<p>“If you want to feel comfortable about being black, go to Chicago.”</p>
<p>Huh? Wow…lol. That obviously isn’t her purpose…I’m sure she is very comfortable being black. She just wants to know more about the diversity of the school…If you knew anything you would actually know that Chicago has less blacks than Dartmouth. And I’m sure her fellow students at Chicago would not fail to remind her of that as they attend school in what the school tells prospective parents is the “mid” southside (aka what you would call a “sketchy” neighborhood) .</p>
<p>“You will probably hear things there that will toughen you up when you go into real world.”</p>
<p>You don’t know what she has heard already…lol. That’s why she is asking about diversity in the place that she will spend the next stage of her life in. It really is a serious and legitimate concern. Both schools are excellent and she is trying to determine which would be the best as far fit obviously. Being exposed to a racial comment won’t necessarily help to “toughen her up” or break her down, it’s not like she hasn’t heard it before. But frankly race can affect the way SOME students AND most importantly faculty and staff interact with you. And the way faculty and staff interacts with you can indirectly and quite directly affect your grades and opportunities…no matter how much some would like to downplay it…period.</p>
<p>Not saying that Dartmouth or UChicago has a more racially un-harminous environment than the other. There is an argument for both schools. Just saying that it is not right to belittle that concern. Hate to divert but lets be honest…if a gay student or an economically disadvantaged student were to ask how friendly the school environment is for those particular groups. Everyone would throw their 2 cents in about the friendliness of the school, the support group/center, their gay/poor bff (cringe-worthy comments)…etc. Why is it ridiculous, small-minded or whiny when a racial minoritity (particularly black students) wants to know about the environment, especially considering that 9 times out of 10, this identity, their racial background, is most obvious and elemental in their daily lives and interactions w/ others?</p>