HBCU vs. White Schools

[FuturePhD]

Has anyone transferred from a PWU to an HBCU or vice versa? I'm interested to hear what you think.

I transferred from an HBCU (Xavier University of Louisiana) to a PWU (University of TN) after my sophomore year, and sometimes the differences are overwhelming, I went from a predominantly black school with maybe 5000 undergraduates in the middle of New Orleans (with no football team) to a predominantly white school in Knoxville TN, 35,000+ undergrads where the football players are treated like celebrities. There was so much that I had to get used to. On an HBCU campus, we didn't do a lot of "fight the power, we're being discriminated against" because we were all black, but once I got here, every week "we" seemed to congregate/have a meeting because somebody offended us or didn't accept us, or something. You have to get used to the politics, and since I'm from TN, I'm used to being blatantly discriminated against by professors and students..but that was something that I wasn't used to at Xavier. Xavier had tremendous spirit (even with no football team), and we stuck together, we came in as a class in hopes of all leaving together as a class. I miss that "family spirit", one smarter guy at Xavier used to take his own time to hold review sessions for like 50-100 people before a test, even got a room on campus, you don't see people doing things like that here. And the black people here, surprisingly, aren't as friendly or close-knit. (I too thought that because there were fewer of us, we would be closer, but no...) I'm used to smiling at people, saying good morning, but that doesn't happen very often, people looked at me like I was crazy for the first few months I was here.
Now on the plus side, Univ of TN is going to prepare me better for graduate school. I'm a Chemistry Major and we have professors who are top in their field, equipment that I wouldn't have had the chance to work with at Xavier, and research opportunties that I wouldn't have had at Xavier. This may also be because Xavier is a smaller school with not as many alumni, therefore not as many donations, and Xavier is a private school whereas UT is public. Because I am a minority, I do get special priviledges, minority scholarships, workshops, etc. Well, I think you guys get the picture, remember that these are the comparisons of two specific schools, and certainly don't speak for all HBCU's and PWU's, if I had went to Howard, I'm sure my experiences as far as research would have been different. While I appreciate UT, my heart will always be with Xavier, I'm applying to every HBCU with a grad program in Chemistry (only 3), and when I get my Ph.D. I plan on teaching at an HBCU.

[OneOneTwo]

Originally posted by ClassyLady
I attend an HBCU and I absolutely love it. I am having the time of my life and receiving a great education. I could not see myself in school anywhere else.

I went to an all-white elementary school. My middle school and high school were about 50% white and 50% everything else. I liked that experience. But, when it came time to pick a college, I knew I wanted to attend an HBCU.

Me too, and like AKATUDE said, there are some of us who get scholarships to "White" universities and chose to go to HBCU's.

In my case, I wanted to be around intelligent students and professors who looked like me; who can relate to what I'm saying when it comes to issues like racism and other issues like that.

At the HBCU that I attend, you see the diversity that is within our culture and you are exposed to alot of different things that are part of our culture. Some students get up here and they don't realize or didn't know that not all African Americans believe or do the same things that you did when you were at home. And things are more in the open, but I think that in learning to appreciate all things in ourselves, we learn to deal with people who are different than us.

I want to say that at least 1 out of 15 (I think it is either twelve or fifteen but enough) students at my HBCU is of Non-African American decent so it is interesting to watch them adapt to our culture and for some of them, their "new" surroundings.

112-OneOneTwo

[wanabe]

I was sitting in class one day, when one of my Prof. said "This is the only time in your life, that you will be surrounded by so MANY beautiful goal oriented black people" Then this girl in the back said..."in prison you will" Needless to say i set her staight.

When we continue to proclaim that we should not attend HBCU's because the world isn't all black, we are only hurting ourselves.....keep in mind that the world isn't all WHITE either!

I also have a problem with people who say they can't afford to go to a certain college, or they didn't recieve any financial aid. Other than being a place of higher education...Universities/Colleges are a business. SOMEONE HAS TO PAY! Thats why so many of our HBCU's are in debt. Your parents had 18 years to plan and save!

I attended a private all girls school for 13 years and i am at the BEST school in the country....which so happens to be an HBCU.

NO ONE KNOWS CULTURE SHOCK LIKE ME.

[ChaosDST]

Originally posted by The Original Ape
I been gon a grip, so yall be patient with me.

I think it depends on the student's background, what they intend to major in, the strengths of the prospective school, the student-faculty ratio, and of course-cost. I've heard HBCUs are QUALITY oriented; whereas pw schools are quantity/quality-oriented when it comes to assignments. Regrettably, I never attended an HBCU; so I really don't know.

That's interesting, what about those who say that some HBCUs are not the least bit concerned about QUALITY, but moreso concerned about the APPEARANCE of quality. I've also heard people say they didn't want to have to worry about their hair, makeup, and clothes when they went to class (like they were in highschool) which is why they fit in at a pw.
I was educated in a predominently black public school system, but decided to attend a pw university. To me, it wasn't a huge decision b/c I know my people and I had grown up with my people. I think we should seek to be educated in an environment that more closely resembles the world in which we will have to work in (which isn't predominently black). However, I definitely believe that there is a need for an HBCU education. I will say that NOT attending an HBCU led me to need to supplement my lack of daily exposure to my own people, by hanging out at HBCUs. Of course, the black students at pw institutions tend to stick together, but there is less of a support system for our interests and culture. In terms of level of difficulty and educational value, we can't generalize b/c there are many HBCUs that have credentials that far surpass those of pw institutions.

[DST Love]

Originally posted by ChaosDST



I think we should seek to be educated in an environment that more closely resembles the world in which we will have to work in (which isn't predominently black).

I never understood why people say this. People are still individuals. No matter how many whites, blacks, asians, etc. you surround yourself with, you still have to get along and interact with people on an individual basis. I don't think going to a non-HBCU prepares you any better to deal with other races than going to school with your own. I'm not saying that you(ChaosDST) mean this, but when people make the statement that you made, it makes me think that they believe all Black people are alike, think alike, and act alike. Even at an HBCU, you still have to learn how to deal with a lot of different personalities. And isn't that what best equips one to deal with different people? To be able to accept and deal with the many different personalities of others.

Besides, although we are the majority at HBCUs and despite what others may think, we do have teachers and students of different races and from different countries.

I personally wouldn't trade anything for learning amongst my own.

(Side note: You are right about the fashion thing though. It did get old seeing everyone going half-naked when the sun would come out or walking around campus like it was a catwalk. But, it's up to each individual on whether they fall prey to the "fashion show". I didn't get into that. I liked to look a little classier than most (blouse/nice sweater with slacks). However, if I felt like it, I might wear a summer dress or jeans/shorts and a T-shirt. But whatever I wore on any given day, it was because I wanted to wear it and not to compete with or be like anyone else.)

[DST Love]

Originally posted by ChaosDST

I think we should seek to be educated in an environment that more closely resembles the world in which we will have to work in (which isn't predominently black).

So because it won't adequately prepare them for the "real world, should Black people not live in an all Black neighborhood? Should Black people not attend an all Black church?

I think that is where "we" get in trouble. We start to believe that being around our "own" is somehow wrong or harmful. Well I love living in a predominantly Black neighborhood and I love attending a predominantly Black church.

I graduated from an HBCU and have been working for a couple of years. I doubt that I am any less capable of dealing with "others" as far as work is concerned as someone who attended a non-HBCU. I have a friend who went to a non-HBCU and she can barely keep a job because she doesn't know how to work with people who think differently than she. So she ends up arguing with any and everyone.

[ChaosDST]

Originally posted by DST Love


I never understood why people say this. People are still individuals. No matter how many whites, blacks, asians, etc. you surround yourself with, you still have to get along and interact with people on an individual basis. I don't think going to a non-HBCU prepares you any better to deal with other races than going to school with your own. I'm not saying that you(ChaosDST) mean this, but when people make the statement that you made, it makes me think that they believe all Black people are alike, think alike, and act alike. Even at an HBCU, you still have to learn how to deal with a lot of different personalities. And isn't that what best equips one to deal with different people? To be able to accept and deal with the many different personalities of others.

Besides, although we are the majority at HBCUs and despite what others may think, we do have teachers and students of different races and from different countries.

I personally wouldn't trade anything for learning amongst my own.

(Side note: You are right about the fashion thing though. It did get old seeing everyone going half-naked when the sun would come out or walking around campus like it was a catwalk. But, it's up to each individual on whether they fall prey to the "fashion show". I didn't get into that. I liked to look a little classier than most (blouse/nice sweater with slacks). However, if I felt like it, I might wear a summer dress or jeans/shorts and a T-shirt. But whatever I wore on any given day, it was because I wanted to wear it and not to compete with or be like anyone else.)

Good point, but I think you realize that wasn't the meaning behind my comment. While we all are individuals, there are certain inherent traits and characteristics that people of similar ethnic backgrounds share (another topic). So, we should be equipt to deal with people of various backgrounds and cultures. This goes for white students that attend predominently white schools all of their lives, as well. It is usually the case that people only begin to "understand" other cultures when they are "forced" to interact with other cultures and so forth. If you remain in your niche, you usually have no need or desire to learn anything other than that what you are accustomed to and have been exposed to. That's my point.

[DST Love]

Originally posted by ChaosDST



Good point, but I think you realize that wasn't the meaning behind my comment. While we all are individuals, there are certain inherent traits and characteristics that people of similar ethnic backgrounds share (another topic). So, we should be equipt to deal with people of various backgrounds and cultures. This goes for white students that attend predominently white schools all of their lives, as well. It is usually the case that people only begin to "understand" other cultures when they are "forced" to interact with other cultures and so forth. If you remain in your niche, you usually have no need or desire to learn anything other than that what you are accustomed to and have been exposed to. That's my point.

I definitely agree with you as far as people needing to interact with other races. However, just because you attend a non-HBCU doesn't mean you will necessarily have the opportunity to work with a nice amount of Chinese, Indian, French, Kenyan, and all the many other types of people. Going to a non-HBCU might mean only being around a handful of Black people with an overwhelming amount of white people. So one still may not encounter people outside of Blacks & whites at non-HBCU.

My point about HBCUs, all Black churches and all Black neighborhoods is that they are all just a few hours out of each day. Just a fraction of your life. You still will encounter "others" in the rest of your daily activities (except white people, who can choose to only see other whites at their jobs, neighborhoods, etc. ). I know that I still interacted with a lot of different "races" once I would leave campus for the day.

And as I stated, there are a lot of different nationalities at HBCUs, it's just reverse of predominantly white schools. Instead of mostly whites with a few of everything else, at HBCUs, it's mostly Blacks with a few of everything else.

[ChaosDST]

Originally posted by DST Love


I definitely agree with you as far as people needing to interact with other races. However, just because you attend a non-HBCU doesn't mean you will necessarily have the opportunity to work with a nice amount of Chinese, Indian, French, Kenyan, and all the many other types of people. Going to a non-HBCU might mean only being around a handful of Black people with an overwhelming amount of white people. So one still may not encounter people outside of Blacks & whites at non-HBCU.

My point about HBCUs, all Black churches and all Black neighborhoods is that they are all just a few hours out of each day. Just a fraction of your life. You still will encounter "others" in the rest of your daily activities (except white people, who can choose to only see other whites at their jobs, neighborhoods, etc. ). I know that I still interacted with a lot of different "races" once I would leave campus for the day.

And as I stated, there are a lot of different nationalities at HBCUs, it's just reverse of predominantly white schools. Instead of mostly whites with a few of everything else, at HBCUs, it's mostly Blacks with a few of everything else.

Soror, you and I are on two different pages and having two separate discussions.

[DST Love]

Originally posted by ChaosDST



Soror, you and I are on two different pages and having two separate discussions.

Well I thought I was reading and responding to your posts correctly. But I guess we're just misunderstanding the point the other is expressing. That happens !! Sometimes people just need to read/hear something in a different way to understand. So maybe someone else will be able to expound on your post and it will click for me !!

[ChaosDST]

Originally posted by DST Love


Well I thought I was reading and responding to your posts correctly. But I guess we're just misunderstanding the point the other is expressing. That happens !! Sometimes people just need to read/hear something in a different way to understand. So maybe someone else will be able to expound on your post and it will click for me !!

You're taking my posts too literally. I am a proponent for a good education AND a proponent for HBCUs. I also believe that people should go outside of their racial comfort zone and outside of their niche. Some choose to do so by attending multicultural churches, etc. Others may decide to go to a university where the MAJORITY is not from their ethnic, cultural, or religious background. Of course predominently black and white institutions have students of various ethnic backgrounds...but they're called "predominently" because the overwhelming majority of the students are of the same race. But, yes, you are taking my comments to another level and it appears we're having two different discussions.

[ChaosDST]

Originally posted by FuturePhD


I transferred from an HBCU (Xavier University of Louisiana) to a PWU (University of TN) after my sophomore year, and sometimes the differences are overwhelming, I went from a predominantly black school with maybe 5000 undergraduates in the middle of New Orleans (with no football team) to a predominantly white school in Knoxville TN, 35,000+ undergrads where the football players are treated like celebrities. There was so much that I had to get used to. On an HBCU campus, we didn't do a lot of "fight the power, we're being discriminated against" because we were all black, but once I got here, every week "we" seemed to congregate/have a meeting because somebody offended us or didn't accept us, or something. You have to get used to the politics, and since I'm from TN, I'm used to being blatantly discriminated against by professors and students..but that was something that I wasn't used to at Xavier. Xavier had tremendous spirit (even with no football team), and we stuck together, we came in as a class in hopes of all leaving together as a class. I miss that "family spirit", one smarter guy at Xavier used to take his own time to hold review sessions for like 50-100 people before a test, even got a room on campus, you don't see people doing things like that here. And the black people here, surprisingly, aren't as friendly or close-knit. (I too thought that because there were fewer of us, we would be closer, but no...) I'm used to smiling at people, saying good morning, but that doesn't happen very often, people looked at me like I was crazy for the first few months I was here.
Now on the plus side, Univ of TN is going to prepare me better for graduate school. I'm a Chemistry Major and we have professors who are top in their field, equipment that I wouldn't have had the chance to work with at Xavier, and research opportunties that I wouldn't have had at Xavier. This may also be because Xavier is a smaller school with not as many alumni, therefore not as many donations, and Xavier is a private school whereas UT is public. Because I am a minority, I do get special priviledges, minority scholarships, workshops, etc. Well, I think you guys get the picture, remember that these are the comparisons of two specific schools, and certainly don't speak for all HBCU's and PWU's, if I had went to Howard, I'm sure my experiences as far as research would have been different. While I appreciate UT, my heart will always be with Xavier, I'm applying to every HBCU with a grad program in Chemistry (only 3), and when I get my Ph.D. I plan on teaching at an HBCU.

Good point, at an HBCU, there is no real need to have "fight the power" rallies...unless there is an issue with the administration (usually not race related). Only the minority needs to "fight the power." So, the non-Black students may have "fight the power" rallies, who knows
Personally, I think that "fight the power" rallies are good for black people in that they remind us to not be complacent.
I see the differences you cited, as you stated, you went from a small school to a hugemongous (don't take my word!) school. That's a big difference...because even a small HBCU and a large HBCU will have some differences. I am interested to see if anyone made a transfer, but to a school of a similar size.

[DST Love]

Originally posted by ChaosDST

I think we should seek to be educated in an environment that more closely resembles the world in which we will have to work in (which isn't predominently black).

My posts initially pertained to only the above statement. If I am understanding and reading this statement correctly, then it states that we should choose an institution of education that does not consist of mostly Blacks (an HBCU) because it is not reflective of the world. My posts were initially stating how I do not believe that there is a disadvantage by not attending a predominantly white school (HBCU) nor is there an advantage from attending a predominately white school.

But outside of choosing an education, job, church, neighborhood, or something else that is just a small portion of your day/life, I definitely agree with the statement you made about people needing to go outside of their racial comfort zone and outside of their niche at some point in their lives. That could not be anymore true.

But again my post were only directed to your comments about needing to be "EDUCATED in an environment that more closely resembles the world in which we will have to work in (which isn't predominently black)."

[DST Love]

Originally posted by ChaosDST

I think we should seek to be educated in an environment that more closely resembles the world in which we will have to work in (which isn't predominently black).

My posts initially pertained to only the above statement. If I am understanding and reading this statement correctly, then it states that we should choose an institution of education that does not consist of mostly Blacks (an HBCU) because it is not reflective of the world. My posts were initially stating how I do not believe that there is a disadvantage by not attending a predominantly white school (HBCU) nor is there necessarily an advantage from attending a predominately white school.

But outside of choosing an education, job, church, neighborhood, or something else that is just a small portion of your day/life, I definitely agree with the statement you made about people needing to go outside of their racial comfort zone and outside of their niche at some point in their lives. That could not be anymore true. People should not just stay in their little boxes forever. You learn more and grow more from being in different surroundings and being around people who think, live, act, feel and believe differently than yourself at some point.

But again my post were only directed to your comments about needing to be "EDUCATED in an environment that more closely resembles the world in which we will have to work in (which isn't predominently black)."

Soror, I do appreciate the conversation and your viewpoint !!

[ChaosDST]

Originally posted by OneOneTwo


Me too, and like AKATUDE said, there are some of us who get scholarships to "White" universities and chose to go to HBCU's.

In my case, I wanted to be around intelligent students and professors who looked like me; who can relate to what I'm saying when it comes to issues like racism and other issues like that.

At the HBCU that I attend, you see the diversity that is within our culture and you are exposed to alot of different things that are part of our culture. Some students get up here and they don't realize or didn't know that not all African Americans believe or do the same things that you did when you were at home. And things are more in the open, but I think that in learning to appreciate all things in ourselves, we learn to deal with people who are different than us.

I want to say that at least 1 out of 15 (I think it is either twelve or fifteen but enough) students at my HBCU is of Non-African American decent so it is interesting to watch them adapt to our culture and for some of them, their "new" surroundings.

112-OneOneTwo

...and that is why we should attend HBCUs (the reasons you addressed)...not because they're perceived as less challenging and more fun (as some believe). At predominently white institutions, you also have the ability to be around intelligent students that look like yourself (although there are far less) and it is also interesting to watch one another "adapt" to our "new" surroundings. A good education is the goal, and wherever you choose to pursue that education is up to you. As long as we remember our roots, struggles, and fight for our people we will be able to adapt to our settings without forgetting or denying our innermost selves.