How to know a college is safe for POC

[Anonymous]

Not sure if you want actual school suggestions, OP, but Oberlin is pretty diverse. It can be tough to find diversity at smaller liberal arts schools.

I too remember a recent post on a similar topic and will see if I can go back and find that.

[Anonymous]

I believe this is the previous post some of us were thinking of.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1225225.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe this is the previous post some of us were thinking of.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1225225.page

This is the second or third time you have posted that link. I'm beginning to think you're one of the people that got that thread locked. Are you reveling in old glories?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe this is the previous post some of us were thinking of.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1225225.page

This is the second or third time you have posted that link. I'm beginning to think you're one of the people that got that thread locked. Are you reveling in old glories?

No, but sorry. I’m late to joining this post and only skimmed the previous pages. Didn’t realize someone had already shared it. No need for conspiracy theories!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe this is the previous post some of us were thinking of.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1225225.page

This is the second or third time you have posted that link. I'm beginning to think you're one of the people that got that thread locked. Are you reveling in old glories?

Now I see it on page two sandwiched between some quotes. Kind of buried so missed it before. Anyway, hope it helps the OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thread is long but Emory, Georgetown, Rice, UChicago, NYU, Columbia top schools in Black or very diverse cities.

Also WUSTL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A black male scoring above 1580 is a unicorn. If he is uncomfortable attending school in the United States, have him look at overseas universities which value abnormally high test scores, such as the Oxbridge schools.

This doesn't make sense for a black kid looking for community.

A school with a population of 22 black freshman is a concern because not only is that number paltry, not all of those black kids will have a similar desire for community. Schools with 10%+ Black students are far more likely to have your "tribe" of Black students present, whatever that is (nerdy, athletic, fashionable, culturally aware, urban/rural). Going overseas is worse because you still don't address diversity in a meaningful way, but there's more likely to be a cultural disconnect overall.

[Anonymous]

My kids have been in similar situations of being a tiny minority at their educational institutions and though they adjusted and managed to do well, I feel it is tough and unnecessary. Why add more hurdles and stress to life if you can do without it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is interested in a top LAC, but, after checking the CDS, there were only 22 black students in a class of 436 accepted this most recent cycle- 1/3 of past cycles.

DS currently goes to a boarding school that isn’t racist, but he also wouldn’t call tolerant. He was really hoping to be able to go to a college of his choice but also find community, so this has been very disappointing. Should we throw in the towel?

What school?

Pomona

Don’t do it. California has a very small black population and Claremont a nearly nonexistent one. It might be liberal, but that just means they aren’t outwardly racist.

Its not just about racists but even ones who aren't, can't really understand your feelings and hurdles even if they try. What's great is that there are always many who try and that makes a world of difference.

[Anonymous]

OP: Pomona College is an outstanding school with access to four other great colleges. If you are concerned that black students represent less than 10% of the incoming class, then you should have not applied if that was a primary concern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: Pomona College is an outstanding school with access to four other great colleges. If you are concerned that black students represent less than 10% of the incoming class, then you should have not applied if that was a primary concern.

This was news that trickled out slowly. Other than the freshman class, Pomona has a representative black population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids apply and go to colleges they wish to attend. There are multiple efforts to reach out to various communities to entice them to apply and attend. Nevertheless, as your son illustrates, people generally want to be with people who look and act like themselves.

Has your son considered HBCUs? If that's his primary focus, there might be a good fit there. Otherwise, he may need to expand his search and look at data to decide whether there is enough of a critical mass of people like him to make him wish to attend. You only mention one school--I'm quite sure there are others with data more to your liking.

I wish him the best in his search.

No he hasn’t considered hbcus, because he is a top student. He has a 1580 and great course rigor. Hbcus are great, but it’s annoying that it’s assumed black students will just walk to one.

If top black students don't go to HBCUS (and obviously they have a right to go to the best schools they worked hard for) then is it only for mediocre students? How can they attract top students? Do they offer large merit scholarships to non black top students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids apply and go to colleges they wish to attend. There are multiple efforts to reach out to various communities to entice them to apply and attend. Nevertheless, as your son illustrates, people generally want to be with people who look and act like themselves.

Has your son considered HBCUs? If that's his primary focus, there might be a good fit there. Otherwise, he may need to expand his search and look at data to decide whether there is enough of a critical mass of people like him to make him wish to attend. You only mention one school--I'm quite sure there are others with data more to your liking.

I wish him the best in his search.

No he hasn’t considered hbcus, because he is a top student. He has a 1580 and great course rigor. Hbcus are great, but it’s annoying that it’s assumed black students will just walk to one.

If top black students don't go to HBCUS (and obviously they have a right to go to the best schools they worked hard for) then is it only for mediocre students? How can they attract top students? Do they offer large merit scholarships to non black top students?

Many self-segregate, and the populations reflect the credentials of the students doing so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: Pomona College is an outstanding school with access to four other great colleges. If you are concerned that black students represent less than 10% of the incoming class, then you should have not applied if that was a primary concern.

This was news that trickled out slowly. Other than the freshman class, Pomona has a representative black population.

Also, this was just the first post-SFFA cycle. Some schools like Yale and Williams were seemingly unaffected; others like MIT and Pomona were more affected. But I wouldn't expect MIT and Pomona's Black student intake for future classes to remain the as low as the c/o 2028.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: Pomona College is an outstanding school with access to four other great colleges. If you are concerned that black students represent less than 10% of the incoming class, then you should have not applied if that was a primary concern.

This was news that trickled out slowly. Other than the freshman class, Pomona has a representative black population.

Also, this was just the first post-SFFA cycle. Some schools like Yale and Williams were seemingly unaffected; others like MIT and Pomona were more affected. But I wouldn't expect MIT and Pomona's Black student intake for future classes to remain the as low as the c/o 2028.

This issue is convincing families like OP's once that drop occurs.