<p>Just curious--almost everyone knows the name Howard--but is it prestigious/highly regarded as a whole?</p>
<p>for black people schools ya</p>
<p>I think that the people who know of it hold it in high esteem. I do.</p>
<p>Honestly, HBC’s aren’t regarded very highly by the people I know, even my black friends.</p>
<p>I do know one person who goes there, and she’s found Washington very receptive to Howard students though. I think there’s just a certain stigma to black schools the way there is for women’s colleges, at least in the state U-loving South.</p>
<p>HBCUs like Howard, Morehouse, Spelman, etc. are still widely known and respected, but they are probably not as prestigious or selective as they were in the past.</p>
<p>The reason (ironically) is because of the greater openness of US universities. Historically, a black student had little or no chance to attend a school like Yale or Stanford, no matter how talented he or she was. So a lot of highly qualified black students were channelled to HBCUs – they didn’t have many other choices. The top HBCUs developed their reputations and widespread name recognition during that era.</p>
<p>But black students today have far more opportunities; they can apply and get accepted to Yale, Stanford, or anywhere else. So there is a lot more competition for the best black students, and it’s become much more difficult for HBCUs to attract them. </p>
<p>This is not just a problem for HBCUs: most women’s colleges face similar issues. At one time, the smartest women were found at places like Mt. Holyoke or Bryn Mawr, because they weren’t allowed to apply to places like Amherst or Princeton. So the “Seven Sisters” were as prestigous and well-known for women as the “Ivy League” was for men. But today, women are free to study virtually anywhere. This is great for women in general, but not so good for women’s colleges in particular.</p>
<p>^thanksss. VERY informative</p>
<p>I think that within the black community, Howard is still a big deal. They also have great companies recruiting there.</p>
<p>If you think that the environment of an HBCU would be beneficial for you, I wouldn’t let concerns about Howard’s prestige hold you back. Howard, Morehouse, and Spelman have basically been the HB Ivy League since they were founded. You can go from there to any graduate school or other ambition you may have.</p>