Do any of you go, or would any of you consider to go. I'm asking this question as two weeks ago I took part in a focus group conducted by two individulas from theinstitute of educationin london. They were asked by UCL, to find out from students what inhibits students from applying to institutions like UCL, what are perceptions on it, and those of us who had recieved offers do you see yourself studying there.

It was really intresting to see other students views on elitist universities, in which the common view was one of intimidation, isolation, competiveness, and the lack of people from similar backgrounds.

Blacknet Village what are your views or experiences?

I experienced 2 different Universities. The first one had a diverse mix of students and was located in a poor-ish area. I was welcomed there with open arms and never experienced any problems.

The second place I went to was in a rich white area. I felt hostility from my main tutors from day 1. I soon switched off from them and I felt the bad vibes from them all through my course. They were so rude and unhelpful. I had a miserable time there, tutors aren't supposed to put you on eggshells like that. confused2 Looking back I would have had more fun at the first place, I had none whatsoever at the second. The trouble is the second place was the only place that actually did my chosen course!

Anyway, I don't know about UCL as I didn't go there.

Now imagine a Howard University in London?

@ Michelle33

A Howard university in London would be Heaven! I think it would actually encourage more black students to get into higher education, if they knew that there was an institutioncreated by Africans for africans in mind, which would be reflected in the courses offered.ABlack centred university in London would be greatespeciallyif like many of theHBCUs inAmerica was committed to the educational advancement of African students and the community as a whole.

On another note I must say that you've kind of made me nervous about your experience at your second university, as one of my choices (UCL) is a very conservative white middle class university and i would hate to feel miserableduring my time there. This is not to say that i am anticipating this, as the tutors and lecturers seemed very friendly and helpful on the open day, therefore i can't generalise all institutions like that, but itsjust something that i'm weary of.

I wish Blacknet existed when I was a student that's all I can say. There is now a support network.

Try: http://education.guardian.co.uk/raci...677003,00.html

I went to King's, and found it to be a great experience. I spend a fair amount of time at UCL with friends, and found the student population to be open minded and wonderful company.

BA Comparative Literature.




conscious sistah wrote:

@Concious Sister..Interesting topic. My view has always been go to the best institutions in the land and I have never shifted from that. Does not mean as a black person it is going to get you that job, but it puts you in a far superior position both in the labour market and socially.

Let me give you a recent example. I went for a full medical check up as part of my private health scheme. The consultant who is a top professsor was going through my paper work and then stopped and said Dr Fred we have plenty in common and then told me we have the same alma mater and both worked taught at the same elite medical school. My wife who was with me told me once he noted that his complete attitude changed and was extremely friendly. Not to say he was not friendly and professional at first because he was, but you could sense the immediate change in atmosphere.

Also happened to me once when I engaged a top law firm and this Jewish senior partner was boasting blatantly about the firm and its rep and the university he went to...

He asked me did I know a particular professor and when I answered we were personal friends and I studied two degrees under him and he was my Phd supervisor my man could not even talk, because he hardly knew him only having spent a short while at the university in question, unlike myself. But after that he was literally eating my shit with praise and flattery...not because he wanted to because this was one arrogant white boy, but because I could trump him big time on the very same platform he sought to base his superiority on....

So I simply repeat what my father and house master told me always go for the best and never compromise on it, particularly if you are black. The issue of being intimidated or isolated and all that which you mentioned to me is about preparation. Because if you have the right preparation of being the a high performer you don't givea rass about what white or other students think and Asians from my experience are the most difficult because they think they have reached and when they see a black person in those places it loses them sleep..Most upper middle class whites are far more confident of their positions and are only doing what is natural do them...

One thing you do get in elite universities is the largest collections of wankers in any geographical space on the planet. Many of those who attend are the 'brightest' in their early school career in their localities. Problem is this, when they move to a bigger play ground which is choc a bloc of high performers it affects their confidence and you will find out who the real bad boys and girls are.

So the bitchiness or attempts to undermine are really deep and heavy things go on. I did not experience much but remember receiving two straight A's from some real tough and no nonsense professors and I think the only person to do so and you should have seen the response of particular white male and female students...But they would not come and mess in my face because they know I would yam them whole and alive and all together..

I sat near this German guy whose father was the Directure of the Duetchesbank. A real arrogant and aristocratic type and we did not talk for almost the complete time ofour degree. The only time we spoke is at our finals at the end he came over to me quickly and asked me how I answered two questions. Of course I gave him the correct asnwer and enjoyed myself as his face collapsed knowing the bitch had got it wrong and the satifisfaction as they say in the Mafia he had to come and kiss my ring..Because I have nothing to ask him or any white boy or Asian in that exam..

But if you lack confidence then you will start to appologies for your superior performance and even start to dumb down to keep in with white folks. Me I don't beg friends or white woman so what they think I don't give a raas, because as my father says i can't take them white people where I am going...

Finally, it is not only students who are intimidated in elite universities. I got my break in teaching in my first one, because a colleague asked me to take her lecture while she was out of the country. I came, I saw and conquored. When she returned she was amazed by the positive reception I received at my lecture and seminar and asked me if I wanted to have the job period which surprised me plus I had a full time job already.

She confessed of all the universities she had taught at, she found this elite medical school the most difficult ,because at that time they were pure public school intakes and predominantly white males. Many of them had never been around women or taught by one and because of their rugby and rowing machismo and rowdiness she found them very difficult to control and it was not helped by being an Asian woman academic.

These were massive lectures in massive lecture halls designed like multiplex cinemas so can you imagine it packed with white upper middle class public schools boys and their antics...

I had no problem with them whatsover, but being a particular type of man and black man too boot and having self confidence and being probably more athletic than most of them and definitely a superior sense of humour than that white foolishness I had a ball.

But what white people think or do should never deter you from working or studying in the best institutions in the land for your own benefit and that of your children as well...

FBniceone.gif

@ Fred B, that was someexcellent advice, and somegood anecdotes. My Dad told me the very same thing, of not being detered from going there, or feeling intimidated. I was in the beginning quite intimidated,when i went for the interview, as I had never been in an environment where i wasthe minority, in terms of race and class. In addition I felt while sitting there with the other students that were like clones of one another, will i fit in, what would i talk to these people about ect. I finally did, and they seemed nice, but at the same time, in particular the middle class public educated males, were nice but at the same time liked to slyly brag, about A levels, predictions, GCSEs and Oxbridge interviews, which is a standard for them. After the interview with two lecturers, i felt more confident, and that Iwas as good as the rest,and deserved to be therebecause i felt i answered all their questions well, and even schooled them in a few areas of african history that they didn't know.

Im now a lot more confident in going, at first i had this mentality that i don't really care if i don't get in, but now i really do, depending if I get the A levels that they want. Competition from what i've heard about the institution is fierce, this will probably motivate me, even more to do well, as i can't stand feeling inferior to others, academically that is.

I think going to the place i wantto go to, willbenefit me in the future, asI would like to become an academic.

@CS Your father knows what he is talking about. You are correct that most of these institutions and not only education are filled with grey or shall I say white and a few coconut clones..But that is their problem...You bring the flavour and use it to your advantage and that is your competitive edge.

I remember an interview I had for a tenured academic post and a really good one that I wanted. You always get to know who the other candidates are because you spend the day together and will chat and socialise. Only after I gave my presentation, being the last upthat I realised the three other white academics gave literally the same presentation, but I brought the flavour and quality...

So don't worry about the clones..clones mean being safe and often lacking real confidence, initiative and daring..Use them to give yourself the competive edge...

Good choice of career and good timing given the changes taking place in the profession and I am sure you will educate them and that is the attitude you must have..

Peace and good luck..

FBniceone.gif

Conscious sistah,

You would expect for Spelman and Morehouse to be more open minded Universities( and considering that they schools used to be around housing prjects before they started to tear them down),but they are the opposite. Even at Historically Black colleges and universities like those, some of those folks are just as snobby as they come. When you go there , you'll them talk about Black Unity and other kinds of stuff there, they are just political talking, but once you attend school there, all of that prejudice leaks out. People from Morehouse and Spelman has a tendency to look down onstudent who are from Clark Atlanta University and Morris Brown College because they are considered to be " ghetto" schools.

My brother would tell me about how disgusted he was at Morehouse and Spelman colleges looking dowm on people and back then ,the people who lived in the housing projects( and some of those people went there as well). I used to think it was a joke and I also remembered a horrible 1987 article from the AJC about their ignorance about how My wife isfrom Spelman, My girlfriend is from Clark and my Ho is from Morris brown. If I find the past article, I willlet you see what I'm talking about. Even in 2006, the prejudice has not disappeared. Just look at their website at some of their forums aboutwww.clubauc.com about it. It can be appalling! Some people , like me, who used togo to the school because we wanted the so-called Black experience and then you go and there is elitist prejudice, class prejudice nationality prejudice-- what kind of " experience" is that?It's funny, I graduated from a White University. Though I have never been the target of racially animosity( at least with me) there, I 'm quite sure thatsome of those White people at the school was for me or any other Black person, why? because it's a fact of life. At least if I would have been the target of it, I would be more expected and understood, with our own people doing this to each not! it just doesn't make sense to me.

I'm going to an elitiest university in Canada. But thankfully the school is slowing being overrun by minorities.. Half of the student body is made up of Far East Asians and there are a lot of Blacks, Indians and Arabs so thewhite supremacist undertoneis not as present as you would find in completely white dominanted institutions. For the most part the instructors in the more dominant faculties are not that bad but I havetwo Asian friends who decided to major in Celtic Studies, (don't ask, they were both really lost when we were in first year), and encounteredblatantracism from not just the students but their instructorsas well. Anyway, that experience hasreally opened their eyes and has even turned one of them into the most militant, anti-white person you can find. It's funny as hell too because this girl used to run after red-haired white boys... ... until she had her epiphany.