How much does diversity affect your college experience?

M_s_Mom
Mon, 02 Apr 2012 10:30:10 +0000

The percentage of ‘students of color’ at any one school isn’t going to tell you the story you need to know. Go to the Common Data Set for each school you are considering to look at the racial mix. ‘Color’ comes in an aweful lot of variety. Then check out the number and variety of student association(s) for the ethnic/racial group(s) you are interested in. Contact the administration at the school and ask to speak to the student leadership in those groups to get a better feel for what it’s like to be a student there - not just the ‘gown’ but also the ‘town.’ Most campuses are pretty accepting and welcoming of their minority populations - but a lot of communities may feel less comfortable once you step off campus. Look at the faculty too - are there ‘faculty of color’ in the fields that you are interested in and what are their areas of interest? It’s not essential to have mentors from your own ethnic group - but it can be a plus.