Alternatives to an HBCU?
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Anonymous
DP. I'm surprised by the UNC at Chapel Hill recommendation. Can you elaborate. |
Anonymous
+1. Only 1 state flagship has a higher than 10% enrollment of black students (LA, and it is barely over 10%). Given their sheer size, a large state flagship may have more black students than a tiny school like Amherst, but, the enrollment rate vs. % of black graduates in these states makes for some very grim stats. This is an eye opening report done in 2019. https://hechingerreport.org/flagship-universities-fail-to-enroll-black-and-latino-high-school-graduates-from-their-state/ . OP, I think it is a hard decision. I assume you are genx, and we were really the first generation that benefitted from schools wanting to increase diversity. I strongly believe that HBCUs have contributed significantly to American higher education, certain fields of study (and careers), and philanthropic leadership in this country. I'd have my kid apply to HBCUs if he/r is interested, but I'd also encourage them to look at other schools as well. It is good to have choices! |
Anonymous
Very sorority/party-based social scene, not necessarily racist but not all that welcoming either |
Anonymous
*greek life, not sorority |
Anonymous
| UGA is less than 10% black. I'd skip it. I currently live in Atlanta and visited Athens with my son, who disliked the fact that there are so few black students. He grew up in a diverse DC suburb before we moved here and attends a private school that is rather diverse. Plus, it feels southern imo. |
Anonymous
Hi OP - I am a local university career director. I would urge you to consider listening to your son + pet him visit some HBCUs. Every employer I know (hundreds) is scrambling now to hire AAs +other POCs. Since I work at private university with a majority white population, I cannot really ID who the black students are. At an HBCU, your child would have many more job opportunities right now. Why not capitalize on that? |
Anonymous
| ^let |
Anonymous
| Not sure about faculty, but VCU is the most diverse university we looked at. I think only 47% of the student body is white. Most of the other schools she looked at were 70% or more white students. It’s one of my DD’s favorites as it is very strong in her major. |
Anonymous
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I would be wary of HBCUs - some large tech companies tried to put feeder programs in there to increase black programmers and found it difficult - said infrastructure was old, sub-standard professors, other issues.
Honestly I think the Ivys and highly competitive universities have some of the highest black enrollment compared to the population. Harvard is at 16% now and I have to be honest, on the college forums I am on (and Im on a LOT since I have a senior), black kids with good grades are getting in every single selective school they apply to so you son will have excellent odds if he is a good student. If you want a MAJORITY of black students then I'd say you have to go HBCU route. |
Anonymous
| OP here. Thanks for the suggestions. To clarify, I am not ruling out an HBCU (despite my own bad experience), rather I am trying to convince my son that he should also look at non-HBCU schools. I think he could get into UVA, but unfortunately, I have not heard positive news about the lives of the black students there. I will check out some of the suggestions here (e.g the Meyerhoff Scholars program at UMBC, Temple, VCU). |
Anonymous
Excellent suggestions. |
Anonymous
OP just want to say, don't discount your own feelings/experience/gut. The posts here trying to devalue that are very offensive, IMHO. We all have college experiences which inform the advice we give our kids. OP is entitled to the same without DCUMers chiding her, "No, dear, HBCUs are amazing!!!" She went to one. She knows what it was like and how she was affected and has valid opinions. |
Anonymous
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University of Maryland- College Park
University of Maryland Baltimore County Georgia State University LSU |
Anonymous
| I feel like HBCU are best for low income Black students, Flagship State colleges best for middle class Black people, and Ivy League best for rich Black People |
Anonymous
| I'm a Duke alum and it pains me to say it but I agree with UNC. I know a number of highly successful AA UNC alums from our generation (graduated around the 90s) who had a great experience at UNC. They developed a tight network there that has helped them professionally as well but also felt very comfortable working in a predominantly white corporate world. |