What do you all think about HBCUs?

Answer 1

to Matt and everyone else:

HBCU's are not subpar schools by definition. Just like any other college or university, some are better than others. I would challenge someone to look at Hampton, NCA&T, Howard, Clark, Morehouse, or Spelman and say that the student bodies of those institutions consist of students who couldn't make it in "regular" schools, or that those schools are not selective. If that were the case, you wouldn't have the trend in some schools where the population is becoming noticeable less "minority"... white students realize that they can get top notch educations at these institutions AND get minority scholarships.

I think HBCUs are still relevant today, if for nothing else but the atmosphere that they provide. Black undergraduate students at PWIs face the universal challenges of going off to college, plus others: dealing with white students in a living situation, which is probably a new experience; dealing with prejudiced and/or culturally insensitive class mates and faculty; acclimating to mixed social settings. HBCUs allow the opportunity to subtract the racial element to a large degree, which makes many students more comfortable. Also, for modelling purposes, it provides an environment full of black figures in powerful, professional, positive roles, which helps engender pride and self-confidence. You also have a close-knit family unit in an HBCU that you would not necessarily be able to develop as easily at a PWI.

Answer 2

I have mixed feelings about them. A few of them are good academically (e.g., Howard) -- but for the most part, they are not as strong from an academic point of view as many other universities. In a perfect world, we wouldn't have to have any schools that were not racially diversified.

On the other hand, they provide an environment where some students can succeed who might otherwise not have as good an opportunity. Therefore, they may end up doing better than they would at a school that is academically superior.

About half of the black students in my MBA class at Duke went to HBCUs. Most in the other half went to fairly selective universities (e.g., West Point, Harvard, Auburn) or the better state universities (e.g., Michigan, Maryland, UNC Chapel Hill). The ones who did not go to HBCUs were all strong students and very impressive. I felt there was more dispersion in the quality of the students who went to HBCUs -- with many being strong students, but some being ill prepared to be in a top MBA program.

I didn't know quite what to make of this -- but suspect that it is easier to judge the quality of those who did not go to HBCUs and that Duke was willing to take a chance on those who did in order to be fair to the many well qualified HBCU graduates.

Answer 3

I attend an HBCU and I am ALL for it!The supportive base I have while attending an HBCU makes better prepared for life after college. I have classes with people who similar to myself, and I experience a feeling of camaraderie.

Answer 4

They were so important historically, but today, they have lost their justification for existence. In 2007 African Americans can and should compete with the best students of other races in the best schools available - They shouldn't be saying, I can't make it in a regular school, I need special help.

Of course, in former times these schools were absolutely necessary, just as schools for women, Jews, Moravians, Catholics or other persecuted minorities were needed. But
while those other schools have maintained a historic connection with their roots, most of them have opened themselves up to the larger community. I do not believe that it serves the black community well to provide a sheltered bubble for their people.

ps the number of academically competitive HBCUs can be counted on the fingers of one hand - schools like NCA&T are not the equal of NC State or UNC. And that is a shame because those students deserve to be challenged with rigorous academic standards the same way that their brothers at the other schools are challenged.

Answer 5

Depends. Some have better reputations than others. If you are academically capable, I would definitely suggest hitting a school like Spellman or Moorehouse in Atlanta. If you know you are very academically capable (you score very well on SAT/ACT) and you are interested in future earning power then go for a school that has a reputation in the area you want major in regardless of student body demographics. Assuming you are a minority, if you have very good grades and standardized test scores you should have a lot of schools to choose from.