<p>I've read many threads that are full of heated arguments over affirmative action and reverse discrimination, and many fail to take into account that there are a large percentage of black students who do not even desire to attend the Ivies. So I was wondering, for those of you who plan to attend HBCUs, attend HBCU's, and attended HBCU's, why did you choose it?</p>
<p>Actually, I plan on applying to an ivy(maybe 2) and an HBCU, out of all the HBCU's, there's only one of them I really like. I'd probably feel comfortable going to either type of setting. But some people think it's pointless to go to an HBCU and vice versa. (predominantly white).</p>
<p>I totally agree with you Mr Socrates, I think I would do fine in either setting, btw I applied to 2 ives and 2 HBCUs this year and I dont regret my decision. FoI think that its important for me to consider both types of settings or else I wouldn't be making a wise decision on my part.</p>
<p>Koo, where did you apply? The HBCU I'm looking at is Howard, I actually went there to visit for a trip or whatever and I thought it was awsome. However, my first choice is UPENN and there are like two other ivy's that I'm just looking at right now.</p>
<p>c/o 06'</p>
<p>My first choice is Dartmouth, but I also applied to Columbia, Howard, Morehouse, and some others too</p>
<p>Obviously I applied to the Real HU, Howard University, and was accepted with a full scholarship. I applied to FSU and and UM, but I only got a substantial amount of money from the HBCUs I applied to such as, Howard, FAMU, and Morgan State. I think another reason I chose an HBCU is because my mom went to FAMU and so did alot of other family members, so I've always been immersed in the HBCU environment. (A side note: I was an International Baccalaureate student, and one of only eight blacks out of 150, so its not that I wouldn't feel comfortable in an ivy setting.)</p>
<p>I've been in a predominantly white setting all of my life and I want to attend Howard to learn more about my culture and other obvious reasons. But by being in this predominantly white setting, it wouldn't be too much of a change of going to an ivy or top college.</p>
<p>Actually my school is really diverse. Blacks make up about 15 percent of my school yet I am one of only two blacks in AP classes. For me the historically black colleges would be a way to be with intelligent and driven African Americans and relate to them. This is why I regret not applying to them. I have been exposed to one type of black person throughout my life and they are the high school drop outs and this would have been a great way to learn about other facets of my culture. I still believe however that I can go to a predominately white school and find the same smart black people, just in smaller quantities which will again be a very new experience for me. If my experiences are anywhere similar to anyone else's than I think we will be very surprised to meet people like ourselves in college and actually belong to a group that is like you.</p>
<p>"I've been in a predominantly white setting all of my life and I want to attend Howard to learn more about my culture and other obvious reasons."</p>
<p>-I really don't think that just because you go to an HBCU means that you will learn about "your culture".</p>
<p>Stanmaster pretty much summed it up for me, which is why you misinterpreted what I said. I've only been the around the type of black people who have only dropped out and not really cared about school. By being in a Black setting, with other "driven" Blacks, it could be open me up to a new experience, therefore I would be learning a lot about my culture that I missed out on for these long years.</p>
<p>No offense, but I would argue that the most driven Black students are at predominately non-Black institutions.</p>
<p>"I really don't think that just because you go to an HBCU means that you will learn about "your culture".</p>
<p>Presumably, you aren't personally familiar with HBCUs. Just as people attending a Catholic school like Notre Dame will learn about Catholic culture, people attending HBCUs learn about black culture.</p>
<p>I am very familiar with HBCUs as well as mainstream universities, and there are very driven black students at both types of schools. There also are slacker black students at both types of schools.</p>
<p>While most students at HBCUs have lower test scores than do, for instance, students at top mainstream universities, that doesn't mean that the HBCU students are less driven. Many of the ones with low test scores came from very poor, uneducated backgrounds, and are, for instance, the first in their families to graduate from high school. Many are working their way through college and carrying large loans. They are very motivated to become college educated.</p>
<p>Presumably, you aren't personally familiar with HBCUs. Just as people attending a Catholic school like Notre Dame will learn about Catholic culture, people attending HBCUs learn about black culture.</p>
<p>Indeed I am familiar with HBCUs, nevertheless, I think you are too quick to try to label what exactly Black culture is. Catholicism, which is a religious doctrine based on religious texts is completely different than a cultural identity. There is no handbook on Black culture (or at least I havent seen it yet). I have been to a few HBCUs and I must say that they do not (completely) exemplify what I believe Black culture to be. </p>
<p>While most students at HBCUs have lower test scores than do, for instance, students at top mainstream universities, that doesn't mean that the HBCU students are less driven.
- You are correct; that just means they are less-intelligent</p>
<p>"Indeed I am familiar with HBCUs, nevertheless, I think you are too quick to try to label what exactly Black culture is. Catholicism, which is a religious doctrine based on religious texts is completely different than a cultural identity. There is no handbook on Black culture (or at least I havent seen it yet). I have been to a few HBCUs and I must say that they do not (completely) exemplify what I believe Black culture to be. "</p>
<p>But, regardless of your opinion, which is very uninformed, HBCUs are certainly part of the various things that embody black culture.</p>
<p>While most students at HBCUs have lower test scores than do, for instance, students at top mainstream universities, that doesn't mean that the HBCU students are less driven.
- You are correct; that just means they are less-intelligent"</p>
<p>What I find sad is that judging by your scores and by the schools where you applied, I would bet my mortgage that you have had many advantages that most other black students, including many at HBCUs, have not had. You seem to have a very condescending attitude toward black students who may not have your stellar scores or may not be attending a university like Northwestern.</p>
<p>To me, it is very sad to see someone who appears to put themselves so far above other people who are of their same race. Visiting a couple of HBCUs isn't the same as being extremely familiar with them.</p>
<p>It is possible to for a black student to choose to attend a mainstream university while still having respect for the black students who make other choices. When I see black students putting down other black students for choosing to go to HBCUs or to mainstream universities, I wonder about the black student's self confidence. People who are firm in their own decisions don't go out of their way to put down others' decisions.</p>
<p>Its not that I am condescending, but that I grow weary of Black students being told that going to HBCUs in some way reaffirms their Blackness, that these schools hold they key to the Black culture and experience, because its just not true. </p>
<p>I believe that any and all high school students seeking higher education should choose an institution that fits them. Also, I dont know how or why you think that schools like mine are mainstream, but HBCUs are not; they may not appeal directly to the White-mainstream, but they do to the Black.</p>
<p>"You are correct; that just means they are less-intelligent"</p>
<p>I really disagree with this statement. Just because one has a higher standardized score does not make them smarter; this is just from what I have observed from students from all over.</p>
<p>"Its not that I am condescending, but that I grow weary of Black students being told that going to HBCUs in some way reaffirms their Blackness, that these schools hold they key to the Black culture and experience, because its just not true. "</p>
<p>no one said HBCUs reaffirm our "blackness"...and whether you meant to sound condescending or not...you did...especially with the "less-intelligent" comment...</p>
<p>...And it irks me when someone has so much to say about something they know VERY LITTLE about...you think just because you saw some HBCU campuses and looked at some Princeton Review rankings you now know so much about HBCUs...but in reality, until you've attended one you don't know what the real deal is </p>
<p>You're basing your opinions on numerical stats instead of personal experience...</p>
<p>...And it irks me when someone has so much to say about something they know VERY LITTLE about...you think just because you saw some HBCU campuses and looked at some Princeton Review rankings you now know so much about HBCUs...but in reality, until you've attended one you don't know what the real deal is </p>
<p>You're basing your opinions on numerical stats instead of personal experience </p>
<p>-You dont know what youre talking about; I have had more than a cursory interaction with HBCUs. So your saying that I know very little is just nonsense. Also, who said anything about the Princeton Review? I just refuse to believe that the average student at an HBCU is statistically as intelligent as the average student at a top-ranked school.</p>
<p>I'm white.</p>
<p>"I just refuse to believe that the average student at an HBCU is statistically as intelligent as the average student at a top-ranked school."</p>
<p>show me the studies that would make you believe that...and not standardized test scores because those really don't prove much</p>
<p>maybe you should add another K <em>sigh</em>...your true colors are showing</p>