<p>“Black Freshmen” </p>
<p>[Cover</a> Story: Black Freshmen - The Weekly](<a href=“http://media.www.dailynorthwestern.com/media/storage/paper853/news/2008/11/13/TheWeekly/Cover.Story.Black.Freshmen-3541205.shtml]Cover”>http://media.www.dailynorthwestern.com/media/storage/paper853/news/2008/11/13/TheWeekly/Cover.Story.Black.Freshmen-3541205.shtml) </p>
<p>The discussion of QuestBridge at Northwestern is what drew my attention to this story.</p>
<p>This is a very interesting story. I can’t remember well but when I matriculated to Northwestern, our black freshmen class was pretty dismal too. I was fortunate to receive a decent financial aid package while the other school I was considering (Michigan) did not give me any aid at all.</p>
<p>There is such a small pool of qualified African American students (who disporportionately come from middle-to-upper middle class incomes) in this country that each year peer elite schools (both publics and privates) have to take chances with hopes that the students will choose their particular school. There has been similar outcry of low black enrollments at other schools such as UCLA.</p>
<p>Financial aid is a huge, primary component. Harvard and Princeton can afford to give free-rides. Northwestern may have to change its financial aid system (I know some opponents will disagree) to lure and accommodate more underrepresented minorities to enroll. Most black parents don’t want to take out huge loans for college.</p>
<p>I think Northwestern needs to strengthen its outreach in the Midwest (where most black applicants have a higher chance of applying to and enrolling at NU) and the West Coast (another important demographic). The South and Northeast are the most challenging parts because of the numerous Ivies, LACs and HBCUs. In addition, some black students in these areas have never heard of Northwestern.</p>
<p>Many of my black friends in high school matriculated to the Ivies. If your child gets into an Ivy league school or Stanford, that’s almost a loss for other schools competing for these same kids. I really do wish Northwestern had higher black enrollment numbers because the city of Chicago provides a great social and cultural community for everyone.</p>
<p>tenis, what you’re suggesting (increasing financial aid for minorities) would be what some people call “racism”. You see, when you give one group of people some benefit, and not another with identical qalifications, on account of the color of their skin, the liberal elite media calls it “discrimination”. Now, I know what you’re thinking! Just because someone’s just as poor as someone else doesn’t mean they have identical situations! After all, one of them is BLACK!</p>
<p>I suppose you’re right! Northwestern has the duty to help only those people who are socio-economically disadvantaged and happen to have more melanin in their skin. That makes perfect sense!</p>
<p>In all seriousness, I understand fully (coming from a minority community myself) that its a much more pleasant experience on campus to be able to have a community that shares your experience and culture. But at a certain point, I don’t see how Northwestern has any duty to try to actively attract any particular minority. It’s not that they’re not admitting them! And it’s not like they’re getting any worse aid. Perhaps other schools should start offering less money, to Black students, to give NU a fighting chance! </p>
<p>What? You don’t like that idea? Because it amounts to the same effect inverted. Denying, or granting, aid based solely on race is racism. Period.</p>
<p>Could Northwestern do more to attract and accommodate students of certain minorities? Definitely. Is aid one of them? Absolutely not, unless you’re suggesting they increase aid in general.</p>
<p>@ arbiter213</p>
<p>If Harvard, Yale and other schools don’t have a problem giving out free-rides to incoming students within a certain income bracket, Northwestern could join the same bandwagon too. Financial aid is an important issue (heck, I was considering it when I was applying to colleges a long time ago). Northwestern could ask admitted black students who denied matriculation why they chose the other school. The answers could be very interesting.</p>
<p>You’re right, they absolutely could (and should!). Well, probably could. Harvard and Yale do have endowments at least 4 times (thats more than $15,000,000,000 and more) the size of NU’s. </p>
<p>It seems I misread your post,
</p>
<p>Perhaps you meant they should change their policy, as such would help to lure and accommodate underrepresented minorities. Since it is constructed ambiguously, I read it as your advocating that Northwestern change their policy to one that specifically would lure and accommodate minorities (i.e. give them preference).</p>
<p>Perhaps I’m also a bit more defensive of NU’s much maligned Financial Aid because I receive such generous aid from it…</p>
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<p>^overall though, NU seems to be on the stingy side among the top schools. we can’t expect NU to match HYPS do but it seems to me NU is even less generous than some schools with smaller endowment.</p>
<p>When I attended NU, I received grants, scholarships, federal work study AND loans (subsidized stafford, perkins and private) to fund my four years. I was not rich by any means but I wasn’t poor either. Did I want the loans? Nope. Would I consider it a decent financial aid offer? Yes. </p>
<p>Northwestern is overall more stingy with financial aid than other peer schools. That’s why I said they may need to change their system. A lot of qualified underrepresented minorities don’t exactly come from households whose total incomes are below $50,000.</p>