd venture to say moreso than most places in the deep south. Example:</p>

<p>I've got at least 4 mixed friends, I'm black, my best friend is italian and irish, another is Puerto rican, another is ecuadorian. One of my other closest friends is albanian, and the crew we chill with almost daily (our little 420 crew) has two more european mixed races, two more black kids, an egyptian, a mongolian, three dominicans, two more puerto ricans, and some others in there. And this is just the crew we chill with after school, when we have parties you can find people from the Philipines to Germany in our houses, so really man, don't worry, as long as your cool, no one cares if you are bright green, at least, no one worth talking to.</p>

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<p>"2. Everybody under the age of 21 has had alcohol at some point in their lives. So drink up"</p>

<p>NOT TRUE. Please don't be so naieve.</p>

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<p>cewillm, we're the ones being realistic. It's those who think drinking can wait till 21 who are being naive.</p>

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<p>I don't drink alcohol at all and don't plan to start at 21. </p>

<p>It's not waiting till 21 that's naive, it's the thought that EVERYONE has had alcohol before 21 and EVERYONE drinks. There are thousands of kids in the US who don't/won't drink, and ignoring them with the blanket statement of "everyone under 21 has had alcohol..." is pretty asinine.</p>

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<p>Most people under 21 HAVE had some type of alcohol be it in church, family event, or at a party. Alot of people don't drink for religious reasons, yet you do have communion and other rituals do you not? Hence I can say his statement is pretty accurate, I would venture to say about 90% of people under 21 has had some form of alcohol.</p>

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<p>^I am not religious</p>

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<p>america rules, but stick to the coasts - avoid the midwest/south unless you really like value voters, shopping malls, college football etc.</p>

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<p>Yeah, I agree that a lot of people under 21 has had alcohol -- tasted it, sipped it, or actually had a glass, but I wouldn't say all or most. </p>

<p>1) You can do holy communion WITH OUT wine
2) Some churches do not use wine period or use grape juice
3) Some people just don't drink
4) Some families are alcohol free</p>

<p>I had alcohol when I was under 18. I had a few sips from church and drank a wine cooler because I thought it was a new kind of soda. When I got to college, alcohol was everywhere and I didn't see why not.</p>

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<p>dude yeah, people in europe are WAY more racist than the U.S.? do you think we throw bananas at black people on the football field? do you think we do nazi salutes like those freaking roma fans?</p>