Kid Catches Flak for Choosing an HBCU

Dr. Cheese · #1 10-11-2010, 11:02 PM

http://www.theroot.com/views/16-year...rvard?page=0,1

This is a neat story. Apparently some feel this kid made a bad decision to turn down some Ivy League schools like Harvard to attend Florida A&M, a Historically Black College (HBCU.)

I can relate to this. I went to a large, traditionally white college, which was good, but it was isolating sometimes. My wife attended a HBCU, and really wants our children to do the same. The interesting thing is that the percentage of black students who end up doing well in graduate or professional school is much higher among those who earned their first degrees at HBCUs. Based on that alone, the kid may have made a great decision since he has so many options.

kesslari · #2 10-11-2010, 11:08 PM

College is about more than the name of the school.
It's about the education, and it's also about 4 years of your life that will set up much of the rest of your life, and about contacts that you make that will often be very important to you in your life.

His choice. If he's smart enough to get in to Harvard, he's probably smart enough to have thought this through pretty well.

XigXag · #3 10-11-2010, 11:09 PM

It was not stated in the article. Who was giving him this flak?

Dr. Cheese · #4 10-11-2010, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XigXag

It was not stated in the article. Who was giving him this flak?

It said he was catching some flak on Facebook page and through some other internet sources.

NateS · #5 10-11-2010, 11:20 PM

really?

i never noticed that there were "black" or "white" college...

a +1 to myself for not really caring about the color of skin in education.

Jim Campbell · #6 10-11-2010, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

It said he was catching some flak on Facebook page and through some other internet sources.

he wouldn't be the first kid to blow off a great situation to be closer to his pals....my ex's blew off 2 years of international baccalaureate,which would have saved a year of university,and which cost his mom a great deal in out of district fees,transportation etc....for a trip overseas....

Deluge Of Sound · #7 10-11-2010, 11:22 PM

This dude got accepted into Ivy League schools at 16.

Damn.

Selta · #8 10-11-2010, 11:23 PM

So it's a news story that someone chose a school?
I guess I'm confused... *goes and reads article*

steamthief · #9 10-11-2010, 11:24 PM

If he's smart enough to get into Harvard as an undergrad, he's smart enough to go there for his Master's degree. Enjoy the experience of the HBSU and get the marquee degree. Win-win!

XigXag · #10 10-11-2010, 11:24 PM

Yes, but Who was asking those questions/making assertions.

Dr. Cheese · #11 10-11-2010, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Campbell

he wouldn't be the first kid to blow off a great situation to be closer to his pals....my ex's blew off 2 years of international baccalaureate,which would have saved a year of university,and which cost his mom a great deal in out of district fees,transportation etc....for a trip overseas....

His point was that Harvard was not a great fit for him in terms of his major or financially. It doesn't look like he blew anything.

NateS · #12 10-11-2010, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

So it's a news story that someone chose a school?
I guess I'm confused... *goes and reads article*

+1. I'm sure that kids of all colors choose schools of "all colors" (this is new to me) for many different reasons, many legitimate, many not. If he chose it because of the amount of snow they get in the winter so he can have teh epix sn0wb@11 ph1t3$ in winter, that'd still...not be news.

TBOT is opening my eyes to the amount of pseudoracism in the world. IT's not the '50s anymore, people...

Jim Campbell · #13 10-11-2010, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

His point was that Harvard was not a great fit for him in terms of his major or financially. It doesn't look like he blew anything.

he may not have blown it,and he may well get a great education elsewhere,but he did indeed,blow them off.....

Deluge Of Sound · #14 10-11-2010, 11:31 PM

I also don't think he blew anything.

OTOH, I'm sure some of the rejected Harvard applicants are absolutely (and incorrectly) fuming at this news. Here's a sixteen year old turning down (potentially) one of the best networking opportunities anyone could ever ask for. I could see people expressing their doubts about that.

If you read the interview, though, he definitely comes across as level-headed.

Dr. Cheese · #15 10-11-2010, 11:32 PM

When I was in my senior year, I had some offers from Ivy League schools like Princeton, but they were not full rides. I would have graduated with a lot more debt than I ended up with. Getting accepted into a big time school sounds good, but the pricetag can be killer.

BTW, FAMU offered me a scholarship too, but it was for business. Before you guys get me for bragging, I was nowhere near as together as this kid seems to be.

Selta · #16 10-11-2010, 11:34 PM

Yeah, now that I read it I'm still confused. Big deal, he had his reasons for choosing a school. I don't even know why he app'd to Harvard to be honest - it's not known for it's engineering program

Kwesi · #17 10-11-2010, 11:35 PM

More power to him.Like Steamthief said, there's nothing stopping him from going to HArvard ro wherever for his graduate degree. The kid is obviously smart and will probably make it into an Ivy league graduate school if that's what he really wants. Personally, I could never attend an HBCU. For 6 years my schools were 95% black and I'm ready to move on, and I have. My aunt and uncle would be super happy to know about this story, I should send it to them, lol.

Dr. Cheese · #18 10-11-2010, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

Yeah, now that I read it I'm still confused. Big deal, he had his reasons for choosing a school. I don't even know why he app'd to Harvard to be honest - it's not known for it's engineering program

If he really did well on his ACT or SAT, he might have been recruited. That's what happened to me.

Deluge Of Sound · #19 10-11-2010, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

When I was in my senior year, I had some offers from Ivy League schools like Princeton, but they were not full rides. I would have graduated with a lot more debt than I ended up with. Getting accepted into a big time school sounds good, but the pricetag can be killer.

Different experiences for different folks. I have a friend at one Ivy League who pays 5K a year for tuition. Another has a free ride at a different one.

Of course, they both happen to be white...

Just messin'.

MIJ-VI · #20 10-12-2010, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

It said he was catching some flak on Facebook page and through some other internet sources.

What's next? Flak via YouTube comments?..