What Minority Applicants Should Ask
For underrepresented minorities, which include African-Americans, Latinos and Native Americans, visiting a college or university can be a critical way to learn how much it supports students from a range of ethnic backgrounds.
College diversity experts suggest applicants ask about these five topics while touring a school.
Graduation Gaps
Is there any gap between the overall graduation rate and the minority graduation rate in four to six years?
Why This Question Matters
“You want to be very careful about a school that has a huge difference,” says George Sanchez, vice dean for diversity and strategic initiatives at the University of Southern California‘s Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.
Applicants of color should find out if minority students are graduating at the same rate as majority students, he says. A big difference in the two rates is a red flag. “They might admit you,” he says. “It doesn’t mean that you’ll be successful there.”
Safety
Has the university had any recent racial conflicts?
Why This Question Matters
Violent and nonviolent disputes that may stem from racism are worth looking into before enrolling, says Sanchez. Applicants can usually find out about these by asking current students.
“You want to be able to go to a place where you will feel physically safe,” he says.
Citizenship
Does the university have any policy toward students living in the U.S. without legal permission?
Why This Question Matters
This question is important even for those who are legal residents, says Sanchez , from the University of Southern California. If the university does not have a policy or it has a negative policy, minority applicants should be cautious, he says. These policies can speak to a school’s climate and how much it supports minorities, he says.
Support Services
Is there a student affairs office that supports multicultural students?
Why This Question Matters
These offices may focus on minority affairs or lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender undergrads, depending on the school, said Hattie Mukombe, associate dean of diversity admissions at Wake Forest University, in an email.
“These are offices which are committed to managing and supporting students from diverse backgrounds and are often separate from the student affairs or student development office within the institution,” she wrote.
Visitation Programs
Are there cultural visitation programs that allow minority applicants to meet current students?
Why This Question Matters
These programs can provide a way for minority applicants to speak with current undergrads about the realities of campus life.
“In many instances, cultural visitation programs enable prospective students to hear from or meet with diverse students who are currently enrolled at the institution,” Mukombe wrote. “The ability to directly connect with current students is invaluable as it grants prospective students immediate access to the lived, and often unfiltered, experiences that diverse students have at the college.”
More on Finding a College That Values Diversity
Decide if a historically black school or Hispanic-serving institution is the right school for you, and get our complete rankings of the 2015 Best Colleges to help make your decision.
For more advice and information on how to select a college, connect with U.S. News Education on Twitter and Facebook.
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5 Diversity Questions to Ask During a Campus Visit originally appeared on usnews.com
