You are fresh out of high school or just now deciding to go to college and you are ready for a fresh new start. You have probably looked at local colleges and they just don’t fit your taste; or you have probably ruled out attending an ordinary community college.

So what’s next? Well if you are a college-bound African-American student, than attending a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) just may be the answer.

College can be fun and it can also be culturally stimulating. Attending a black college is one of the best experiences that an African-American or a non-African-American can have. The struggles, the history, and the successes of most Historically Black Colleges/Universities are astounding. It is truly a privilege to follow the legacies of some of America’s most profound black leaders by attending and graduating from a Historically Black College/University.

I have had the opportunity to attend two of the countries top HBCUs. I would have to say that this was definitely one of the best experiences in my life. I was able to grow and understand who I was and the struggles that African-Americans have gone through in order to get me there. Besides all of the parties, different cultures, and excitement, I did end up learning more than I thought that I would. My experience at an HBCU has helped shape the person that I am today.

So why are HBCUs so important for African-Americans? In American History after the civil war, African-American’s could only attend these types of colleges in order to become college educated. HBCUs have continued to be a sure way for African-Americans or students from any race to get the best possible education available.

Over half of the African-American professionals are graduates of a HBCU. 90% of the top ten colleges that graduate the most African-American students with PhDs are HBCUs.

So maybe you have decided or just thought about going to an HBCU. The thought is beginning to excite you, however, you just don’t know where to start. What college will you attend? Which ones are the best? How much will it cost and how will you pay to go? What college will be the right place for you? Well for your convenience, I have put together a guide to help make your college searching experience less painful and more enjoyable.

I have included some of the top 5 HBCUs according to Black Enterprise’s list. I hope that this will be a helpful guide to help you determine your future success.

According to Black Enterprise’s top HBCUs list Morehouse College has ranked twice as the #1 HBCU in the nation. Morehouse College has been the Alma Mater from national and historical leader Dr. Martian Luther King Jr. to nationally recognized film director Spike Lee. Morehouse College is the nations largest, private liberal arts college for African-American men.

This all male college is located in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia and was founded in 1867 approximately two years after the end of the civil war. The name of the college at the time was Augusta Institute and its purpose was to prepare Black men for preaching and teaching. Morehouse or Augusta Institute started out in the basement of a Baptist church and ended up a 66-acre campus on the west-end of Atlanta.

Today Morehouse College enrolls more than 3,000 male students annually and hands out bachelor’s degrees to more black men than any other institution in the world. For over 139 years Morehouse College has truly proven to be as profound and successful as everyone says that it is. Morehouse continues to meet the challenges of educating, moralizing, and individualizing its students. Morehouse is also one of the only two HBCUs to produce two Rhodes Scholars. As a Morehouse student, you may choose from 35 areas of study and be on your way to earning your Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. If you are an African-American male, then Morehouse is absolutely the best place for you!!!

Tuition On-campus: $22,938-24,898
Off-Campus: $16,936

Contact Info:
Morehouse College
830 Westview Dr.
S.W Atlanta, GA 30314

Phone: 404-681-2800
Web: www.Morehouse.edu

The all male college may have the #1 ranking in the United States, but the “sistas” have it going on too. Spelman College is ranked #2 HBCU in the nation according to Black Enterprise’s Top HBCUs list. Spelman College has been educating thousands of African-American women alongside its brother school Morehouse since 1881.

Spelman College is an independent, liberal arts college for women. This college promotes academic excellence, leadership development, and visibility of their student’s achievements and exemplary customer service. Spelman is also a part of the largest syndicate of HBCUs in the entire world. Its four partner institutions include Clark Atlanta University, the Interdenominational Theological Center, Morehouse College and Morehouse School of Medicine.

Spelman College has a campus size of 33 acres just 5 minutes west of downtown Atlanta. This college rests right next to its brother school Morehouse and has 25 buildings, including Sisters Chapel, Giles Hall, Packard Hall, Rockefeller Hall and Reynolds Cottage. The Camille O. Hanks Cosby Academic Center was dedicated in 1996, and a new state-of-the-art Science Center houses classrooms and labs.

Over 2,100 female students attend Spelman College annually from more than 41 states and 15 foreign countries. Spelman is also ranked as one of the nation’s top Liberal Arts colleges according to U.S. News & World Report, 2005 edition. Over 84% of Spelman’s full-time faculty have PhD’s or other terminal degrees and offers a student teacher ratio of 11:1.
Even though Spelman College is a HBCU, this college admits qualified students regardless of race, nationality, color, national or ethnic origin or physical challenges. Financial Aid is available and approximately 85% of the students receive financial aid help.

Bachelor of Arts: Art, Child Development, Comparative Women’s Studies, Drama, Economics, English, French, History, Human Services, Independent Major, Mathematics, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religion, Spanish, Sociology, Sociology and Anthropology

Bachelor of Science: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Computer and Information Sciences, Engineering/Dual Degree, Mathematics, Environmental Science or Physics.

I would have to say that if you are a female and you want to have a very successful future, then you should really consider attending this highly accredited institution, you will not regret it.

Tuition:
On-Campus: $24,650
Off-Campus: $16,195

Contact Info:
Spelman College
350 Spelman Lane
S.W. Atlanta, GA 30314

Phone: 404-681-3643

Web: www.Spelman.edu

Florida A&M University (Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University) is definitely a great college that ranks #3 according to Black Enterprises Top HBCUs list. This school is located in Tallahassee, FL and is a four-year, state-supported, coed, liberal arts institution.

Founded in 1887 as the State Normal College for Colored Students, FAMU has a rich and successful history. FAMU opened with only 2 instructors and 15 students; presently this institution enrolls over 9,000 students annually. FAMU places great emphasis on instruction, research, and service to promote academic excellence among its students.

FAMU is over 419 acres, and has over 109 buildings throughout the campus. Not only is this school recognized for its astounding wins in the Florida Classic football games but it is also recognized for its great athletics department.

FAMU has made a home for 20 displaced Hurricane Katrina evacuees. This university has established a toll-free hotline that provides up-to-date information on the range of services available for displaced students and families. They have also formed a Hurricane Relief Effort through the FAMU Foundation Inc. to provide immediate financial assistance. FAMU students launched “Operation: Southern Hospitality,” a student-sponsored series of events and efforts designed to raise additional funds for FAMU victims.

If you want to attend a large, beautiful, educational campus in tropical Florida, than FAMU is the place for you.

Contact Info:

Florida A&M University
1500 Wahnish Way
Tallahassee, FL 32307

Web: www.famu.edu

Hampton University is ranked #4 on Black Enterprise’s top HBCUs list. Hampton University was founded in 1868 during the period of reconstruction in Hampton, VA. The original purpose of this campus was to educate and prepare young African-American men and women to teach newly freed slaves. In 1878 Hampton University opened its doors to Native Americans, upholding its commitment to serve a multicultural people.

Hampton is currently a 4-year, coed, liberal arts institution that has a deep history of seeking to motivate its students to be responsive to the problems that are affecting our society. Hampton’s campus is located on 204 acres and still upholds the “Emancipated Tree” which is the where the Emancipation Proclamation was read to residents in 1883. This tree continues to be a symbol of freedom.

Hampton University offers its students awards in Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Master’s degrees. Hampton University has shown a great support for the displaced families of the Hurricane Katrina tragedy by starting a Katrina Fund.

In the aftermath of the devastation created by Hurricane Katrina, the Hampton University community extends its sympathy to the families who have lost loved ones and prayers for those who are still unaccounted for.”
- HU President Dr. William R. Harvey. This shows the great dedication and inspiration that the school upholds for its fellow American citizens.

Hampton University is located in southeastern Virginia and is one of the nation’s most scenic campuses with picturesque views of the waterfront, historic buildings and landmarks. Hampton has had the opportunity to become a comprehensive university offering a large range of technical, liberal arts, pre-professional, and graduate degree programs.

Hampton Harbor, a housing and shopping center that is owned by the University, surrounds the campus. A convenient alternative to on-campus housing, the Harbor offers eye-catching and affordable apartment living, a Laundromat, and a selection of food restaurants and specialty shops.

Hampton accommodates 5,400 students from over 49 different states and 35 nations.

If you are looking to become a learner and a teacher and you are committed to excellence and success than Hampton University just might be the place for you.

Contact Info:
Hampton University
Hampton, VA 23668

Phone: 757-727-5000
Web: www.hamptonu.edu

Howard University is a 4-year co-ed, comprehensive, research oriented university located in our nation’s capital Washington, D.C. Howard is ranked #5 by Black Enterprise’s top HBCUs list.

This institution was founded in 1867 in order to train African-Americans to be teachers and ministers and to help guide the four million newly freed slaves and 25,000 born free blacks. Howard was originally known as Howard Normal and Theological Institute for the Education of Teachers and Preachers. The institution was named after General Oliver Otis Howard who was one of the founding members and commissioner of the Freedmen’s Bureau.

Howard University holds a high accreditation and provides an education to a diverse array of students. Over 4,000 students currently attend Howard University. Howard University offers students degrees in Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master’s and Doctorate.

Several African-American celebrites and leaders have graduated from Howard University including: Ananda Lewis- talk show host, Andrew Young- U.N. ambassador, Atlanta mayor, David Dinkins- New York mayor, Debbie Allen- choreographer, director, Ossie Davis- actor, Lynn Whitfield- actress, Phylicia Rashad- actress, Sharon Pratt Kelly- DC mayor, Shirley Franklin- Atlanta mayor, Toni Morrison- Nobel Prize winning author, Vernon Jordan- former head of UNCF and Urban League

If you are looking for an inner-urban experience and you would love to start a new educational career in the Nation’s Capital, than Howard University just might be the place you need to be.

Tuition:

Undergraduate: $6,147.50 semester
Graduate: $ 7,435 semester
School of Law: $8,475 semester
College of Medicine: $26,566 annually
College of Dentistry:$ 20,623 annually

Contact Info:
Howard University
2400 Sixth Street
NW, Washington, D.C.

Phone: 202-806-6100
Web: www.Howard.edu

If you are an African-American or even if you are not but you want to try something new and exciting than attending a HBCU could be the best decision that you could make.

Even though the sale could keep the 142-year-old institution from going under, officials at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum say the university is violating O’Keeffe’s wishes by selling the works, and they want the entire collection shipped to Sante Fe, N.M. O’Keeffe, according to the wishes of her late husband, Alfred Stieglitz, divided a significant portion of the 1,000-piece collection of paintings, sculpture, prints and photos among six universities nearly six decades ago. Included in the collection given to Fisk were works by Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, George Grosz, Arthur Dove and John Marin, The Associated Press reports. Fisk, which was established during Reconstruction to educate newly freed slaves, certainly isn’t the only Black college in dire straits.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools placed FAMU on probation in June after a peer review learned that the Tallahassee school had mismanaged its finances. Morris Brown College in Atlanta lost its ability to receive federal student aid funds when it failed accreditation four years ago and is struggling to survive. Fellow Tennessee HBCU LeMoyne- Owen College in Memphis was about to close its doors amid financial ruin, but the city bailed the school out with a $3 million gift, the second life-saving infusion of funds in 10 years. Do you think historically Black colleges are as relevant today as they were 100 or so years ago, when they were established?

The Michael Vick dog fighting news gained mass television news coverage, but yet here we have a clear case of brutality against a human and not a peep about it on television news outlets. His brutality towards dogs is indeed horrible, but where is the same outrage for the mistreatment and brutality against a fellow human being? This is the most horrific act of racial hatred I’ve heard in a very long time. It saddens me to think that such evil exists today. What I want to know is, why hasn’t this story aired on the national news? This is ridiculous, this story happened sometime in September and I am now just hearing about this.
Read Story Here: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3590598

Whether or not white students validate a historically black college being Division 1 in golf is still up in the air. Raymond A. McDougal states, “I believe you should call the white schools that have predominantly Black basketball and football teams and see what they say. It is not who plays: it is the school that counts.”

I would agree with the statement. Most college/universities black or white have a predominant black football or basketball team. To say that the University of Florida would undermine its basketball program due to it being a majority white school and it having a predominant black basketball team would be absurd. Likewise Jackson State should get the benefit of the doubt.

De’Angelo

What is the average cost of college tuition? This is one question that most parents and future students ask themselves and need to know in order to plan for a college education.

The national average college tuition rate for public universities is $4,694 per year for in state residents. This figure includes both tuition rates and fees for a full time student.

The average college tuition rate at private colleges and universities is around $20,000 per year in tuition and fees.

Many students take advantage of the low tuition rates of two-year public colleges and junior colleges. The average tuition for a two year school is only $2,076 per year.

College Tuition Increase

While it is good to get an idea of the current cost of tuition, it is also important to understand the expected increase in tuition costs. Students who still have several years before entering college and their families should be keenly aware of the projected estimates rather than the current costs so that they can plan accordingly.

Tuition rates increase at about twice the general inflation rate. On average, tuition rates tend to increase about 8% per year. Some academic years see a greater increase than others and many economic factors come into play when a college decides to increase tuition.

For the school year 2005-2006 many colleges dramatically raised tuition rates. An example of such tuition hikes is at the University of Colorado where tuition rates have been raised for all of the system’s campuses. Tuition at the Boulder campus will go up by 27.8 percent, from $3,480 to $4,446. Other University of Colorado campuses will see a similar increase.

And now the good news…

Even though college tuition rates increase, more students than ever are benefiting from educational aid programs. According to a report from The College Board, “In 2003-04, the amount the average student actually paid for a public four-year institution, after receiving grant aid and education tax benefits, was about $1,300 per student.”

Government grants such as the pell grant provide funding for many college students. In fact for students who attend two-year colleges the grant award may cover the entire cost of tuition.

Scholarship programs awarded by colleges, businesses and non profit organizations are available to help students defray the cost of college tuition. There are many college scholarship programs available and it is becoming even easier to find these programs with the use of the internet.

With a combination of savings, financial aid, and scholarships many students today are able to afford college tuition and further their education.

Michael Carter is a contributor at College Financial Aid Guide, an online informational resource for educational funding, scholarships and student loans. Find out about more College Financial Aid Information

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Carter

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True or false: There are more African-American men attending college today.

True or false: There are more college-age black men in prison than in college.
Give yourself credit if you marked the first question true. People who get ahead in today’s economy start by getting a college degree. Almost all the fastest-growing careers require at least a college degree. The college graduate makes twice as much as the high school graduate.

You can also give yourself credit if you marked the second question true. More black males than ever before are applying to college, enrolling and getting their degrees.

The third question? That one is false — 179,500 black men ages 18 to 24 are in prison. But 469,000 — more than two-and-a-half times as many — are enrolled in college.

You often read that there are more black men in prison than in college. But that misleading statistic compares the number of black men in college, almost all of whom are in their teens or twenties, with the number of all black men, of any age, in prison. It’s like comparing apples to oranges.

But what about those 179,500 young black men who are in prison? As president of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), an association of 39 private historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and America’s largest minority college scholarship provider, I’m concerned about what we can do to keep them out of trouble and out of jail.

There is one thing that drastically reduces the chances of going to prison: having a college degree. We also know that African-Americans are statistically much more likely to stay in college and graduate if they attend an HBCU like LeMoyne-Owen College, our UNCF member school here in Memphis, or all-male Morehouse College in Atlanta or co-ed Claflin University in Orangeburg, S.C.

Getting a college degree doesn’t start in college. You have to have a good high school education. Far too many African-American males have been tracked into courses that won’t ever get them ready for college, as Bill Gates has put it, no matter how well the students learn or the teachers teach.

There are proven models for helping young black men achieve success in school, and one of them is in Memphis: the KIPP Diamond Academy, part of a national group of predominantly minority, nonprofit public charter and contract schools. (I am on KIPP’s national board of directors.) With longer school days and more effective teaching approaches, KIPP students’ average test scores equal those for all City of Memphis and State of Tennessee public schools, which have a much smaller percentage of minority and low-income students.

But the path to getting a college degree — and the sharply improved chances of staying out of trouble that come with that degree — has to start even before high school. It has to start at home and in the community.

As members of the black community, we are all responsible for refocusing on education, especially college education, as the pathway to professional careers and the middle class. We must teach our young people that in the 21st century, the jobs that are available to applicants with only high school diplomas will not support the middle-class life style, the lives of security, stability and service that we want for them and that they want for themselves.

Part of that refocusing is challenging the seductive, but destructive, role that popular culture plays among our young people. We have to reject the voice of gangsta rap becoming the voice of black authenticity. Gangsta rap is a siren song to young people who don’t have better, more constructive male role models who demonstrate positive alternatives to the false bravado of thugs.

The values espoused by gangsta rap are wrong, destructive and lead not to college but to jail. Violence against women — or anyone– is wrong. Exploitation of members of our own community through the drug trade is wrong. Living outside the law is wrong. And setting these values to music or weaving them into a gangsta or convict line of clothes is wrong.

A college degree is no magic stay-out-of jail card. Not every college graduate stays out of trouble with the law. And, of course, not everyone without a college degree gets into trouble.

But let me end as I began, with a question: Which path — the one that leads to college or the one that doesn’t — offers young African-American men the best chance of staying out of trouble and out of prison?

I know my answer.

What’s yours?

Dr. Michael L. Lomax is president and chief executive officer of the United Negro College Fund.

Regional campuses tend to be similar in nature to larger colleges just smaller in setting. Regional colleges usually make it quite easy to transfer credits to a larger college. This allows you to attend a smaller campus setting to earn your required credits and then move on to the large University if you wish to. You can take your required courses at a regional college in order to set you up for success at a University.

Regional campuses tend to also have fewer students in each class. Are you looking for personalized features such as academic attention? This personlization can also help you handle the transtion from high school to college. This change can be hard for many and a regional college setting helps to ease you into your new life circumstances. This is especially apparent when students take too long to adjust to college life and their academic performance is less then optimal as a side effect.

Each semester you have to sign up for new classes, pay tuition, and complete other administrative tasks. This is often easier and quicker to accomplish at a smaller college where there are less students. The administrative staff can meet with you personally on a timely basis. This type of one-on-one contact is much harder to come by at a larger University where your academic needs are one of thousands. You can go from hours of waiting at a large University to having your questions answered in ten minutes at a smaller college.

A regional or smaller local college campus is a great place to get involved in extra curricular activities because you have a far greater chance of getting true involvement. While the larger campuses definitely have more clubs and activities, actually participating in those activities is questionable given the large number of people going out for them. This is particularly the case where athletics and theatre are concerned.

Administrative tasks such as signing up for classes and taking care of financial aid can be an all-day event at larger universities. While many institutions have streamlined the process in recent years with online registration and other automated activities, anything involving actual human involvement can be a real nightmare. But, if you attend a smaller campus, such tasks can generally be accomplished in a few short minutes.

Tuition plays an important part in the college you decide to attend. Universities tend to have extensive help when it comes to financial aid programs, grants, loans, and scholarships. Universities provide these services at an affordable rate, but you will be paying the loans off for many years the rest of your life. Decrease the financial hassel by attending your first two years of college at a smaller, cheaper school. After which you can transfer to a large University if you so desire.

While the smaller campus does not have all of the amenities and allure of a larger institution, a shrewd student can take advantage of the benefits offered by the smaller places and often graduate with the very same degree but owing thousands less than their peers. Plus, if you are uncertain of your major or are nervous about making the transition to college life, then the smaller campus may be your best option. At the very least, a regional campus or local university is a great place to begin your collegiate career and you will often find it easier to meet lifelong friends there than in the rat race of the larger universities.

About the author: Roy Gasquet is the proprietor of Flair Schools, the best place on the internet when you’re after fresh up to date advice and comment to do with Schools.

The path ahead, as many studies and surveys have brought out, is taking some online courses or getting an online degree. This opportunity that has rapidly evolved in the recent years allows many of us who do not have access to university or college campus to get ahead and obtain an education. Today, more and more institutions are offering a variety of classes online and you can choose between a certificate, a diploma or a degree.

Online education opens vistas that were unavailable. It allows people to take courses in their own time while continuing with their jobs, it allows people to upgrade their existing skills, or perhaps change careers completely. Those who are unable to go back to school full time can still pursue their dreams while working and continuing to pay the bills of everyday life. Not everyone can quit a job for school as student loans are not easy to obtain and they do not cover enough of the costs associated with a quality education.

For these people getting an online education is the perfect answer. They can continue to work, and whenever they have free time simply get online and do their course work. A few hours each evening and on the weekends could mean getting on the fast track to a new career in an exciting field.

People who live in rural areas are also good candidates for getting an online education. If you live in an area where there is no university or college campus nearby it used to be your only option was to pack up and move. For some people this just wasn’t an option. If your spouse already has a good job and your kids are settled in school, furthering your education took a backseat to other priorities. But now you can get that degree you’ve always wanted without leaving the comfort of your own home.

Most schools offering online classes don’t care where you live, as they just need to send the materials to you. In some cases you may have to travel to take your finals, but everything else is done at home.

Before you consider taking any online classes, you should think about how much time you will have to spend on your homework. Some people are under the mistaken impression that online courses are easier and take less time than classes taken in a traditional classroom setting. However, this is often not the case.

Generally speaking, the schools will tell you how much time you’ll need for study when you sign up for online classes. Before you enroll, be sure you have that amount of time to devote to your studies. In fact, it may even take you longer than the estimated minimum. Another important factor is self-discipline. If you procrastinate when you’re an online student, you could quickly lose control of your time and endanger your grades and learning.

If time management is one of your strong suits then you shouldn’t have a problem being an online student. Often schools provide advisors to help you via email. If you aren’t sure about how well you’d do, take a few classes to find out. If you work well in that setting then you can pursue that elusive degree.

About the author: Emma Fernton is your host at FRW Education, a fantastic website to visit if you’re looking for accurate up to date advice and discussion about Education.

A school’s atmosphere is very important.It determines whether you’ll feel comfortable there, whether you’ll find your niche. We once heard it put like this: “Going to college ain’t about getting in, it’s about fitting in.” This issue has raised for many African American students the question of whether to attend a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) or a predominantly white institution. African American students can be successful at either; it’s up to the student.

The Scoop on HBCUs
First of all, by definition, an HBCU is a school that was established before 1964 with the intention of serving the African American community. Often people talk about HBCUs as if they were all the same, but nothing could be further from the truth. There are more than 100 HBCUs in the United States, and they come in all types and sizes. HBCUs can be public or private, and come in both the two-year and four-year variety. Some are large, and some are small. HBCUs are located in 20 states, Washington, D.C., and the Virgin Islands, in both urban and rural areas. Some have competitive admissions standards, whereas others offer quality educational opportunities to students who have less than stellar high school grades. Some, such as Lincoln University of Missouri, actually have large white populations. And few, if any of them, are really all black.

There are some important distinctions in definition to note here: Colleges may be “historically black,” “predominantly black,” or “having a plurality of black students,” and these mean different things. Historically black colleges, as we said above, were established specifically to serve black students, though many white students also attend. Predominantly black colleges have a student population that is more than 50 percent black (so a historically black college could very well also be predominantly black). And in a school that has a plurality of black students, a large segment of the student population is black, though black students do not make up the majority. Only HBCUs have a history of being focused on the African American population.

HBCUs have their advantages and disadvantages. In terms of financial aid, many HBCUs, particularly the smaller private institutions, often lack the resources necessary to offer enough scholarship or grant aid to cover the student’s financial needs. This is because most HBCUs do not have large endowments. Some of the better-known predominantly white schools can often provide more generous financial aid packages because they have stronger funding sources. Their funds are often boosted by large donations from alumni and lucrative corporate relationships.

The Real World
Some people think that you and every other African American student should attend an HBCU because you will feel more comfortable and perform better if you are surrounded by students from your own culture; others advise that you should not attend an HBCU because it doesn’t mirror the “real world” of racial differences that you’ll face once you graduate and enter the workforce. We don’t agree with either of these schools of thought.

Here’s why: First of all, some of the larger state universities have more African American students than most HBCUs (a few examples are the University of Maryland, the University of Michigan, Temple University, Wayne State University, and the University of South Carolina). If the goal is simply to “be around” students from your own culture, you can do so at those schools as well as any HBCU. Second, HBCUs reflect the “real world” as well as non-historically black colleges. The fact is, many African American students at non-historically black colleges join all-black fraternities or sororities, form a Black Student Union, and even live in African American dormitories.

The African American environment at any college is a factor you should weigh carefully before you apply. Dig beneath the perceptions and stereotypes, and discover for yourself which environment is best for YOU. Visiting the schools you are considering is a great way to assess their environments.

HBCU or Not, You Should Visit the Campus
The best way to learn about any college’s atmosphere is to visit the campus. By visiting schools and talking to students (especially African American students and upperclassmen, but not ONLY African American students), you can get a more accurate picture of the school’s environment. You can reflect on the size of the student body and campus setting, and you can try to imagine what it would be like to attend each school. Visiting for only a day or staying overnight won’t allow you to see everything, but if you ask the right questions and make the right observations, you’ll walk away with a wealth of information to help you make your final choice.

There are many ways to approach the college visit. Every college arranges campus tours, but tours may also be offered by local alumni chapters, church or community organizations, or private groups. Whatever you do, don’t just follow the tour guide down the beaten path.

Spend some time wandering around to get a better feel for the place. Check out the student union, the cafeteria, sports facilities, and the library. And don’t forget the dorms. They may not be palaces, true; but can you see yourself living in them? If not, you may want to investigate the cost and availability of off-campus apartments.

Be sure to interact with students. Ask them how they feel about the school and what they do for fun. Do students hang out on campus most of the time, or is it a suitcase school, where the majority of students go elsewhere for the weekend? Observe how the students act toward each other and toward you-are they friendly and open? Is the student body ethnically and racially diverse? You’ll want to go when the campus is alive, so plan ahead.

Summing Up
Deciding where you will spend the next four or five years of your life is a major decision-one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Weigh your options carefully. Consider your individual needs and factor in the cost appropriately. High price does not always equal high quality, and vice versa. There are plenty of schools that offer a great education at a low cost.

Most important, choose a school for the right reasons. When you watch the next March Madness NCAA basketball tournament on TV, don’t get carried away by the winning team. You wouldn’t want to make your most important academic decision based solely on who wins the big game.