<p>strange...I'm a national hispanic finalist and I was never invited.</p>
<p>Actually, if you do the Hispanic summer thing they still let you know early (December) whether or not you got in.</p>
<p>Maybe my explanation wasn't good enough, but thats just the way it is. If UF doesn't give hispanics benefits then they would be racist. The school is already run by rich white people anyway; at least make them look friendly towards non-white.</p>
<p>"The school is already run by rich white people anyway"</p>
<p>I am white and was raised by a single mother back in the 1960's and '70s (when there was a stigma to being divorced). I can tell you that there is no connection whatsoever between so-called rich white folks and "poor" ordinary white folks like me. I got into UF through hard work and perseverence, made it through engineering school, and emerged $20K+ in debt. There was no red carpet. No one tossed me a single dollar.</p>
<p>My wife and I have worked extremely hard to raise our two daughters. One of my daughters will be entering UF in the fall, and she also got admittance through sheer hard work and determination. There will be no extra money coming her way because of her skin color. The only money whe will get will be Bright Futures, which is available to all. In fact, we would be insulted if someone just handed us a stack of cash; we wouldn't take--we would be ashamed to. The value of all our hard work would be greatly dimished if we did.</p>
<p>So, getting back to your notion that whites always help whites, that is utterly false. Clinging to that attitude, as hispanics and blacks seem to tend to do, will do you more harm than good. Just observe the success of immigrants from other regions of the world: China and India are two excellent examples. Those groups are not burdened by notions that the entire white race is conspiring to hold them down and therefore no matter what they do, they cannot succeed. Their hard work and positive attitudes have enabled them to reach the top of rungs of many companies and institutions. I have nothing but the deepest respect for their accomplishments. This is the American Dream in its finest form.</p>
<p>What I do have difficulty accepting is this concept of entitlement, that some groups are born into the priviledge of being forever subsidized by (and a burden to) other groups. In my very humble opinion, this is wrong. The only subsidization that should occur is socio-economic based.</p>
<p>For the record, I believe diversity is a very good thing, particularly in school. However, how diversity is achieved is a matter that needs a good deal of rethinking.</p>
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<p>I don't understand your reasoning when you say not giving Hispanics benefits makes UF racist. How is that racist? Its not UF's fault that they cant find students with high enough credentials to get into UF. The reason the African-American/Hispanic programs were created were to attract the students that did meet those high marks to get into UF. The problem UF faces is that those student usually end up going to ivy's or top 20 schools. They are taking the extra step to get top hispanics/blacks without lowering their standards too much. For example at the hispanic program, they have one of the two hispanic admissions officers talk about their experiences, she speaks to the crowd spanish on occasion so the parents feel more comfortable and to persuade the students that this is the school for them (before the ivys and top 20's get to them). The reason that the school is run by majority white administrator is that there are not enough highly qualified (his/blk) applicants to choose from. When more come available as more minority students get/finish college/grad school then you will see more diversity in the high ups.</p>
<p>Flyboy this really isnt the place to be going off like that but since you allow me to retort. First do not compare being divorced and race as they are different because a stigma compared to what blacks for example had to deal with is nothing(violence, death, kidnapping, etc.) Two when a student is accepted to UF though their race may be a slight contributing factor they worked hard and there academic accomplishments is what ultimatley got them their acceptance letter. Three being of a different race does not guaranteee you money as you would like to believe. And Four don't sit there and act like you know what hipanics, blacks, etc. have gone through (not belittleing in any way what anyone else has gone through but i am talking about on a racial level). There are problems that are universial divorce, poverty, family burdens, tragedies, etc., but race is not one only select groups face that problem.</p>
<p>" My wife and I have worked extremely hard to raise our two daughters. One of my daughters will be entering UF in the fall, and she also got admittance through sheer hard work and determination. There will be no extra money coming her way because of her skin color. The only money whe will get will be Bright Futures, which is available to all. In fact, we would be insulted if someone just handed us a stack of cash; we wouldn't take--we would be ashamed to. The value of all our hard work would be greatly dimished if we did." Congradulations to your daughter and all UF acceptees, but the last part of your statement... get off your pedistal, no one is handed a scholarship they are earned.</p>
<p>Now lets end the racial and ethinic banter and keep this forum what it is for... college discussion.</p>
<p>P.S. great explanation Asmaj</p>
<p>dark962001, I was unware that certain subjects are off limits here. (Are you the moderator?) You will notice that I try not to get personal or sarcastic in these discussions. In re to proper subject matter, I agree discussions of racial matters generally do not belong here, except where they relate to disparities in college acceptance criteria and scholarship funding. In that case, I see no reason why the topic cannot be discussed in a fair, respectful, and productive manner.</p>
<p>FLBoy, you need to calm down. I am greatly insulted that you would ever think that since I am hispanic, I am expecting and going to get a "handout." My family came to this country from Cuba, to escape communism, without a dollar to their name (both sides). Through hard work and determination (they didn't receive any hand outs) they were able to use their education to get good jobs, and both my parents got into college by hard work. I don't believe that myself or anybody else who is going to this meeting is expecting a handout of any sort, and I would be going to UF on the same Bright Futures your daughter received. The reason I am going to this meeting is because I was invited, I never once asked anybody to give me a special invitation, etc. to go. And I know for sure, I will not be getting any money for just simply being hispanic, it is because I, like yourself, have worked my butt off to get to where I am. I don't know of any black, asian, hispanic, etc that got into a college just for being born that way...</p>
<p>orangenblue, RE your statement that "I don't know of any black, asian, hispanic, etc that got into a college just for being born that way..." The fact is that the bar for entry by blacks and hispanics into many colleges is substantially lower than for whites and asians. Hence, some--probably many--got into college precisely as the result of being a member of one of those groups. Now I don't have any reliable figures on this as I don't think they have been made public. But since UF is a public university funded with tax dollars, I would think they could be compelled to release aggregate admission stats based on race/ethnicity so long as individual identities aren't relvealed. It would be very interesting to know what the SATs and GPAs are for the middle 50% for each trackable group. Knowing this would greatly improve the chances of members of each group finding the best-fit college for them. And it would also help those who have been rejected from a particular college to better understand why they were rejected.</p>
<p>Okay, aside from the racist discussions, today I received my letter from UF that had the instructions on how to register for the program.</p>
<p>This website may be helpful:
<a href="http://www.admissions.ufl.edu/ugrad/scholars/hlohsp.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.admissions.ufl.edu/ugrad/scholars/hlohsp.html</a></p>
<p>why you people so ignant</p>
<p>I got my letter today, too.</p>
<p>FLYboy seriously shut the hell up and stop hating of minorites this is not the place for it.</p>
<p>what date is the program taking place?</p>
<p>simmma down now</p>
<p>dark962001, I don't hate anyone, and I have yet to make a single racist comment and would never intend to. I do NOT think any one race is inherently better than any other race. I try my best to stick to facts. If you would take the trouble to read my comments and reponses carefully you would realize this. My principal philosophy is that we are all individuals and should be respected and treated as such. I believe that no individual should be discriminated against (or for) because of their race, ethnicity, beliefs, etc.</p>
<p>I myself have come from vey humble beginnings and have pulled myself up one inch at a time, and I believe anyone in America can do the same. Just because I am white you (and others here) seem to believe I have received some sort of preferential treatment. I have not. Yes, there are rich white people, but their increases in fortune to not benefit me one iota. So the notion that whites in general are better off, therefore, all whites are better off is total nonsense. (If you happen to know of any rich white white people who are handling out their riches to others, tell them I could use some.)</p>
<p>However, your continuing efforts to stop people from discussing subjects you don't wish to hear speaks volumes about your own prejudice. I find your latest command that I "shut the hell up" to be rude and hateful.</p>
<p>dark962001, the program is taking place July 1-2.</p>
<p>those of you who got letters; can you share your PSAT scores, because my guidance counseler said that is what they are based upon and i want to have an idea of what the cut off score was</p>
<p>Some schools its PSAT, some its class rank, and some it's GPA. Some take into account all three.</p>
<p>OK this is the last time i'm gonna respond to you FLYboy because this is going no where. First off no one is getting handouts regardless of race. That statement just makes it seem like you believe being a URM guarantees you money and it does not period (you can contiue believeing what you want). Next don't say nonURMs are discriminated against. To be discriminated against would suggest that you are treated negatively and shunned for being white (don't make me laugh) and no one is given negative treatment by college admissions (do not try to think you have any idea what racial discrimination is about). And rich, poor, or inbetween is not my point; it's that when you are white you have never had to deal with racial discrimination which was ( and in many places still is) a major problem in our nation. Your agrument is just to make it sound as if URMs have free rides into colleges and piggy back of the fact they are a URM. And this thread is about the "UF Hispanic Scholars Program"; its not a place for your arguement at al;l you got a problem take it up somewhere else and not in a forum about a URM program for deserving students. And don't presume to know me after a few typed responses. Now if you don't have something to contribute about the program for people who need info then leave this thread.</p>