Lets talk about Howard

<p>I know there are other people out there who have either applied to Howard or who are considering applying to Howard. I just wanted to open a thread where everyone can talk about the positive and negative aspects of Howard. Potential students, students, and alumni feel free to comment.</p>

<p>okay so I just got my letter last thursday, got in, got no money (yet), and am seriously considering going. The business program has crazy good recruitment, thats one of my main reasons for want to go.</p>

<p>Is Howard your first choice college. I just recently decided to apply to Howard and wanted to know what made you want to apply there?</p>

<p>The only reason I wouldn't go is the neighborhood around Howard.</p>

<p>What's wrong with the neighborhood?</p>

<p>howard is in northwest its the could part of D.C. is is kina rough but u should be O.K. unless u never been in a major city. i did spend a sumer program there and was scared as hell when i heard gunshot and sirens (cuz where i live i never heard one ) but after a while u get use to it .</p>

<p>could=good</p>

<p>Visited with my daughter last year. She's not sure she's going to apply. Was very impressed withe our tour and tour guide. They did not have any dorms open for us to look at. (This was July) But I hear the dorms are very old and run down.</p>

<p>I went to Howard 77-84 (undergrad and med school), and while it was a life changing (in a good way) experience, seeing and living the non-tourist part of DC was like the difference between the Club Med side and the native side of a caribbbean island.</p>

<p>So the neighborhood isn't that great. What are some positives that anyone can offer about the campus and the student body. What is the main socioeconomic make up of the majority of the students? Any other interesting points about Howard are welcome?</p>

<p>howard has mainly middle to upper middle student the kids dress like school is a fashion show and drive nice cars ,Most are legacy or parents are college educated and the students are usally well put together as in ( well rounded , out spoken ,popular in the old schools . jack of all trades type)</p>

<p>The best way to experience Howard is at homecoming. Then you can you can see not just the school kids but the alumni which tells you a little about the wonderful people before ypu you are joining. It's a cultural thing that just can't be described. Neighborhood was just a small part of the experience. but it was an interesting juxtaposition of class rather than race.</p>

<p>Just joined and this is a perfect post.</p>

<p>My son is there and loves it. It has done so much for his awareness.</p>

<p>I wish his grades were better but he is promising to do better.</p>

<p>He is a junior and is now looking at various grad schools.</p>

<p>Possibly law or business. Not sure.</p>

<p>Looking to see what his chances are for both.</p>

<p>I'm a freshman at Howard, just thought i'd share a bit of my experience from my first year.. just to give some perspective im a private school kid from the suburbs of houston, and dallas texas, i know before i came last year i was trying to get info about howard from people who were raised similarly just so I could determine whether or not howard would be a good fit for someone like myself.. This is pretty opinionated and pretty blunt.. dont make this a deciding factor just take this into account with everything else you hear/read.. this is just one guys experience</p>

<p>howard/DC is definately a fun place to be, and walking on the yard the buildings look pretty nice, on the inside not as much, they could have been better maintained but I got over it pretty quick(i used to have real issues with unkept interiors but its not too bad) .. the neighborhood is not the nicest, but it is not the worst by any means.. howard's surrounding neighborhood is going through rapid transition, if you walk two blocks off campus in most directions youll see white people walking their dogs, the next 2-5 years the area will see much improvement, they have put in condos and they are trying to revamp georgia ave. to make it more appealing.. a warning: you will on occasion see undesirable characters on the way to the howard metro stop, cvs, and mcdonalds but use good judgement, typically you dont bother them they dont bother you.. ladies you still do not want to walk these routes(or anywhere at night) by yourself, walk with a group of friends, or take the shuttle</p>

<p>The best idea i can give you of any of the dorms is that they are liveable, not luxurious, but liveable. As far as socio-economic makeup, people keep saying the whole middle-upper middle class thing, but from what ive seen i'd say 1/4 are lower, 2/4 are middle, and 1/4 are upper middle class. Nice cars, yes there are some (most are faculty and visitors), but not that many. The way people dress varies. Athletes male and female walk around in sweats all the time they dont care niether does anybody else. Nobody will shun you for not having the latest all the time. A lot of girls call themselves fashionistas with fake designer bags. Do not get caught up in thinking you have to outdo the next person because the vast majority of students here with "nice" stuff have been purchasing outside of their means, ask them if they want to go out to eat and they will tell you theyre broke.</p>

<p>There is a lot to get use to, you have to accept, as with any black school that facilities, living conditions, and administration/workers (not necessarily professors though) will not be as nice as a white school. I will say think about what you want out of your college experience, you will undoubtedly gain things from howard that no other institution can offer, but if you are wrapped up in 100% safe environment, new facilities, nice or efficient administrations persons then I would ask you to reevaluate your options for college. If you don't have fun at howard you deliberately tried not to have fun, everyone here likes to have fun. Homecoming is not necessarily the best/only time to come visit b/c theyres a lot of showiness that goes away two days after its over but it is a lot of fun! Campus tours can be helpful but i would also advise doing some exploring around the school on your own. I hope this was helpful any questions feel free to message me. Good Luck!</p>

<p>Hey! When did Howard get a Metro stop? Where is it?</p>

<p>SAGRegg02---as a current Howard student--you pretty much hit the nail on the head.</p>

<p>I get pretty defensive with the whole socio-economic status thing. I have had people assume I have money because I attend Howard. There are a lot of kids who come from working-class and/or lower class families (like myself) and I am definitely here on a loan lol. Also, while many people say Homecoming is the best time at Howard, I think Howard has more to offer. I, personally, like ResFest--a series of games and events that the dormitories compete again each other. (This includes debates, basketball, swimming, a talent show, a dance off, stepping). Resfes takes place in the spring, along with many other events. What can I say? Spring time at Howard is the best. </p>

<p>He is also right in saying Howard is what you make of it. Try to stay as positive as you can at all times and things will work out in the end. </p>

<p>As far as the neighborhood, yes, you have to watch your back, but it's nowhere as bad as people make it out to be. As a matter of fact, gentrification is well and alive and as you wander around the neighbor you will notice than more and more white people are moving into the neighborhoods around Howard. </p>

<p>Shrinkrap, there is a station called Shaw-Howard, which is on Georgia-Avenue--right up the street from CVS. You'd have to either catch the shuttle bus or walk to campus. </p>

<p>Now I will say, Howard is NOT for everybody. Just make sure you want to come here for the right reasons and more than likely things will work out fine. </p>

<p>If you have anymore questions, feel free to ask.</p>

<p>How Howard is for minority students (ie non-blacks)? I'm as white as they come, but for the longest time I've been impressed by Howard's history and place in the struggle for equal rights. </p>

<p>I visited the campus briefly last July and saw a total of one white person walking by.</p>

<p>I have a freind that also applied and got into Howard who is white and seh really wants to go. I think that even though you may have not seen a lot of white students that dosent mean that you wont be accepted by the primarily African American student body. Many of them come from predoinately white high school. Being a minority in college definately soemting that you are going to have to feel comfotable with, but you also have to realize that, like myself, many of the students were minorites in their high schools and would probably know where your comming from in that respect. </p>

<p>Since Howard is my first choice school I can see why you want to go, its an amasing school in a beatuiful city that offer endless oppoutunities.</p>

<p>Best wishes</p>