<p>@135pipe. You need to be aware of a phenomenon called confirmation bias. In a nutshell, people tend to see and believe what confirms their own biases. (And everyone has biases: politics, food, music, clothes, etc.) This manifests itself in several ways. First, people tend to hang out with people that look at things the way they do. Second, people tend to read material, visit websites, watch TV, and listen to talk radio that is consistent with their own outlooks. In this way, they are not exposed to contrary views. Third, even if exposed to information that is contrary to their biases, people tend to ignore or disregard it.</p>
<p>So if you expect small-town Texans to all be red-neck bigots who drive pick-up trucks, drink Jack Daniels, and ride around yelling “yee-haw,” then you will probably find evidence to support your bias. If you expect the A&M community (students, faculty, and administration) to be biased against African-Americans, Muslims, gays, transgendered, and so on, you will discover supporting evidence. Similarly, if a boy from a Texas small town expects every African-American to have a chip on his shoulder and wanting preferential treatment, he might could meet you and find evidence to support his bias, particularly if you treat him like a redneck.</p>
<p>You have asked many times in several threads about the prevalence at A&M of racism and homophobia. You are clearly concerned, maybe even afraid. Now, I have no real first-hand experience, but I doubt that A&M is much different than any other large public university. Certainly, it is one of the friendliest campuses I have ever visited. I firmly believe that if you go to college at A&M with an open mind and are willing to work very hard (pre-med and other science courses are really hard at any college), you will have the best experience of your life. You will leave A&M with an outstanding education and with friends who you will cherish for life. But, if you go in with your head down and a suspicious mind, and are not willing to work hard, you will end up unhappy and be gone in a couple of years.</p>
<p>You seem like a nice kid and I want you to succeed. You have a great opportunity that others would practically kill for - a full ride to a great university! It’s up to you whether you take advantage of it or not. Anyway, take my advice for what it’s worth coming from an over-50 white guy with his own set of biases.</p>