Why I Chose My HBCU
After decades of segregated education at institutions of higher learning, the very first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) was founded on February 25, 1837 by Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, creating a safe academic, intellectual, and social space for Black students. On December 1, 1865, Shaw University in North Carolina became the first HBCU in the South, initiating a cascade of HBCU charterings in the United States. These spaces of both comfort and challenge for HBCU students proved to be special, affirming students of their rightful place in society. Today, HBCUs are the #1 producers of Black physicians, lawyers, educators, politicians, engineers, and so many other professional paths by setting high-achieving standards for Black students.
I am currently a junior Biochemistry major on the pre-med track at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA. Before my sophomore year of high school, I had never heard of Spelman. But after one brief conversation with my mother who encouraged me to look into it, I started researching, toured the campus, and found it to be the greatest place at which I could continue my education. Spelman has been the #1 HBCU for 16 consecutive years as the premier college for Black women, and that is what greatly contributed to my decision. The academic atmosphere is intense, but the community is full of people who love and care for Spelman students, and the sisterhood I have experienced during my matriculation is unforgettable. Let’s hear from some other HBCU students on why they chose their HBCUs.
Jesse Uloghobui currently attends Norfolk State University in Virginia and is a sophomore Computer Science major on the cybersecurity track. His mother attended Norfolk State, and that is one of the main reasons he chose to enroll.
A’Georre Williams, (pictured left), a sophomore Computer Information Systems major at Howard University in Washington D.C., highlighted the historical foundation of HBCUs and the niche culture that has formed: “I knew I wanted to be on a campus that gave me a sense of purpose and connected me with students across the country... I believe that choosing an HBCU gives you the space to be authentically you.” Williams goes on to underscore some of the many opportunities she has been afforded, including networking with Fortune 500 companies and executives in the C-Suite.
Taylor King, a senior Management major with a concentration in Business Administration at North Carolina A&T, was greeted by the warm, comforting atmosphere. “It was the authenticity I noticed in every student volunteer that I encountered, the incredibly kind and welcoming nature of the event coordinators, and the undeniable pride that radiated from every university leader that just felt magnetic.” Because of this experience, she advises students who may be considering HBCUs to speak with faculty and students, and also take the opportunity to tour if possible.
“I do not have any regrets about attending an HBCU, except I wish I would have decided to attend one sooner,” Nia LaCour, a sophomore Computer Science Major at Southern University in Louisiana, expressed. She adds, “you will be surprised at what possibilities lie within these institutions!”
HBCUs hold a special place in the hearts of minority students who wish to fellowship with students who look just like them. Whether there is a legacy to be continued, a purpose to be found, a mentor to secure, or even an opportunity to seek, Historically Black Colleges and Universities pride themselves on being institutions where Black students can excel and become the best versions of themselves possible..
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About the author
Jalyn White
Jalyn White is a junior Biochemistry major on the pre-med track from Virginia Beach, VA currently attending Spelman College. Her passions and advocacy work are rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion, being former Vice President and current captain of the prolific Spelman College Speech and Debate Team, and a member of the premier Divine Nine Greek-letter organization, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. As a Pearson Campus Ambassador (PCA), Jalyn has been able to share her appreciation for HBCUs as the formal representative on the PCA DEI Committee and hopes to spotlight the unique spaces crafted for degree-seeking Black students.
