Why do African-American students reject historically black colleges?

[Kenn Rashad]

By Greg Perkins

What’s wrong with historically black colleges and universities?

According to data published by the Postsecondary National Policy Institute, HBCU enrollment declined by 14 percent in 2011, wiping out much of the growth of the prior 10 years.

Recently, I was very disappointed in my daughter’s assessment of HBCUs. She seemed to think historically black colleges are second-rate institutions. This view was reiterated when I spoke with a former college roommate who said neither of his children attended or wanted to attend an HBCU after graduating from high school.

Read the rest: http://getschooled.blog.ajc.com/201...historically-black-colleges-and-universities/

 

[The Founder]

When I was in grad school at Arkansas this was a debate with the black undergrads. They felt HBCUs would not provide them with the academic tools necessary to get the jobs they wanted. These students came from country towns in Arkansas and bashed UAPB, SU, GSU, Langston, and Alcorn to DEATH!!!

The interesting thing was that when Arkansas would recruit graduate students they recruited from these same institutions. These new graduate students were the grad assistance and taught these very same Arkansas students their initial courses when they enrolled. Another point that we found was that many of the students recruited at Arkansas for undergrad had average GPAs and could only enroll at Arkansas for grad school.

I have seen this happen at GSU. There are students from LSU, Tech, and ULM who graduate with such a low GPA that in order for them to attend graduate school at GSU they have to enroll in undergrad courses to boost their GPA.

In reading the article I have to say GSU had a one up on EVERY institution in the state. GSU has the first Ed.D in Development Education in the NATION, was the first MPA program to be accredited, and had at one time the only BSN and Masters in Nursing program in North Louisiana. Yet, we have not capitalized off of that by expanding those departments. I had an idea for GSU with the MPA program to have an undergrad in Public Administration but with various specializations such as governmental contracting, for profit and non profit grant writing, national security and intelligence, and ton of other stuff. The dean killed the idea wondering where would get the professors from instead of making it attractive. When the dena realized that the plan included removing the MPA program from his control that's really when he killed. In short I was designing a School for Governmental Relations at Grambling State University.

SU right now has an MPA program and PhD in Public Administration. I won't even began to say how many doctoral programs JSU has, and let's not even start talking about UAPB with their agriculture and Aqua Culture program if I'm not mistaken.

It takes money but most importantly it takes faculty and staff that are willing to go the extra mile. At GSU we have too many employees that followed this employment track:

1. Became a student worker in the department
2. Majored in some field not associated with that department
3. Graduated and was hired in that department
4. Ended up being promoted out of default
5. Has not pursued any more employment training to do a better job

Now what can this person really offer for growth if they have never been outside of 71245? More importantly what can they say to student who really has more employment capability than them?

 

[96lioness]

When I was in grad school at Arkansas this was a debate with the black undergrads. They felt HBCUs would not provide them with the academic tools necessary to get the jobs they wanted. These students came from country towns in Arkansas and bashed UAPB, SU, GSU, Langston, and Alcorn to DEATH!!!

The interesting thing was that when Arkansas would recruit graduate students they recruited from these same institutions. These new graduate students were the grad assistance and taught these very same Arkansas students their initial courses when they enrolled. Another point that we found was that many of the students recruited at Arkansas for undergrad had average GPAs and could only enroll at Arkansas for grad school.

I have seen this happen at GSU. There are students from LSU, Tech, and ULM who graduate with such a low GPA that in order for them to attend graduate school at GSU they have to enroll in undergrad courses to boost their GPA.

In reading the article I have to say GSU had a one up on EVERY institution in the state. GSU has the first Ed.D in Development Education in the NATION, was the first MPA program to be accredited, and had at one time the only BSN and Masters in Nursing program in North Louisiana. Yet, we have not capitalized off of that by expanding those departments. I had an idea for GSU with the MPA program to have an undergrad in Public Administration but with various specializations such as governmental contracting, for profit and non profit grant writing, national security and intelligence, and ton of other stuff. The dean killed the idea wondering where would get the professors from instead of making it attractive. When the dena realized that the plan included removing the MPA program from his control that's really when he killed. In short I was designing a School for Governmental Relations at Grambling State University.

SU right now has an MPA program and PhD in Public Administration. I won't even began to say how many doctoral programs JSU has, and let's not even start talking about UAPB with their agriculture and Aqua Culture program if I'm not mistaken.

It takes money but most importantly it takes faculty and staff that are willing to go the extra mile. At GSU we have too many employees that followed this employment track:

1. Became a student worker in the department
2. Majored in some field not associated with that department
3. Graduated and was hired in that department
4. Ended up being promoted out of default
5. Has not pursued any more employment training to do a better job

Now what can this person really offer for growth if they have never been outside of 71245? More importantly what can they say to student who really has more employment capability than them?

Bolded statement #1- I'm going into my 2nd term as the Secretary for my Alumni Chapter. Since I joined our Chapter, I've served on our Membership & Recruitment Committee and still serve on our Scholarship Committee. One of our Chapter's main goals is to provide financial support to UAPB students who are from the Pulaski County area so they can remain in school. We also provide financial assistance to transfer students who are from the Pulaski County area. The chair of our Scholarship Committee is our 1st Vice President......but she also is a 3rd generation UAPB graduate and 3rd generation UAPB employee.......THAT WORKS IN RETENTION!!!! One of the most interesting things I see as Secretary and Scholarship Committee member is all those kids that were in high school that were offered a UAPB scholarship but decided to go to these pwi's (Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Washington University, TCU, Baylor, and of course Fayetteville).......and how at the beginning of their sophomore year (sometimes 2nd semester freshmen year) are submitting letters to our chapter for financial assistance! And I won't go into detail about the GPAs these kids had while at those schools! These kids do bash UAPB, but when the going gets tough, the tough get going.....and guess who they go to? Even a young lady at my church that graduated with my youngest daughter chose Henderson State over UAPB. She said she wouldn't go to UAPB because she heard a lot of bad things about UAPB....never been there, just going on hearsay. This was back in 2013; this fall semester she transferred to UAPB!

Bolded statement #2- UAPB is one of the few schools in the country that offers a Doctorate option in Aquaculture, and our Agriculture program is ranked among the top 20 in the US; we have an actual USDA office located on our campus. And our Nursing Program is back; we have 12-14 students enrolled and just received a $250,000 grant from Blue Cross/Blue Shield! Biotechnology & Nanoscience are on the way!

 

[97JSULEGEND]

Simple Economics. Many HBCU grads leave their respective cities after graduation so sending your kids back to your HBCU or another HBCU may not be financially feasible. With out of state fees, rising tuition, ect. Most parents are thinking smart and sending their kids to what affordable and where the scholarship dollars are most helpful for the family. Why go broke trying to send your kids out of state to and HBCU just because you attended one...

 

[BRAVEHEART123]

Urban HBCUs like JSU (Jackson), TX Southern (Houston), SU (Baton Rouge), Alabama A&M (Huntsville), Alabama State (Montgomery), Howard (Washington, DC), etc. to me will only continue to grow due to their proximity to major cities. Let's face it: kids today are of the "Now" Generation. The city environment gives them that feel. Parents don't want to put their kid in harms way. This not to offend some Alcornites but Alcorn itself is starting to get a really bad reputation of "Somebody related or connected to the University is always getting killed or passing away annually".

I have come to the realization over the years that JSU is in the perfect situation. It does pay to be Mississippi's only Urban University. JSU will only continue to grow if.....Leadership does not hold it back.

It is the Rural HBCUs that should be worried and rightfully so.

 

[BRAVEHEART123]

Another thing: is it worse to graduate One HBCU and send your children to another HBCU? One of the things a lot of Alcorn and JSU Alums are keeping quiet about is that there seems to be a rise of students graduating Alcorn and JSU with a degree from each (which I personally...have no problem with as far as academics is concerned).

 

[The Founder]

Another thing: is it worse to graduate One HBCU and send your children to another HBCU? One of the things a lot of Alcorn and JSU Alums are keeping quiet about is that there seems to be a rise of students graduating Alcorn and JSU with a degree from each (which I personally...have no problem with as far as academics is concerned).

I see nothing wrong with it. My dad went to Southern and mom to GSU. My dad got drafted and never went back. My son wants to go to SU and be in the band, major in Engineering, and join the Air Force as an officer. I know I would love for him to be at GSU but I know GSU does not have the engineering program that SU has....

 

[96lioness]

Urban HBCUs like JSU (Jackson), TX Southern (Houston), SU (Baton Rouge), Alabama A&M (Huntsville), Alabama State (Montgomery), Howard (Washington, DC), etc. to me will only continue to grow due to their proximity to major cities. Let's face it: kids today are of the "Now" Generation. The city environment gives them that feel. Parents don't want to put their kid in harms way. This not to offend some Alcornites but Alcorn itself is starting to get a really bad reputation of "Somebody related or connected to the University is always getting killed or passing away annually".

I have come to the realization over the years that JSU is in the perfect situation. It does pay to be Mississippi's only Urban University. JSU will only continue to grow if.....Leadership does not hold it back.

It is the Rural HBCUs that should be worried and rightfully so.

I think that's part of the problem; people are going off what they hear about rather than what they know about. I know too many parents at my job and my church that refuse to let their children attend the HBCUs we take them to because of things they "heard about" and a lot of it isn't true. It's amazing how we as Black people are so quick to condemn an HBCU because of what the media chooses to report. I tell parents all the time to take advantage of visiting colleges (pwi or HBCU). Do research on what academic programs are offered, are these programs highly ranked, do they have a large output of graduates (Nursing, engineering, education, military sciences), what funds do they offer out-of-state students; next let the child help make the decision. I kid you not, a lot of these parents say that's too much work, and will use the cop-out, "It's too much crime at Black colleges", or "All they do is party at Black schools".

Another thing: is it worse to graduate One HBCU and send your children to another HBCU? One of the things a lot of Alcorn and JSU Alums are keeping quiet about is that there seems to be a rise of students graduating Alcorn and JSU with a degree from each (which I personally...have no problem with as far as academics is concerned).

My daughters have been attending UAPB functions (homecoming, Founder's Week Celebration, Annual Alumni Assembly, Handel's Messiah (put on by our Vesper Choir and M4 Band), attended the Chancellor's Benefit for the Arts, and Chancellor's Convocation) since they were 4 & 3 years old! They have attended my Alumni Chapter meetings, attended my Chapter's Scholarship Banquet, and have been with me during our Chapter's recruitment efforts for UAPB. My oldest daughter just graduated from Southern this past May with a BA in Mass Communications/Public Relations, and my youngest is a sophomore at Prairie View majoring in Nursing. While they chose their respective colleges based off the curriculum, it was the exposure and experiences they got from UAPB that confirmed their decision to attend an HBCU...........and God forgive me, I am very, very proud of them both!

It's one thing to allow our children to see the fun & festivities from our alma maters.......but it's extremely important that they see us work and give back to what we love and believe in. I'm glad God gave me the wisdom to do that with my girls. I see the positive impact that it has made on them both.

 

[unknown1]

Too may options, college rankings, prices, etc. There are a ton of reasons. Having been on both sides if you live in GA and don't want to leave the state so that you can get in state tuition, your only options are Spelman, Morehouse, CAU (all of which are expensive as chit), FVSU, Albany State, Paine and Savannah State. On the flip side, the majority of the PWC's have better academic rankings (yes I know rankings aren't the end all be all) and for the same price, or less.
This is pretty much the reason that Georgia State now graduates more black students than the entire AUC and most of the other HBCUs in the state, combined. Cheaper, Tier 1 research, etc. Then on top of that you have UGA and GT (both ranked in the top 25 public universities in the country), Kennesaw State (cheaper option for a bachelors), Georgia Southern, etc. And then there's amenities and facilities. The AUC is expensive as all hell but if you look at Morehouse and Spelman dorms they could use a massive overhaul. CAU has gotten better as far as that goes when they built their new new dorms.

Bottom line is, you have to be on the same level as everyone else as far as academics, amenities, facilities, prices etc if you want to draw black students these days. Just as a point of reference:

Tuition

Albany State - $3792
Clayton State - $3792
Savannah State - $3792
Columbus State - $4078
Georgia Southern - $4078
Kennesaw State - $4078
Fort Valley - $4740
Georgia State - $6490
UGA - $8590
GT - $9002
Paine - $11880
Clark Atlanta - $19682
Spelman - $22055
Morehouse - $23,966


Yet, the rankings
1) Emory
2) GT
3) UGA
4) Mercer
5)Georgia Southern
5) Georgia State
7) Spelman
8) Georgia College and State University
9) Covenant
10) Oglethorpe
11) Life
12) Kennesaw State
16) Columbus State
18) Clayton State
26) Albany State
27) West Georgia
28) Clark Atlanta
29) Fort Valley
30) Savannah State
31) Paine College

That just aint gonna get it when trying to convince kids to attend your school. Don't know about other states but these are the biggest reasons why in GA. The ROI for most of them, excluding Spelman and Morehouse are pretty low. But at the same time, for an education at either of those two it's likely going to run you 100K unless you get a scholarship...which they don't give many full rides.

 

[LS Syndicate]

Simple Economics. Many HBCU grads leave their respective cities after graduation so sending your kids back to your HBCU or another HBCU may not be financially feasible. With out of state fees, rising tuition, ect. Most parents are thinking smart and sending their kids to what affordable and where the scholarship dollars are most helpful for the family. Why go broke trying to send your kids out of state to and HBCU just because you attended one...

But they are moving to areas where there are other HBCU's. I might not be able to send my boys to JSU (hypothetically), but I can send them to FAMU or BCU or FL Memorial. The kids are three and four right now, but in a couple years when they're old enough, we will always be going to JSU Homecoming and the Florida Classic...maybe some step shows at BCU....my point is they will know enough about the HBCU experience (good and bad) to make an informed decision when it's time to pick a college. I think there is a disconnect that takes place when HBCU grads move away and start having families, and we don't educate our kids on HBCU's. My kids will grow up seeing Gators and Noles at every corner. And we live one mile away from UCF which has the 2nd largest enrollment in the nation last I heard. So you really have to go out of your way to show them that HBCU's provide a quality education, because your community will not do that.

 

[unknown1]

But they are moving to areas where there are other HBCU's. I might not be able to send my boys to JSU (hypothetically), but I can send them to FAMU or BCU or FL Memorial. The kids are three and four right now, but in a couple years when they're old enough, we will always be going to JSU Homecoming and the Florida Classic...maybe some step shows at BCU....my point is they will know enough about the HBCU experience (good and bad) to make an informed decision when it's time to pick a college. I think there is a disconnect that takes place when HBCU grads move away and start having families, and we don't educate our kids on HBCU's. My kids will grow up with kids seeing Gators and Noles at every corner. And we live one mile away from UCF which has the 2nd largest enrollment in the nation last I heard. So you really have to go out of your way to show them that HBCU's provide a quality education, because your community will not do that.

May not necessarily be that they don't know about HBCU's, but that they simply think another school better suits them. It's like if my mom was a Spelman grad but I got a full ride to Georgia State and only a partial to Morehouse, would it really make sense for her to try to direct me to Morehouse knowing that im going to graduate with hella debt? IJS. Not everyone is going to be suited to go to an HBCU just because they're black.

 

[LS Syndicate]

May not necessarily be that they don't know about HBCU's, but that they simply think another school better suits them. It's like if my mom was a Spelman grad but I got a full ride to Georgia State and only a partial to Morehouse, would it really make sense for her to try to direct me to Morehouse knowing that im going to graduate with hella debt? IJS. Not everyone is going to be suited to go to an HBCU just because they're black.

When finances come into play, that's totally different. You made a decision based on finances. I'm addressing why some Blacks tend to think that HBCU's are academically and socially inferior to other schools.

 

[unknown1]

When finances come into play, that's totally different. You made a decision based on finances. I'm addressing why some Blacks tend to think that HBCU's are academically and socially inferior to other schools.

Well, did you look at my first post? I pretty much covered that part too. Asides from a few, the academics side lacks behind PWC's also. And when you factor in the fact that you can go to a school with better academics...for less. Well, there's a major part of your problem. And keep in mind I chose an HBCU fresh out of high school, and another after that...before finishing at a PWC. Really most HBCU's need to increase academics across the board if you want to get those 3.5+ gpa students to consider you for any reason other than it being an HBCU. Not saying I agree with it, but it's realistic. In general kids look at college, and are advised that picking the school with the best academic rankings gives you your best chance of getting a job. Not always true, but there IS a lot of truth to it. Kinda like if you want to be an engineer in GA you're going to look at GT first. If you want to go into medicine you're going to look at Emory first. If you want to go into law you're going to look at UGA/Georgia State first. That's what im saying, for that NOT to be the case you simply have to raise your academic standards. It's why Spelman, Morehouse, Howard, Hampton, Tuskegee, etc are generally at the top of the HBCU rankings pretty much every year. Top academics and a better ROI as far as likelihood of getting a better job.

We all know that doesn't translate 100% to the job field, but looking at which schools dominate the medical, law, engineering,etc fields in your area will tell you why kids are picking the schools that they do. Personally, i'll show my kids the positives and negatives of both and let them decide. However, the schools that aren't run well and have mass exodus of students with super low grad rates yearly, don't really help themselves in terms of being appealing to kids either.

 

[Storm96]

Another thing: is it worse to graduate One HBCU and send your children to another HBCU? One of the things a lot of Alcorn and JSU Alums are keeping quiet about is that there seems to be a rise of students graduating Alcorn and JSU with a degree from each (which I personally...have no problem with as far as academics is concerned).

There's nothing wrong with this. My mother went to Grambling and I went to PV. The problem I've witnessed is when some HBCU grads have bad experiences and pretty much write off the entire experience for their kids. One of my closest friends from high school really wanted to go to PV but his mother, a TSU grad, told him that he couldn't go to any HBCU.

 

[Kenn Rashad]

All of the points made so far in this thread are valid, but I think the primary problem for HBCUs are the self inflicted (negative) issues that come up and are reported in the media time and time again. Overtime, that takes a toll. We can't deny the thought of a prospective student who walks on the campus of an HBCU, only to see worn facilities or landscaping that hasn't been managed, that it doesn't factor into he/her decision. We are talking about 17 and 18 year-olds who are very impressionable. Little things like that go a long way in the area of perception.

 

[The Founder]

All of the points made so far in this thread are valid, but I think the primary problem for HBCUs are the self inflicted (negative) issues that come up and are reported in the media time and time again. Overtime, that takes its toll. We can't deny the thought of a prospective student who walks on a the campus of an HBCU, only to see worn facilities or landscaping that hasn't been managed, that it doesn't factor into he/her decision. We are talking about 17 and 18 year-olds who are very impressionable. Little things like that go a long way in the area of perception.

I think there are employees at GSU who want to see it fail. It sounds crazy but people have a warped way of thinking.

 

[JR]

All of the points made so far in this thread are valid, but I think the primary problem for HBCUs are the self inflicted (negative) issues that come up and are reported in the media time and time again. Overtime, that takes its toll. We can't deny the thought of a prospective student who walks on a the campus of an HBCU, only to see worn facilities or landscaping that hasn't been managed, that it doesn't factor into he/her decision. We are talking about 17 and 18 year-olds who are very impressionable. Little things like that go a long way in the area of perception.

Especially when your kid goes to a nice arse high school with great stuff. Not to mention they already know how to deal with BIFF and BECKY all their lives so it aint no deal for them to choose a PWC to go to and DO WELL. I think the perception is the kids are going to go there and get abused, flunk out, and have to transfer back to one of our schools. I think in the past it may have been that way. But with more and more of us HBCU grads living in these HIGH END burbs of the major cities or towns in these states. These kids are growing up totally differently than what we did. The only thing you can do is expose your kid to HBCUs and be truthful and explain that while you may not have the same amenities and such as a PWC. These are the reasons you should consider a HBCU. Give them the positive spin on our schools but don't sugar coat the things we don't have either. I think once you do that. The expectations change somewhat. Maybe even the perception can be eased. But it is tough when a kid visits say Texas then visits a HBCU and compares what each has.

 

[BRAVEHEART123]

All of the points made so far in this thread are valid, but I think the primary problem for HBCUs are the self inflicted (negative) issues that come up and are reported in the media time and time again. Overtime, that takes its toll. We can't deny the thought of a prospective student who walks on a the campus of an HBCU, only to see worn facilities or landscaping that hasn't been managed, that it doesn't factor into he/her decision. We are talking about 17 and 18 year-olds who are very impressionable. Little things like that go a long way in the area of perception.

I'll go further...when it's a Homecoming Game with High School Students who just performed in your parade unable to find a seat for the game, and when they do, it is reserved seating and they have to move. That is what I unfortunately witnessed this past Saturday.

 

[97JSULEGEND]

But they are moving to areas where there are other HBCU's. I might not be able to send my boys to JSU (hypothetically), but I can send them to FAMU or BCU or FL Memorial. The kids are three and four right now, but in a couple years when they're old enough, we will always be going to JSU Homecoming and the Florida Classic...maybe some step shows at BCU....my point is they will know enough about the HBCU experience (good and bad) to make an informed decision when it's time to pick a college. I think there is a disconnect that takes place when HBCU grads move away and start having families, and we don't educate our kids on HBCU's. My kids will grow up seeing Gators and Noles at every corner. And we live one mile away from UCF which has the 2nd largest enrollment in the nation last I heard. So you really have to go out of your way to show them that HBCU's provide a quality education, because your community will not do that.

We're in the same boat. My middle child wants to go to JSU,Tougaloo or Alcorn. My oldest is looking at State, Memphis State...The baby will probably be all JSU because she will get the most exposure to JSU. My oldest would probably go to Ole Miss if we let her. Actually she's been talking out of state Schools on the East coast too?? They have been exposed to HBCU's but it will come down to economics and who's offering the most scholarship dollars.. My kids better not go broke trying to get these degrees...I've been on them about starting their own businesses and figuring out a career path now...

 

[97JSULEGEND]

But they are moving to areas where there are other HBCU's. I might not be able to send my boys to JSU (hypothetically), but I can send them to FAMU or BCU or FL Memorial. The kids are three and four right now, but in a couple years when they're old enough, we will always be going to JSU Homecoming and the Florida Classic...maybe some step shows at BCU....my point is they will know enough about the HBCU experience (good and bad) to make an informed decision when it's time to pick a college. I think there is a disconnect that takes place when HBCU grads move away and start having families, and we don't educate our kids on HBCU's. My kids will grow up seeing Gators and Noles at every corner. And we live one mile away from UCF which has the 2nd largest enrollment in the nation last I heard. So you really have to go out of your way to show them that HBCU's provide a quality education, because your community will not do that.

Only HBCU's up here are Valley , TSU and Fisk within an hour or three hour drive.. A&M also falls into this area....Man dayum all that!!!They can't go to not one of them.. Not one...

 

[LS Syndicate]

Only HBCU's up here are Valley , TSU and Fisk within an hour or three hour drive.. A&M also falls into this area....Man dayum all that!!!They can't go to not one of them.. Not one...

I know people from all four schools who are doing well. It's all up to the student/ individual. In ten years, that degree won't mean squat and everything your child will have learned will be antiquated for the most part. So at that point, it all comes down to the individual.....skillset, certifications and work history is what employers look at. Whether your degree says Harvard, Howard or Hinds CC won't really matter as much.

 

[AHL12]

I think it start at home with parents not instilling in their children the value of attending an HBCU. We always talked to our children about how our forefathers worked hard and sacrificed to built HBCU's so we could get a decent education. Because there was a time in history (not too long ago) when we could not attend PWIs. My children always knew that they were going to attend an HBCU. because we explained to them that their first four years of higher education would be at an HBCU. Why? Because we were paying and we refused to pay for them to attend a PWI...bottom line. We took them to visit HBCU's and to their sporting events. We also explained to them about the advantage of attending an HBCU. Most of us on this board are between the age of thirty through sixty and that mean that our children grew up attending predominately lily white schools or private schools, (as a matter of fact; I attended a lily white school my last three years of high school) . We wanted our children to experience what we had experience by attending a predominately Black institution. We don't regret it and they don't regret it...they tell me now that it was some of the best years of their lives. They are both proud JSU grads and they have never ever had a problem getting (as some folk say "good jobs"), they both earn over six figures. Not bragging, just facts. I am very proud of our HBCU's because I would not be where I am today if my parents would not instilled in me the value of our beloved schools.

 

[LS Syndicate]

Well, did you look at my first post? I pretty much covered that part too. Asides from a few, the academics side lacks behind PWC's also. And when you factor in the fact that you can go to a school with better academics...for less. Well, there's a major part of your problem.

I did not. You must've posted it as I was typing. You make a valid point, but we are talking about the overall stigmatization of the HBCU in the minds of Black students. A lot of these kids have made up their minds about HBCU's before they even looked at tuition and/ or visited the campuses. I overheard a teen at church say, "All of the FAMU tags I see are on Hondas and Toyotas, but all of the FL State tags are on Benz's and Range Rovers".

But again, your numbers don't lie. Quite honestly, I've always struggled with understanding the value of private HBCU's (as well as private PWI's that aren't Ivy League). I'm not sure why someone would pick Tougaloo over JSU, Xavier over Southern or Fisk over TN State, but that's just me. I'm not deeply involved in academics or have visited nearly enough campuses to take an "objective" stance on it.

 

[Kenn Rashad]

Especially when your kid goes to a nice arse high school with great stuff. Not to mention they already know how to deal with BIFF and BECKY all their lives so it aint no deal for them to choose a PWC to go to and DO WELL. I think the perception is the kids are going to go there and get abused, flunk out, and have to transfer back to one of our schools. I think in the past it may have been that way. But with more and more of us HBCU grads living in these HIGH END burbs of the major cities or towns in these states. These kids are growing up totally differently than what we did. The only thing you can do is expose your kid to HBCUs and be truthful and explain that while you may not have the same amenities and such as a PWC. These are the reasons you should consider a HBCU. Give them the positive spin on our schools but don't sugar coat the things we don't have either. I think once you do that. The expectations change somewhat. Maybe even the perception can be eased. But it is tough when a kid visits say Texas then visits a HBCU and compares what each has.

Well said my brotha! Well said!

 

[97JSULEGEND]

I know people from all four schools who are doing well. It's all up to the student/ individual. In ten years, that degree won't mean squat and everything your child will have learned will be antiquated for the most part. So at that point, it all comes down to the individual.....skillset, certifications and work history is what employers look at. Whether your degree says Harvard, Howard or Hinds CC won't really matter as much.

Man if they get excepted to any one of the four they can get in at JSU...