I am an American of mixed race. My late mother, the oldest of her family of eight, won degrees, scholarships, and later from a fellowship, from a blue chip university. How did she do it? By mastering the English language. By hard study for competitive entrance examinations, including lengthy essays on diverse "Eurocentric" subjects. And mind you, this was before WWII, before the SAT, GRE, and LSAT came on the scene. That's when scholarships and student aid were handed out on the basis of what you knew, rather than what you looked like. My Mom's family didn't have money or pedigree - My Mom had a love of study and a boundless appetite for hard work. These written examinations opened the door for her for a professional career, and for her they leveled the very unlevel playing field of 1940. "Read and heed"
I am an American of mixed race. My late mother, the oldest of her family of eight, won degrees, scholarships, and later from a fellowship, from a blue chip university. How did she do it? By mastering the English language. By hard study for competitive entrance examinations, including lengthy essays on diverse "Eurocentric" subjects. And mind you, this was before WWII, before the SAT, GRE, and LSAT came on the scene. That's when scholarships and student aid were handed out on the basis of what you knew, rather than what you looked like. My Mom's family didn't have money or pedigree - My Mom had a love of study and a boundless appetite for hard work. These written examinations opened the door for her for a professional career, and for her they leveled the very unlevel playing field of 1940. "Read and heed"