My 2017 daughter is open to the idea for this particular school – D1 Lacrosse (fledgling for sure but gives her a chance to be a leader which she likes), great scholarship $$ (academic merit so anything athletic is a bonus) and far enough but not too far from home and not too big, not too small.
Any experiences? We are going to visit the coach, see campus, and talk to the academic advisors that usually assist the athletes in about a week.
@twoinanddone Can you chime in here. What’s the deal with getting a D1 athletic scholarship and merit? Any issues? Only a “no no” for full head sports?
D already asked the coach and they are allowed to give both merit and athletic
Does she value the mission/history of the school? If she does, then I don’t see a problem.
Congrats to your daughter on being recruited!! Which HBU?
Can’t see why it should be any particular issue, assuming that the college is otherwise suitable (academic offerings, net price, etc.). Lots of students attend colleges where they are members of minority groups at those colleges and do fine.
snowybuny-- she isn’t solid yet!! She has however a half dozen coaches seemingly interested in her spanning D1 - D3 schools. It is Delaware State and this coach seems extremely interested
Hanna - I imagine she does, she is very good about that sort of thing-- respectful of others and their cultures etc.
I don’t have any experience with Delaware State, but I did seriously consider Howard University. Delaware State is 11% white, while Howard is 1% white. However when I visited I didn’t feel awkward at all. Everyone was friendly and welcoming on campus and in the group chat I was in. I don’t see any reason why a white student wouldn’t be able to fit in at a HBU unless of course they’re a racist. If your D likes the school then go for it! Best of luck on your visit 
Edit: Just noticed you didn’t specify which ethnicity your D is, my apologies for assuming she’s white.
She is @Snowybuny – blonde and blue eyed lacrosse player so yes white… and no she isn’t even a little bit of a racist.
So the questions should be: going to an HBU when you ARE a minority. 
CORRECT!!! Lol
^ FWIW, I think it would be an educational experience in itself to have a taste of what being a minority might feel like.
Topics like these are…interesting.
Why do people who are non-black always seem to question going to a school that is majority black? On the opposite end, I (and this is MY experience) never hear of minorities questioning going to school that is majority white.
Interesting indeed.
Uh sorry, I do not know what HBU stands for…but in terms of athletics… I would just go in open eyed to a fledgling team and what that means. Sometimes it means no budget and getting your butt kicked week after week for four years, and that can get tiring and demeaning. Or it can mean players that don’t want to work as hard as yours and that is a downer. A friend’s son went to Boston University for tennis and he came in as the strong player for them, but they lose 99% of their matches (they also don’t give scholarships for tennis, so there) and it wore on him. Losing all the time really isn’t fun. The sport became a chore.
Regardless of racial balance or lack of at any school, I would just want to know it was good socially for my student. I have a girl in engineering and meeting “her group” has been challenging. Students tend to hang with people in their majors at this school so it is proving limiting socially since it isn’t a big school. So make sure the pond is big enough for her to find fish to swim with.
HBU = historically black university. Most (but not all) such schools still enroll mostly black undergraduates, presumably due to lack of interest from non-black undergraduates.
OP, my daughter is biracial and will be attending an HBCU in the fall. We toured 7 of them, and she toured another 7 or 8 on a group tour. While I don’t know anything about athletics, I can tell you that we saw students anad prospective students who were NOT African American at every school. When I went to D’s “Scholars’ Weekend” with her in April (there were parent activities), I met other white parents sending their students to her school. In fact, Hampton University had a white valedictorian a few years back. Feel free to PM me if you have specific schools in mind and I can offer my impressions.
In general, though, I’d offer this: Some HBCU’s have strong funding, some are struggling. Some offer much better academics than others. Most are heavily skewed female, at some Greek is very prevalent, at others, not so much. Even the most expensive is likely to be cheaper than popular PWI (predominantly white institutions) LAC’s. Several offer incredible merit aid. Others, not so much.
There IS a heavy focus-naturally-on African American history, literature, culture, etc. at these schools. At some certain AA courses are required. This was a plus for our D, it was what she sought out, coming from a state where there is a small black population. We are happy with her choice and she is excited to start school in the fall.
My white son was in the minority at a charter high school that was 80% minorities (mostly AA and Latino.) It was an incredibly enriching experience. Son hated high school for all kinds of reasons, but that one aspect is something he treasures (and continues being influenced by) to this day.
Interestingly enough, several white student-athletes are making their mark at Historically Black Colleges & Universities these days. One of the best female bowlers in the nation, a Caucasian young woman, competes at an HBCU, as do many baseball players.
@MezzoForte I would have the same question about an predominantly Christian school, I am not sure if she would feel socially on the outside there as well.