Many state universities have recorded a drop in African-American admissions. State universities seem to have experienced the largest drop with private colleges, second-tier state schools, and community colleges experiencing an increase in numbers. Even after the Supreme Court decision in June 2003 that upheld the principle that affirmative action as a means of achieving racial diversity, the University of Michigan’s drop in African-American numbers is surprising. It seems that most minority applicants just remembered that there was a case about race and decided to attend other schools like Michigan State and HBCUs before the case was decided. Across the country, it seems that rising tuition was a major factor with many low-income student being afraid to risk taking on huge debts to attend college.
I think that some minority students are afraid of applying to colleges they may not get into if their minority value is not evaluated. Thus, the jump in numbers for second tier colleges and HBCUs. This is a shame and should not deter candidates. Dr. Benjamin E. Mayes once said, “low aim, not failure is sin.”
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