Minorities have advantage?

ThisNerdGotAGirl · 10-04-2012, 10:44 PM

Do Minorities and First Generation College Bound have it easier when finding financial aid/ scholarships? I've hear some say yes and others say no.

BluVylett · 10-04-2012, 11:27 PM

I've often wondered this myself. I'm not a minority, but I am a first generation college student. It does bother me a touch that I can't apply for scholarships like, say, the Gates Millennium, because I'm white, although I meet all other qualifications. I understand the idea behind helping minorities, but there are plenty of poor white families out there as well (like mine) who could use the help as well. Feels like discrimination (or "reverse discrimination," if you want to refer to it that way - although the term itself is discriminatory...).

BobWallace · 10-04-2012, 11:50 PM

Most scholarships are awarded by colleges in a pure meritocracy by test scores, GPA, etc. and sometimes other qualifications such as leadership, service, etc. Only a small percentage of the total awards are set aside for minorities.

OperaDad · 10-05-2012, 12:30 AM

Depends upon which minority. There are some scholarships that are targeted towards certain minorities and first generation college.

lookingforward · 10-05-2012, 12:44 AM

Wondering if OP means scholarships- or grants?

ThisNerdGotAGirl · 10-05-2012, 12:50 AM

Mexican/American

cptofthehouse · 10-05-2012, 09:10 AM

THere are scholarships that are specifically for URMs. It is not permissable to specifically set up a scholarship that excludes URMs. What makes URM status favorable for admissions at some colleges is that the schools want diversity, and it also means favorable treatment.

URM is not a static term. Asians are URMs at some schools and are included in such programs.

There is a lot of controversy on this subject. However you feel about it, it is considered legal at this point in time though programs are challenged. I can tell you that I see a definite decline in any boost URM status gives students over the last 15 years. I can also tell you that there is now a definite boost just being male. It all comes down to supply and demand. Most schools do not want to be almost all white in student composition and they do not want too lopsided in a male/femalr ratio. Both things adversely do affect their lustre and whether students will apply or end up going there, so there is a pragmatic reason for this.

CTScoutmom · 10-05-2012, 10:59 AM

There are loads of scholarships out there with a variety of qualifications. While there are some that are targeted to URM status, there are others that are for low income (realizing many colleges don't meet need, but at those where they do, needy students should be on equal footing with those who don't have the same need).

In the end I think it balances out. Some of the scholarships are de-facto restricted to non-minorities, because of their qualifications. Consider a scholarship for students who participated in a particular sport in one community - perhaps all of the eligible students are white males, because others could not afford to participate, or didn't have the connections to become involved.

BluVylett, my daughter and I are URM, but there are plenty of scholarships she can't apply to, because she isn't first generation, or because our family income is just a bit too high. Instead of concentrating on the ones for which you aren't qualified, look for the ones you can apply to. For each, there are loads of people who miss a single qualification, but those scholarships have specific targets. Don't begrudge URM status - the whole point is we are "under-represented" at certain schools. In many cases, there have been other factors that have worked against us, including school administrators who are surprised that a black student might be near the top of the class, or might think that she could be good enough to go apply to Harvard or Yale. If you play the Oboe, perhaps you will get a scholarship because your college needs an oboist for the orchestra... colleges look for a balance, and the scholarships they offer help them to build a student body that fits their needs.

CTTC · 10-05-2012, 11:28 AM

There is such a thing as "preferential packaging" for finaid awards, and being a URM might be an advantage (among other factors).

entomom · 10-05-2012, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Feels like discrimination (or "reverse discrimination," if you want to refer to it that way - although the term itself is discriminatory...).

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Erin's Dad · 10-05-2012, 12:20 PM

An organization providing scholarship $ with requirements has the ability to define what the requirements are. If I wanted to set up a scholarship for left handed kazoo manufacturers at XYZ college I could do that.