Can a white student get a minority scholarship?

[HogNurse]

I was recently accepted into Hampton University in Hampton, VA for their MSN/FNP program. I have been told by some locals of this area (I am new from Arkansas) that since HU is a traditionally all-black university founded by Booker T. Washington that I would be the ethnic minority (being white) and could qualify for a minority scholarship. Does anyone know anything about this?

[snowboardgirl]

Hey I am sorry but if you are minority then you are minority. Does it matter what color your skin is if you are one in a million. Then that by definition is a minority.

I am from AZ where a school I attended was predominatly mexican, and there were plenty of them sitting pretty, or with a silver spoon in there mouth driving Lincoln navigators, BMW's...and still getting the minority scholarships. When there I sat right next to them, paycheck to paycheck, driving my ford ranger, and just got to class through rush hour traffic after a full day of work, and got nothing to help me through school. So please don't discourage anyone from taking what is there to help. Times are changing, some neighborhoods or schools are dominated by other races/ethnicity other than caucasion, then by all means any caucasion that qualifies as a minority. Then they are welcome to help! Honestly, scholarships are all out there for a lot of people (mostly minorities) so if someone is willing to look for them and they are eligable do it. There are so many scholarships or funds disgaurded each year so use it up. Its not a hand out its the rules we are now having to follow whats fair is fair, unfortunatley "white people" can be a minority and I my self have filled these shoes and I am grouped as caucasion. Personally I feel nothing should ever be made based on a persons, color of skin- When it comes to school it should be based on grades and academic achievments....

Just because you are white does not mean you can not be a minority.

[Soup Turtle]

Wow...I thought this was going to be some kind of joke. I guess it can't hurt to call and ask. I'd be interested in hearing what their response is.

[snowboardgirl]

So let me ask you this then-

If a city letter went out to your neighborhood, which a census is all ready built for your zip code that mexian hispanic are majority and the letter asked if you feel you fit the description of a minority, then you may be intitled to funding to help off set house payments, you wouldn't take that because you don't consider your self a minority?

[May_baby]

I may get flamed, but I'm gonna be honest here...

Minority scholarships are created per institutional and/or Federal guidelines. Minority groups are defined by race or ethnicity.

A Caucasian student may be defined as economically disadvantaged and receive funding according to that definition. But a Caucasian student is not part of a nationally defined minority group and would not be defined as a minority per Federal guidelines (a great deal of educational scholarships are based on Federal funding).

The fact is that a disparity in graduate education (the OP is a graduate student) continues to exist between "majority" and "minority" groups. Funding for minority students and educational institutions founded to support minority students (i.e. Universities and colleges founded in response to historical racism) have been created to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in education.

[MikeyJ, RN]

I may get flamed, but I'm gonna be honest here...

Minority scholarships are created per institutional and/or Federal guidelines. Minority groups are defined by race or ethnicity.

A Caucasian student may be defined as economically disadvantaged and receive funding according to that definition. But a Caucasian student is not part of a nationally defined minority group and would not be defined as a minority per Federal guidelines (a great deal of educational scholarships are based on Federal funding).

The fact is that a disparity in graduate education (the OP is a graduate student) continues to exist between "majority" and "minority" groups. Funding for minority students and educational institutions founded to support minority students (i.e. Universities and colleges founded in response to historical racism) have been created to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in education.

Thank you! :) I tried getting this point across in my two posts but I don't think I ever fully got it across.

[snowboardgirl]

Racism will never end because of institutional racism, and quiet racism. I my self are always judged on the color of my skin....."white", but what people don't know or are "ignorant" to is like I said, "I am of American Indian and Mexican/Spanish, and my family under Federal Rules then are considered minority". Its sad people are still creating racism by judging a persons color of skin or ethnicity it will never end.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

This falls under what I call the "just-because-it-can-be-done-doesn't-mean-it-SHOULD-be-done" category.

Personally, I can't even imagine asking for a minority scholarship under these circumstances. It seems kind of like going to a food bank and taking home a box of groceries when you've still got a week's worth of food at home and payday is just around the corner: you could certainly use it, and indeed may even be eligible for it, but how can you feel right about accepting it when you know deep down there are others who need it more?

JMHO.

I disagree with you my dear sweet friend.

The university in the town I grew up in was a traditionally African American University. White students were in the minority there and were offered miniority scholarships. I think it's only fair considering the opposite is true at majority caucasion universities.

I would agree with the others who say there's no harm in asking, if you're not rich, and it's available, you qualify (race is not the only qualifier, there must be a need), then take advantage of it.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Thank you for your perspective, Tweety. You have put this in a different light, and while I'd still have felt awkward about applying for a minority scholarship for myself back in my college days, I can see why some who attend mostly "black" schools do. I didn't realize that some of these colleges offered them to white students.......but that's just proof that I learn something new every day!

[carol72]

You will qualify. My sister did this.

[snowboardgirl]

May I ask what college?