It seems that marriage (according to statistics, which as we all know, are infallible) has become a white institution. Black people just aren’t doing it anymore.

Some of you may be familiar with the special CNN aired, “Black in America” in which they spoke on many of the issues that black America is having not only with marriage, but with other aspects of day to day life: employment, education, etc., all of which impact the black community.

Dionne Hill, the producer of the segment has a special rumination on black people and marriage. It’s not a new statistic, but the fact still remains: black people simply are not getting married in the numbers that we once used to. Certainly no longer comparable in numbers to the ethnic majority of Caucasian people marrying. In the article, which can be found in it’s entirety here, she talks about her own experience with the illusive unicorn that is marriage and her own vision of the perfect life, which is, of course: marriage, career, and children.

Like many black women she has one of the three – career – and hopes that the other two will fall in line on their own.

So why isn’t she, or the other black women she speaks about, getting married? What’s wrong here? Some people say it’s a cycle that we’re just repeating. Our parents weren’t married, therefore, we aren’t getting married either. Or maybe it’s TV and media – black pop culture has this single black super woman thing going on that discourages the idea of marriage. You know, the successful black woman: constantly dating but never finding the one that meets her standards.

And that’s probably the root of the problem right there.

In previous generations its been the idea that a man brings something more to the table. A job, stability, ability to make babies who won’t be shunned because they were had out of wedlock, etc… Nowadays, these values aren’t as important in a potential mate because, let’s face it, we can get all of these things on our own. No longer do we have to be like Beyonce and Upgrade a man; we can be picky and wait for the supped up version to enter our lives.

Despite this growing trend, Hill still has hope, but her silver lining has its rain cloud:

“My outlook: optimistic. My honest fear: It may never happen,”

And this is perhaps the most touching and honest thing in the entire article. It was more than just reporting facts, recalling memories and ideas she was holding onto. It was brutal and honest and every black woman’s fear (not to mention a fear rampant among women of all colors and backgrounds). Because despite understanding the problem, despite accepting it, it’s still there. The numbers are still there and numbers do not lie.

But there is hope.

There are men out there who bring what every woman is looking for; it just takes time to find them. I don’t think that black people are getting married less, I just think that they’re finally not settling for less. Little things that we may have overlooked before – emotionally stunted, bad teeth, criminal record, etc. – no longer get a pass for the sake of just being married.

[Photo courtesy of wikimedia.org]

But since I transferred after my freshman year, I lost a few credits. I still need to graduate in 2009; with the way tuition is, I can’t afford another semester or even another year. So since I was a little underweight in the distribution section, I decided to do what any smart, responsible college student would do; I signed up for summer classes.

Summer classes are no joke. They last just about a month, maybe a little bit longer. You’re learning things that are usually spread out throughout a semester, but crammed together into four weeks. It’s fast-paced, hectic, and time-consuming. It’s even harder if it’s a subject you’re not familiar with.

I’m taking Spanish 101 and 102 at my local community college to get my language requirement out of the way. Mind you, I’m already pretty well versed in Spanish. I took it for about ten years in baby steps. But now that it’s pretty much being crammed down my throat and even I’m having some difficulty.

If you’re taking summer classes, you can’t afford to be the slacker you might be tempted to be when those obscenely hot summer days roll around. You have to go to every class, because so much material is packed into one day that even that one absence can screw you over. You know that model student you promise you’re going to be in the beginning of the semester, but it eventually goes downhill? That’s the way you’ve gotta be during summer courses. Take notes, study, do all your homework, show up to every class, and ask questions. If you’re confused about something and you don’t take the chance to ask the professor right then, you’re pretty much screwed in terms of hoping it’s gonna come back up again to clarify itself. Trust me; it ain’t gonna happen.

The good thing about summer classes is that it’s over pretty quickly. Like I said, they range from about four to five weeks. After that, you never need to look at that Statistics or Baby Bio book again. They’re also pretty convenient; most colleges will readily let you transfer summer courses.

So if you’re lagging behind a bit in credits or just want to get that distribution out of the way, sign up for a summer course. It’s a little painful, but faster and even easier in the long run.

But damn if it isn’t mind over matter.

[Picture credit goes to: gettyimages.com]

Looking back, I don’t know how I did it all without serious drugs; I was crazy. But, at the time, I knew exactly what I had to do to set myself apart from everyone else in my class in order to get into my first choice college.

I know I wasn’t alone alone. I’m sure there are many people reading this right now and thinking, “Yup. Same story for me…except I was also on the tennis and softball teams!” We all did what we had to do. With more kids applying to college than ever before, the competition was fierce; what other choice did we have?

Then there were the unfortunate ladies (and I know there are lots of you) that are reading this and thinking to themselves, “That is all you did? I was also class president and helped the starving children in Somalia and still didn’t get into my #1!”

I feel for you guys, I really do. And if you happen to be one of those bitter students who did all that work and was forced to go to your second choice school, stop reading now because you are going to get pissed.

Statisticians are now saying that, because the number of high school graduates is set to peak in the next year or two, there will be less kids applying to colleges in the coming years. Fewer applicants means less demand. Less demand means less selectivity, which means that the major competition to get into colleges is about to end.

Too bad we are already here, eh?

At first glance, this seems totally unfair – especially for those top notch students who didn’t get in where they would have liked – but it is quite the opposite. Knowing these statistics, many Ivy League schools and other popular schools are turning their attention (and financial aid money) to the students they have historically ignored: low income students, minority students, and those who normally wouldn’t aim for such esteemed institutions. This shift will present opportunities to those who never had them before, in addition to the many students who will benefit from the added diversity on campus and in the classroom.

This is also good for those of you currently enrolled in two year Community College programs; many schools are teaming up with community colleges to offer spaces to graduates to finish their last two years at a top tier institution. This is an opportunity that was non-existent until now and one that will mean a high quality education for many more promising students.

Sure, it sorta sucks for those of us who had to give up sleep, eating, and excessive TV watching in high school in order to be a part of every last activity, but all that stuff built your character and made you the person you are today! (So says my mother.) Not to mention the fact that no matter what school you ended up at, you are most likely having the best time ever. If all of that doesn’t make you feel any better, consider the possibility of this trend spreading to grad schools;

Harvard, here I come!

Remember when you were in high school and you began to hunt for a college? As if you weren’t having enough trouble balancing those AP classes and inevitable girl drama and all of a sudden – BAM – here come like 10,000 books/essays/magazines/guides/counselors bombarding you with information on choosing the right college.

• Do you want big or small?

• Liberal arts? Science? Big city? Small campus? Close to home? Great sports teams?

Some books had statistics. Others had tests to place you in the right “type” of school. Still others were filled with advice from the students who went there. But where was the guarantee that any of this research would put us in a school that we loved, that would get us where we wanted to in life, and that would ultimately be our perfect fit?

According to some research over at the New York Times, the guarantee doesn’t exist. And if we do happen to find that perfect place, all that crap we researched does nothing to guide us.

With thousands of colleges in the United States, the variety of experiences for soon-to-be college students is endless. Once you actually choose an institution, there are hundreds of groups, classes, and options to choose from; especially at a big school. So that means that basically anyone – from the tree hugger to the Marc Jacobs lover – can find happiness at any school.

Yes, choosing a college is a huge decision; it will impact the rest of our lives. But to spend so much time and money researching the best place to go is pointless. Because in the end, any school can be that best place for you. There is no way to know.

I chose to go to Michigan because I grew up in Michigan and I always heard what a great place it was. I never visited it or any other school; I just went. And I had the time of my life. No book would have predicted that I would have met the coolest people on my dorm hall the very first day. Or that my Saturdays pre-partying before football games would be some of the best memories I could ever have (with the aid of pictures, of course; those were some drunk Saturdays). Or that the debates I would have in my History classes would be the best learning I would ever do. Or that the combination of all those experiences would guide me down the path I am currently on as a grad.

And I am sure I could have found different reasons to feel just as strongly about the other 4 schools I got into. But I chose U of M and that just happened to become the school that was my perfect fit.

Knowing this is not going to stop people from researching potential colleges – we all have to get a little information before handing over all our parents’ money – but I do hope it will take a little stress out of your decision. Don’t over analyze; just enjoy yourself. And try to stick around for an extra year if you can. It ain’t so pretty on this side of graduation.

It was boring and hard, which meant that no matter what I tried, I constantly fell asleep next to my computer and woke up completely lost.

If only I could have taken one of these classes compiled by Mental Floss Magazine, I’m sure my GPA would have looked much better. Instead of dozing off to the lulling sound of a professor droning on about ratios, I could have been studying muppets and watching Sesame Street.

All of these, at one time, actually existed.

The Horror Film in Context – Bowdoin – Watch people get their heads smashed in and then talk about why society likes to watch people get their heads smashed in.

Simpsons and Philosophy – Cal-Berkeley – How much does this popular show reflect society? Apparently enough to warrant a semester’s worth of lectures.

Maple Syrup-The Real Thing – Alfred – Haven’t you always wanted to know the entire history of syrup?

The Science of Harry Potter – Frostburg State – Is it possible to make broomsticks fly? Let’s discuss.

Oprah Winfrey-The Tycon – U. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – Race, Success, Money…and dealing with crazy movie stars jumping on your couch.

Far Side Entomology – Oregon State – Comic strips and insects. Sure, why not?

History of Electronic Dance Music – UCLA – Ace of Base never sounded so smart.

The Future is Lost: TV Series as Cultural Phenomenon – Tufts – Smart kids + mind-numbingly confusing show that went nowhere = deeper meanings that never existed.

Muppet Magic: Jim Henson’s Art – UC-Santa Cruz – How have muppets change your life, Little Jimmy?

Getting Dressed – Princeton – If you are what you wear, this class is probably full of polos and boat shoes.

Biblical Model for Home and Family –Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary – Gosh, I’ve always wanted to know how to “submit graciously” to my future husband!