Essay about Cultural Differences in the College Experience

For Tisha Smith, who attended both a HBCU and a traditional university, the experience at a Black college was the best. Growing up in a predominately-White neighborhood, Smith's environment taught her very little about her own culture. Growing up as a minority in an affluent neighborhood, she experienced many instances of bigotry and intolerance from her peers.

African American students enrolling in HBCUs experience better outcomes such as general satisfaction with their experience, higher grade, psychological adjustments, etc than those African American students enrolling in PWIs while Whites attending PWIs experience better outcomes such as higher grade, psychological adjustments than those white students attending in HBCUs. African American students found more comfortable and friendly environment at HBCUs while White students found more comfortable and friendly environment at PWIs. Students attending in HBCUs seems to be more satisfied with college experience because of their involvement on Colleges/Universities compared to those students attending in PWIs. African American students attending HBCUs wanted just to complete their degree as compared to students attending PWIs. White students wanted to read more as compared to African American students. In the context of educating African Americans in Specific field, HBCUs became more successful in providing access and retaining students through graduation compared to PWIs. Students attending HBCU has outcomes like tutoring other students, higher GPAs, gradating with honors, and

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES), there are 101 Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965 defines HBCUs as “…any historically Black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of Black Americans, and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary [of Education] to be a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered or is, according to such an agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation” (US Department of Education, 2017). It is important to note that unlike other Minority Serving Institutions, HBCUs, are only one of two types of institutions (Tribal Colleges & Universities or TCUs are the other) federally designated by law and therefore, cannot increase in number with an act of Congress (Li, 2007). In other words, every time an HBCU closes its doors, we get one step closer to the elimination of the historical and consequential institutions.

Students in high school have a very difficult time depicting the college or university of their choice whether there are going to attend a Historical Black College or University, Predominantly White School? As a future educator, I made a commendable choice to attend an HBCU because they are still needed today for successful individuals. Although some African- Americans forget the journey that our ancestors had to go through so we as African-American can have a better education from an accredited college or university. During the time period of slavery many African- Americans could not attend a PWI school because the color of their skin. In addition, that why I think HBCU’s are still needed today. Also many HBCU’s have very strong history behind their schools. South Carolina State University is a very distinguished supportive and studious HBCU, no matter how the media may criticize this college there are still lessons being taught day to day lives.

The University of Michigan purpose and mission is to allow “its students to tailor their

The purpose of this paper is to argue based on the founding principles for their establishment, HBCUs hold no educational justification to continue in the midst of the twenty-first century. Frist, the paper will cover a brief historical context around the founding principles of HBCUs. Next, legislation that allowed them to thrive and maintained existence will be presented. To conclude, implications for HBCUs and potential next steps will be presented. Historically Black Colleges and Universities were an instrumental educational piece for African American during the 19th and 20th century, they are not longer relevant in the 21st century

Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs, have played an important role in enriching the lives of not just African Americans, but our entire country.”(Keller) What Ric Keller states here is an opinion that outlines a compelling fact about HBCUs that along with several other significant information that may come as a surprise. Essentially, the great debate between the choice of whether a Historically Black College and University or Predominantly White Institution is more beneficial or not can become a pondering interrogation. Each acronym defines itself, Historically Black Colleges and Universities(HBCUs) were established by the means of providing an education for predominantly African American students. Whereas, Predominantly White Intuitions(PWI) serve to instruct and educated the opposite or in other words those of Caucasian descent.

The entire HBCU experience is entirely different than that of other public or private colleges that are predominantly white. While HBCUs represent only 3% of the nation’s institutions of higher learning they enroll 16% of African Americans at the under-graduate level and award nearly one-fifth of

“There is still some debate about whether racially identified higher education is necessary or desirable. But [over] 100 schools exist, and the basic question is, can they compete?” According to the article, “Can HBCUs Compete?” College students today do not educate themselves on the history and legacy that Historically Black Colleges and Universities hold. Normally, they attend an HBCU because of the Black culture that it will teach them, the many other college students who will come from similar backgrounds, and even the parties. When they actually get to an HBCU and experience it first-hand they learn that it is not a right fit for them; it might be because the lack of

“Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs, have played an important role in enriching the lives of not just African Americans, but our entire country.”(Keller) What Ric Keller states here is an opinion that outlines a compelling fact about HBCUs that along with several other significant information that may come as a surprise. Essentially, the great debate between the choice of whether an Historically Black College and University or Predominantly White Institution is more beneficial or not can become a pondering interrogation. Each acronym defines itself, Historically Black Colleges and Universities(HBCUs) were established by the means of providing an education for predominantly African American students. Whereas, Predominantly White Intuitions(PWI) serve to instruct and educated the opposite or in other words those of Caucasian descent.

For centuries African Americans have fought for equal rights, one of them being an opportunity for the chance to get an equal education. Many people believe that African Americans have an equal or better chance at getting an education than other students. This is not the case when in fact, it is actually harder for these three reasons: African American students tend to come from harsh, poverty stricken atmospheres. Shattered family lifestyles that make it difficult to pursue a higher education because they have not received the proper information. Secondly, just because African Americans are minorities does not mean that they receive a vast amount of government assistance or financial aid to pursue a higher education. Lastly, African

For blacks, the history of higher education typically points to segregated education. Before the Civil War, the social system promoted the belief that blacks wouldn’t get return on their time spent in higher education. Brown and Ricard (2007) noted that most North institutions were reluctant to allow black enrollment in colleges and universities, and in the South, where slaveholder’s were still powerhouse businessmen, slaves would never be allowed to become more educated than their owners. The reluctance of the White leaders to allow blacks to formally be accepted into higher education programs held blacks back from achieving what many aspired to, and were fully capable of, experience.

White families often don’t always spend their money but invest it, save it, buy houses that gain interest over the years to have different things to pass down to their kids from when they are getting situated in the real world after college. A lot of these white graduate students doing have to worry about paying bills and trying to make ends meet from month to month but can focus on interning at different companies without pay and build their resume for their future. These black students who have actually gotten over that color barrier and are being accepted into these top law schools cant afford to do unpaid internships and don’t have the assets but basically have to build them selves from the bottom up instead of having an unfair advantage from birth. These different white families set their children up so that they have a fresh start coming out of college. Worrying about having to pay back school loans is something that isn’t even an issue in most of the white community as college I just expected to get paid for by your parents. Sometimes these students who are becoming entrepreneurs are given the money and the recourses to start their own businesses. As a sophomore in college trying

African American students at an HBCU get to feel more comfortable the moment they step onto their new stomping grounds. All that has to be stated to back that statement up is the fact that when an African American is a student at a PWI they are one out of 200 out of 3000 students at a PWI. While at an HBCU they get to see eye to eye with their peers and relate on another level with each other, more than with a student a PWI.

A big school or small, public or private, urban or rural; these are just a few of the many difficult deciding factors I faced during my college selection. At the height of my selection process, I had applied to ten schools ranging across all those factors. I was completely unsure of what I wanted to do with my life yet and had no idea what type of school I wanted. My mind wasn’t set enough on the future and I was too worried about getting through high school and working my full-time job. As it got closer to spring, I had to start making some decisions. Ultimately, I narrowed my deciding process to three factors to specifically analyze to make the right decision. Beginning with reputation, followed by student life, and lastly the financial cost to attend.