While flipping through a college guidebook, you come across the page that introduces your Dream College. Your eyes glaze over at the sight of that beautiful, marvelous institution. Just then, a shadow falls across the page and you hear: “Are you sure you want to go there, dear? Wouldn’t you feel lonely and lost if no one there were (insert ethnicity here)?”
Half an hour later, Mom’s words are still ringing through your ears. She may have a point, but it shouldn’t be sharp enough to burst your bubble. Keep these tips in mind.
1. Look at the numbers, but don’t live by them. Many guides offer each college’s ethnic makeup in percentages. These numbers can give you a sense of what the schools are like, but they do not tell the entire story. For example, you might feel compelled to scratch a school off your list because the guide reports that a miniscule number of students share your ethnic background. But think again. “Diversity is not always represented just in terms of numbers,” cautions Rochelle Mason, director of minority student life at Colorado College. “One must also take a look at the institution’s commitment to diversity and determine if this is all just lip service or a reality.”
A college with a relatively large proportion of minority students will not necessarily provide those students with sufficient institutional support. Another college with a less impressive number of minorities might in fact offer many multicultural programs to help people of all ethnicities feel at home. To guide minority students in investigating a college, Sandra Sohne, who is, among other things, director of multicultural enrollment at Colby College in Maine, suggests you consider the following: To what extent does the college or university support efforts to recruit, enroll and retain minorities? How open is the campus community to discussions about social issues, and how does the community embrace difference? How easy is it to integrate into the community without compromising ethnic identity or pride? Based on your academic and social background, values and belief systems, what kind of community will allow you to thrive?
2. Ask around. Visiting campuses and talking to the students is a must. Ask about the major you wish to pursue. Ask about the professors. But most importantly, ask about student life! What is the school’s atmosphere? Do people here live and work comfortably with one another? How do people spend their spare time? What student organizations exist?
3. Reach out. Don’t clam up if, on a campus visit, you find that few students on campus seem to share your ethnic back-ground. It is quite likely that there are many more people you have not met yet. Also, one of the best parts about college is making new friends. Do not insist on interacting exclusively with people who share your traditions.
“Be open! Being open is more than just saying ‘hi’ to people as you walk by,” says Brian Stinson, coordinator of ALANA (African-, Latino, Asian-, and Native-American) recruitment at Clark University in Worcester, Mass. “You need to make the next step in order to adequately attempt to adjust. Try to meet new people and listen to new ideas and opinions…Tell people about you! Be informative. Educate people about yourself and your culture. You might be surprised to learn that people are as anxious to learn about you as you are to learn about them.”
If you are a minority, the diversity of a college’s student body is understandably important to you. However, remember that the makeup of the student body is only a portion of the entire college package. “Above all, the decision of where you choose to enroll should be based on your individual needs and your academic and social goals,” Sohne says.
Kathy Pan is a senior at Lynbrook High School in San Jose, Calif. Do you want to write for The Next Step Magazine? E-mail [email protected] for details.
