Percentage of BIPOCs at your child’s top pick

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what are we to infer from this thread? Many whites do not value diversity? You just tolerate non-white people? And that you'd be equally as happy to be at an all white institution. I find this utterly depressing.

Also you keep asking if we are in more "woke" times, but for many of us, this is our current reality. I don't want to send my kid to a school that only has 3% of other kids that look like him. That sounds horrible.

It means that people value other things more than just what their classmates look like. We all have our own priorities.

Can you share with us what they are?

DP. Some things top of mind. Reputation in major, internship/research opportunities, alumni network. These are more important factors post graduation that racial/ethnic makeup of the student body.

[Anonymous]

DD cares a bit but at the margins. She did remark on a couple places being super white though. (she’s white and goes to a school that is very diverse right now)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what are we to infer from this thread? Many whites do not value diversity? You just tolerate non-white people? And that you'd be equally as happy to be at an all white institution. I find this utterly depressing.

Also you keep asking if we are in more "woke" times, but for many of us, this is our current reality. I don't want to send my kid to a school that only has 3% of other kids that look like him. That sounds horrible.

It means that people value other things more than just what their classmates look like. We all have our own priorities.

Can you share with us what they are?

DP. Some things top of mind. Reputation in major, internship/research opportunities, alumni network. These are more important factors post graduation that racial/ethnic makeup of the student body.

Ironically, these are highly correlated with how diverse the school is. Not sure if there is any causation.

Cornell vs Bama, for example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Pretty illuminating thread. With some of these responses, why would a student of color consider the diversity makeup of a school when choosing where to apply?

why is it "illuminating"- a student of color is looking for diversity b/c it supports them, or like the one kid who wants a smaller city etc b/c she wants certain amenities. having a religious/cultural/racial diversity provides amenities that certain people want or need. just being around people of other races is a weird "amenity" and is objectifying racial minorities. As the racial majority- white people shouldn't care unless their kid would die b/c there is no Thai food in their college town or something... and that is an amenity only tangentially tied to diversity.

PP here. Thanks for saying the quiet part loud.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what are we to infer from this thread? Many whites do not value diversity? You just tolerate non-white people? And that you'd be equally as happy to be at an all white institution. I find this utterly depressing.

Also you keep asking if we are in more "woke" times, but for many of us, this is our current reality. I don't want to send my kid to a school that only has 3% of other kids that look like him. That sounds horrible.

It means that people value other things more than just what their classmates look like. We all have our own priorities.

But that is not it. Lots of people on this thread saying people who value being in a diverse environment are “woke” or crazy. It’s not just that some people don’t care, they actively denigrate those who may consider diversity at all.

No, I am denigrating people who can’t write a post about diversity without being righteous. Just because one values diversity one is not better than wide swaths of the country that are less diverse.

If you don’t believe diversity is important and your kid does not, why does it matter to you that others find it valuable? Is there any way that someone can express that opinion (on an anonymous message board, natch) that doesn’t strike you as performative?

A different example - I have found generally vegetarians to be annoying. Mostly because I agree with them on the morality of industrial meat production that I support through my purchases. Obviously if a friend is vegetarian, I am not at all annoyed if she chooses a vegetarian meal when we go out to dinner together. However, if someone starts talking about slaughterhouses or even why vegetarianism is healthier for her, I recognize myself wanting to change the subject. It’s because I think I should perhaps try eating less meat but really there are reasons why I don’t want to. I think it’s the same with this whole topic. People tend to think there is value in diversity as a whole but get annoyed when having to confront for themselves how low they prioritize it. It’s why they feel others are “lecturing” them. If you truly thought it was crazy talk, you wouldn’t care.

[Anonymous]

I’m Indian-American, grew up UMC, and I don’t recall my parents or their friends discussing or making a big deal out of demographics when all of us were looking at colleges during the 1990’s. Maybe there was less awareness back then. Maybe it took a generation or two to experience college life in America. I attended a predominantly white rural college and I loved it, but do admit that there weren’t certain cultural outlets like food or religious celebrations. It really depends on the individual and what’s important to them. And it’s also different for different ethnic/minority groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a bipoc kid, mine comments if the white population is unusually high 60%+. I don’t think it’s a bad thing and tell him that it’s 4 years and being in an environment you’re not used to can be good too.

So like America as a whole.

America is not 60 percent white. Whites make up the largest minority, but they are no longer a majority.

In 2023, 58% of the population identified as non-Hispanic white, 20% as Hispanic, 13% as Black, 6% as Asian or Pacific Islander, and 3% as Other.

Close enough.

About 10 mil immigrants arrived in USA in 20-25 period (~ 3% of population) who in time will be rehabilitated and discounting dubious “Whites” the number is well below 50%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Pretty illuminating thread. With some of these responses, why would a student of color consider the diversity makeup of a school when choosing where to apply?

why is it "illuminating"- a student of color is looking for diversity b/c it supports them, or like the one kid who wants a smaller city etc b/c she wants certain amenities. having a religious/cultural/racial diversity provides amenities that certain people want or need. just being around people of other races is a weird "amenity" and is objectifying racial minorities. As the racial majority- white people shouldn't care unless their kid would die b/c there is no Thai food in their college town or something... and that is an amenity only tangentially tied to diversity.

PP here. Thanks for saying the quiet part loud.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what are we to infer from this thread? Many whites do not value diversity? You just tolerate non-white people? And that you'd be equally as happy to be at an all white institution. I find this utterly depressing.

Also you keep asking if we are in more "woke" times, but for many of us, this is our current reality. I don't want to send my kid to a school that only has 3% of other kids that look like him. That sounds horrible.

It means that people value other things more than just what their classmates look like. We all have our own priorities.

But that is not it. Lots of people on this thread saying people who value being in a diverse environment are “woke” or crazy. It’s not just that some people don’t care, they actively denigrate those who may consider diversity at all.

No, I am denigrating people who can’t write a post about diversity without being righteous. Just because one values diversity one is not better than wide swaths of the country that are less diverse.

If you don’t believe diversity is important and your kid does not, why does it matter to you that others find it valuable? Is there any way that someone can express that opinion (on an anonymous message board, natch) that doesn’t strike you as performative?

A different example - I have found generally vegetarians to be annoying. Mostly because I agree with them on the morality of industrial meat production that I support through my purchases. Obviously if a friend is vegetarian, I am not at all annoyed if she chooses a vegetarian meal when we go out to dinner together. However, if someone starts talking about slaughterhouses or even why vegetarianism is healthier for her, I recognize myself wanting to change the subject. It’s because I think I should perhaps try eating less meat but really there are reasons why I don’t want to. I think it’s the same with this whole topic. People tend to think there is value in diversity as a whole but get annoyed when having to confront for themselves how low they prioritize it. It’s why they feel others are “lecturing” them. If you truly thought it was crazy talk, you wouldn’t care.

I don’t have an issue with diversity, just people who are pompous. If you can’t express yourself without sounding like someone with a superiority complex, you need to work on you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate the term biopic, but of course guys is a consideration. I am Indian American, born here. We value diversity in our family. We live in a country where race has become electrified. See the comments by JD about Usha and how Indians are made fun of on social media, how Trump refers to immigrants as illegals, and how her ghoulishly depicted the House Majority Leader inexplicably wearing a sombrero. I’m disgusted by many of the comments here, but clearly I’ve been deluding myself that the higher educated DCUM population is reasonable and not racist. Glad to see there are some white students who care to mix with others.

But, Indians and Indian-Americans are not BIPOCs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate the term biopic, but of course guys is a consideration. I am Indian American, born here. We value diversity in our family. We live in a country where race has become electrified. See the comments by JD about Usha and how Indians are made fun of on social media, how Trump refers to immigrants as illegals, and how her ghoulishly depicted the House Majority Leader inexplicably wearing a sombrero. I’m disgusted by many of the comments here, but clearly I’ve been deluding myself that the higher educated DCUM population is reasonable and not racist. Glad to see there are some white students who care to mix with others.

But, Indians and Indian-Americans are not BIPOCs.

Why? Are they white? BIPOCs are basically all non-white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate the term biopic, but of course guys is a consideration. I am Indian American, born here. We value diversity in our family. We live in a country where race has become electrified. See the comments by JD about Usha and how Indians are made fun of on social media, how Trump refers to immigrants as illegals, and how her ghoulishly depicted the House Majority Leader inexplicably wearing a sombrero. I’m disgusted by many of the comments here, but clearly I’ve been deluding myself that the higher educated DCUM population is reasonable and not racist. Glad to see there are some white students who care to mix with others.

But, Indians and Indian-Americans are not BIPOCs.

Why? Are they white? BIPOCs are basically all non-white.

Is white determined by ethnicity or skin tone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what are we to infer from this thread? Many whites do not value diversity? You just tolerate non-white people? And that you'd be equally as happy to be at an all white institution. I find this utterly depressing.

Also you keep asking if we are in more "woke" times, but for many of us, this is our current reality. I don't want to send my kid to a school that only has 3% of other kids that look like him. That sounds horrible.

It means that people value other things more than just what their classmates look like. We all have our own priorities.

But that is not it. Lots of people on this thread saying people who value being in a diverse environment are “woke” or crazy. It’s not just that some people don’t care, they actively denigrate those who may consider diversity at all.

No, I am denigrating people who can’t write a post about diversity without being righteous. Just because one values diversity one is not better than wide swaths of the country that are less diverse.

If you don’t believe diversity is important and your kid does not, why does it matter to you that others find it valuable? Is there any way that someone can express that opinion (on an anonymous message board, natch) that doesn’t strike you as performative?

A different example - I have found generally vegetarians to be annoying. Mostly because I agree with them on the morality of industrial meat production that I support through my purchases. Obviously if a friend is vegetarian, I am not at all annoyed if she chooses a vegetarian meal when we go out to dinner together. However, if someone starts talking about slaughterhouses or even why vegetarianism is healthier for her, I recognize myself wanting to change the subject. It’s because I think I should perhaps try eating less meat but really there are reasons why I don’t want to. I think it’s the same with this whole topic. People tend to think there is value in diversity as a whole but get annoyed when having to confront for themselves how low they prioritize it. It’s why they feel others are “lecturing” them. If you truly thought it was crazy talk, you wouldn’t care.

I don’t have an issue with diversity, just people who are pompous. If you can’t express yourself without sounding like someone with a superiority complex, you need to work on you.

The pomposity immediately came on this thread from people ridiculing kids and parents who value it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate the term biopic, but of course guys is a consideration. I am Indian American, born here. We value diversity in our family. We live in a country where race has become electrified. See the comments by JD about Usha and how Indians are made fun of on social media, how Trump refers to immigrants as illegals, and how her ghoulishly depicted the House Majority Leader inexplicably wearing a sombrero. I’m disgusted by many of the comments here, but clearly I’ve been deluding myself that the higher educated DCUM population is reasonable and not racist. Glad to see there are some white students who care to mix with others.

But, Indians and Indian-Americans are not BIPOCs.

Why? Are they white? BIPOCs are basically all non-white.

Is white determined by ethnicity or skin tone?

By whatever standard, Indians are not white.

[Anonymous]

My daughter didn't think about diversity when finalizing her list but started to consider it late in the process. Which was kind of funny to me because all she really wanted when picking a school was a small rural college with a great environmental science program. Small/rural generally does not = racially diverse!

So, she was a bit apprehensive when she started there. She went to a very diverse HS, so a predominantly white school (she's white) seemed weird to her. However, I think in terms of life experience, she's actually experiencing a new kind of diversity that she needed to experience -- while the school does tend to lean left as most colleges do, there are also conservatives, even some Trump supporters. Much greater income diversity than she's known. Classmates in her environmental program include a lot of hunters who feel strongly about gun ownership. So, she's learning a lot of different perspectives and how to work with people with different views. She didn't really need to get experience with racial diversity - that's all she's ever known.