Why is Berkeley all asian?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
61

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college is not just about admitting the smartest people who can come and get good grades and study a textbook

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<p>Of course it isn't. Nobody ever asserted that it was, and I think the adcoms at Berkeley are well aware of this.</p>

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it's about talking with your peers and professors about their life back home

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<p>Er, that's a very small part of college. Honestly, do you think that you'll meet a black person who is going to be able to open up a new world to you, simply because they came from a black family?</p>

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staying up late to talk about the presidential elections with a doormate

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<p>And Asians, etc. are incapable of this?</p>

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it's about expanding your horizons.

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<p>Indeed it is, and it does happen in college. But you don't seem to be aware that 'diversity' is largely a political aspect. Colleges, namely the top ones, want to show that they aren't discriminating against certain groups, that many minorities are present at their campus. This idea in itself represent a progressive attitude -- moving away from discrimination and toward equality. And of course, colleges hope that by bringing different ethnicities together, people will be less likely to have prejudices. But most importantly, these diverse people will expose each other to different cultures, which is what I think you were implying. In that case, I really doubt that black students will culture another student, since both are from roughly the same (American) culture, though varying shades of it. But Asians? Very diverse cultures, cultures that are wholly different from those of Americans. And even if these Asians are American-born, more often than not they retain their cultures, which will bring diversity to the campus.</p>

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All I said was that there should be a diverse class

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<p>Have I not shown, at multiple times, that Berkeley is as diverse, if not MORE diverse, than schools such as Harvard which practice race-based admissions and are thus not wholly merit-based?</p>

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that admissions shouldn't be merit based.

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<p>I'm sorry you think that Amazing Asian X should be shafted in favor of Mediocre Hispanic Y. (This is not to say that is necessarily the case, though it does often happen in race-based admissions.)</p>

62

<p>^ I agree with all of post # 62 lol</p>

63

<p>LaxChamp, you might have very valid points in what you are trying to present and I do agree with a few of the underlying problems that exists at Berkeley today, but your ignorance and arrogance has discredited yourself from being taken seriously and respected. You're obviously still young which is the reason why you firmly believe that you are everything you THINK you are spouting such comments as "Trust me, I'm not racist". Even though your intention might be good, you came off looking like an ass to the audience that you're trying to preach to. You will learn as you grow older that looking like an ass is the fastest way to get you boo'd off stage if you're lucky, and erect some serious enemies in your path if you're not so lucky.</p>

<p>I agree that college should be about expanding your horizon, and a huge part of that expansion involves the realization that there are billions of people out there and you're just as biased and unreasonable to them, as they are to you.</p>

<p>Good luck, I hope you will take advantage of my words in a way that benefits you.</p>

64

<p>College is about expanding your horizons eh?</p>

<p>If you can't accept a 46% asian community then obviously you are not expanding your horizons.</p>

65

<p>Thank you Kharatos, and hopeful for your thoughtful posts.</p>

66

<p>People who support Affirmative Action are the biggest hypocrites I ever met. Hey, to battle discrimination, lets discriminate against x. I am a mix. I have Armenian, Turkish, Castillian, and Shinnecock Native American blood. I usually thus put other on surveys. But Since Armenian and Castillian both are caucasian, and I am thus labeled, is it fair that I get rejected because somebody who is black also applied, even if they lack in the extra curricular activities and accomplishments I have had? That is just stupid.</p>

67

<p>Generally, whites aren't at a disadvantage.</p>

68

<p>anyone notice how @ the football games the ratio of asians goes way down?...hey this is my 1,001 post...yay</p>

69

<p>geeeeeeeeekkkkkkkkk!^ ;)</p>

70

<p>UCs as a whole put more weight into numbers than the ECs. Even if you have mediocre to very basic ECs (Volunteer, Job, etc), if you have high enough numbers (GPA and SAT), you won't have a hard time getting into top UCs. This isn't true for most other top universities, where numbers and ECs are weighted more evenly for the admission.</p>

<p>I'm sorry if this may sound racist but with the exception of very few people, most Asians on average tend to lack quality ECs. This is understandable because in Asia, Academics is THE top priority (and Asian universities tend to only care about academic rankings and scores for admission and put very little (if at all) weight into activities) so most Asians will have shared similar mindset: Do well in school. And most of you probably heard about the notoreity of Asian parents and their obsession with GPAs and scores. This is one reason why so many Asians are successful in gaining admission to the top UCs. I know Berkeley and LA have already changed their admission method, but the method is relatively new compared to other top privates.</p>

71

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UCs as a whole put more weight into numbers than the ECs. Even if you have mediocre to very basic ECs (Volunteer, Job, etc), if you have high enough numbers (GPA and SAT), you won't have a hard time getting into top UCs.

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<p>I highly disagree.</p>

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I'm sorry if this may sound racist but with the exception of very few people, most Asians on average tend to lack quality ECs.

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<p>Not racist, just misinformed.</p>

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This is one reason why so many Asians are successful

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<p>No, it's because many of them also have excellent ECs, honors/awards, etc. They tend to be the very driven in many areas.</p>

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I know Berkeley and LA have already changed their admission method, but the method is relatively new compared to other top privates.

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<p>I believe Berkeley changed to holistic admissions years ago, and UCLA more recently. Regardless, their emphasis on ECs is such that many Asians do get admitted -- and they emphasize ECs quite a bit (I believe they're listed as "important").</p>

72

<p>LaxChamp...what ethnicity are you?</p>

<p>The thing about a segregated campus is true. But it happens in every urban and populated atmosphere. As an out-of-stater I never realized how segregated people can be. But just because there isn't enough "ethnic diversity" it doesn't mean that the school isn't diverse in other ways. </p>

<p>Also, why shouldn't admissions be primarily merit-based? Is that not the point of university? To learn and get a degree? What else should it be primarily based on?</p>

<p>Also, most people at UC Berkeley--including Asians--had extensive ECs in high school. To my disappointment, I feel as if sometimes Berkeley wasn't "merit based enough" because some people were really lacking either in the SAT or GPA. However, that creates a certain diversity.</p>

<p>Also your notion that you are "not really" racist is ridiculous, because you obviously care that the school is 46% Asian. Why else would you post a thread about it? Also to stereotype and generalize people, implying that they are only "book smart" because they are Asian is a form of prejudice.</p>

<p>If you dislike being around Asians, then don't go to Berkeley.</p>

73

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Also your notion that you are "not really" racist is ridiculous, because you obviously care that the school is 46% Asian.

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<p>As an added note, according to the most recent common data set, the overall % Asian is a bit lower -- ~40%. I wonder whether it's going to continue to drop, or increase.</p>

74

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I know Berkeley and LA have already changed their admission method

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Yep. UCLA changed to holistic admissions after the Class of 2010 included only 103 black freshmen- and 20 of them were recruited athletes. Thanks to the new policy, the number is up to a whopping 203. The privately endowed scholarships for black students undoubtedly helped.</p>

<p>The UCs aren't the only ones. Caltech gained a bit of notoriety a few years ago when it didn't have a single black freshman in its entering class.</p>

75

<p>Damn, this thread is too long and I didn't read it entirely but...</p>

<p>LOL Punkdude actually used "oriental" haha</p>

<p>LaxChamp, did you get into Cal? Did you know it's "Should HAVE" not "Should OF" and do you REALLY feel that admissions shouldn't be based on MERIT? ***?? You lookin' for a free ride or something? Entitlement based on skin color and race? LOL, if you think something like that could happen, especially at Cal. Save yourself the trouble and go somewhere else. This school will chew you up and spit you out no matter what f'n race you are.</p>

76

<p>when did i use oriental? and what's the big deal about it anyway?</p>

<p>also, anybody see the last page of squelch (not the eskimo thing, the last article bit) it was HILARIOUS. and has to do with this thread.</p>

77

<p>Do not blame Prop 209....the high Asian population were there long before Prop 209.</p>

78

<p>It's been hard to get to know Asians for me, particularly males, because my floor is basically all-white. I don't know that many Asians in general, but I am Asian.</p>

79

<p>Everyone is racist. Everyone feels more comfortable with people who are 'like them' in some respect (e. g. race, religion, etc. etc.).</p>

<p>I admit I was a little surprised when I found out how NOT diverse Berkeley is, race-wise, but I shrugged it off because it's not like I'm used to diversity or anything. I'm from LA and I went to a predominantly black middle school and a predominantly white high school. So Berkeley is predominantly Asian. Big deal.</p>

<p>Also, I think a few people mentioned this earlier, but I want to reinforce it: you cannot define diversity in terms of race only because each race comprises a number of different ethnicities, which are all unique. And it is very ignorant to assume that people who 'look the same' have the same background, culture, religion, political stance, and views on life.</p>

<p>For instance: I'm Asian, just like half the campus, apparently, but I've only met like...one person outside of my family with my ethnicity. In my entire life. You can't tell that from looking at me, but it's true. And I don't hang out with Asians only, obviously. I tend to befriend funny people with funny backgrounds.</p>

<p>So basically, to the original poster: it is fine to wonder why Berkeley is so Asian, but I think the answer is quite obvious...and besides, most people are naturally very defensive and that is why you can't expect to be liked very much when you target a certain race. My advice is to reconsider your definition of diversity, which I'm sure you will, eventually.</p>

80

<p>"Doesn't the admissions office want to promote some diversity (don't give me the response that all asians are from different countries, because I already know that they are. If you are asian, however, you are asian, just like if you are white, you're white regardless of if you're from America or Amsterdam, so the asian diversity argument is pretty pointless)?"</p>

<p>By the way, moot point. White people who are actually from Amsterdam have a considerably different upbringing from white Americans. However, most white people in America come from families that have been here for centuries, so they have essentially 'melted' into the American culture.</p>

<p>On the contrary, most Asians are still 'new' immigrants, so they still retain many vestiges of their ancestors' culture. And yes, I am saying that Asians have not assimilated, because it is true. If they had, this thread would not exist.</p>