Scholarships based on Ethnicity?

Question

In New Zealand where I live, there are many University Scholarships for Maori and Pacific Island people. Very few for others.

I am planning on going to University next year, I woke my backside off to get the best marks I can. One of my good friends (who is Maori) just scrapes along doing the bare minimum.

But next year she will most likely receive a $8,000 scholarship. I will receive nothing.

I'm not racist but I don't believe this is fair at all. Just because she comes from a certain ethnic group (which she doesn't even know much about) she will receive a large some of money.

I believe that everyone should be treated equally, whether or not they are Maori/ Pacific Island or whatever.

What do you think?

Lady-Go-Getta- Good for you. I have actually looked at every Scholarship for every University here and the University I want to go to have only 1 Scholarship I could apply for.

I don't need the money. My parents can pay for it, and I have a part time job. My question wasn't about money, it was about the principals. If you missed that from my rant, I can't see you being a journalist.

There is only 1 possible scholarship I can apply for at the University I am going to and that is for Arts and Humanities students. Only 1 person will receive that scholarship from hundreds.

My friend has not received the scholarship yet. She comes from a reasonably wealthy family. Her father owns a farm. You do not live in NZ so you do not know how this Scholarships are worded. I am not complaining. I am just stating a point and asking for feed back. I will have to get a student loan, my parents cant just fork out $10,000 a year!

I am not talking about my friend here, this is just a hypothetical situation. Many people go by in this world doing the bare minimum.


Cas- I don't blame my friend. She also thinks it's unfair. We just want it to be equally based on success OR hardship, not ethnicity.

I am only using my situation as an example. Imagine if I was poor and I had no money, but I was still turned down for my scholarship but someone who had the money and was of a Maori or Pacific Island background.

Thanks Gussie, you're right.

Answer 1

Scholarships based on ethnicity does not promote racial tolerance or harmony. This further divides and drives ethnicities to the point of hating one another. Whatever happened to scholarships for people who "earned" it? You're not being racist. The educational powers that be in New Zealand need to pull their heads out of their orifices!

Answer 2

I'm from NZ too and hear this all the time. I know a lot of Maori and Pacific Islanders who agree with you, so it's not the case where they all want a hand out.

I also don't think it's fair to offer scholarships based on your ethnicity, but at the same time if there was a bracket you'd fall under to be able to apply for a scholarship, wouldn't you try and apply?

It's not the fault of the Maori and Pacific Island people that these rules are in place, blame the government. But while they are in place, don't look down on the Maori and Pacific Islanders for it... If they choose to take that opportunity to better themselves, then good on them.

EDIT:
I can understand where you're coming from and you are not alone in that... It just seemed you were a little bitter towards your friend from your wording, but I see that's not the case now. Good luck to you both with the rest of your studies.

Answer 3

I do not think that a scholarship ( or anything else) should be based on ethnicity.I think that we should start basing choices on ability,at least as best we can.When we bring ethnicity into play there is always the perception you did not really deserve the scholarship (or job,promotion etc) but were only selected based solely on ethnicity.I feel that the only way to ensure the best qualified is to make choices based on objective criteria ( marks first,extra curricular activities and community involvement if it is relevant).I also think that financial hardship should also be used as criteria for students who have the ability but not the resources to attend a college or university.Why don't these educational institutions offer more bursaries to help more student?.I think that in the States they used to have a commercial for the United ***** College Fund and if memory serves me right their slogan was "A mind is a terrible thing to waste"I think this is an appropriate slogan for all students who are denied an education,regardless of ethnicity.Wabby ,be thankful your parents and your own input will allow you to attend university.Some very capable students are not so fortunate.You pointed out that you could only apply for one.Good luck in your future plans.Take care.

Answer 4

I have answered this question 3 or 4 times on Yahoo.The reason that certain groups give scholarships is because they want to see more of that group in colleges and universities. Now, if you have the money to go to college, why do you care what others get? My parents paid for my college, and there were white people that got work-study. I could not get work-study because my parents made too much money. It didn't bother me that they got money to go. If she got money that you think you should have received, I can understand your anger, but apparently that is not the case.

Answer 5

If you worked your butt of you would get an academic-based scholarship . Ideally everyone would be treated equally but that is not the case in the world we leave in racism plays a large part on most cultures. However, I don't believe you friend got her scholarship simply because of race but because her parents don't have enough money to pay for her while yours do. Stop complaining and complete your education. If your friend is not working harding it will show once she entires university and will quickly flunk out leaving that money for someone else.

Answer 6

I totally agree with you race - based scholarships aren't necessarily a good thing I think scholarships should be awarded on basis of merit and economic standing.

Answer 7

We as a society need to level the playing field and have more diversity in the workforce.

White people have numerous opportunity's and people that come here from overseas.

The people that have been here for generations are left behind to roght Homeless and no chance if you have no contact to network with.

Its not what you know but who you know

Answer 8

im from the uk and its horrid that the Scottish will have completely free higher education and the English must pay!
its a similar situation but somedays i feel thats what make the world go round (inequality)
its sad i know :(
i say you prove that you are a stronger candidate by working your backside off even more :D

Answer 9

because somebody is paying for these scholar ships and they are trying to look out for there people trying to help them get up the ladder i dont blame them i'd do the same but i wouldnt completey turn my back out on the world but id make sure id look out for my people since nobody else wants to

but trust me i know how you feel im in high school and i get honor roll like every time but im only in honors but when every i apply to gt they tell me no but my friend applyed and they let him in and he had 5 e's (failing) of of our 9 grades so he failed 5 classes and he got in but i failed none and acuatally got all a's and b's. so he goes around bragging about how hes so smart but im like i get better grades then you and he says but that only because i dont try and so i dont see how its fair he can claim hes smarter but he doesnt even try but he says if he did he would be smarter( trust me he wouldnt) he said we could get a summer job as police officers in jails at age 14 and the sad part was he was serious

Answer 10

I think "ethnic" scholarships are racist and dragging our society backwards.