The debate about HBCUs vs PWIs is tired and lame. We are all black college students doing something that most don't have the opportunity to do, which is get a college education. But Aliyah and I wanted to chime in on this subject and share our experiences. Aliyah a sophomore at VCU and me a sophomore at Hampton University. We give you........OUR CONFESSIONS!!!
Aliyah:
1. I originally wanted to go to a historically black college/university. Howard University was high on my radar, but Spelman was my top choice. My mother’s side of the family all live in Atlanta, so when I visited them in the summer of 2016, I toured Spelman College, and I absolutely loved it. I was sold, I was going to be driving into 305 Spelman Lane in Fall 2017. Partaking in all the tradition, history, and being on a campus with all black women was something I was SO looking forward to. But, lots of things happen and I ended up at VCU.
Tiana:
2. I originally wanted to go to a PWI, however as you can see I quickly changed my mind. My dream school was the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. On my tour there, I was so excited and ready to become a college student. The campus was huge and everything that I thought it would be visually, but atmospherically it wasn’t. I could count on one hand the number of black students I saw on campus. I couldn’t believe it. I felt out of place and like there wouldn’t be many people I could relate to. Now to be fair I did go on spring break, so obviously everyone isn’t going to be on campus, but it didn’t matter to me. I realized then that I didn't want to go to a university where I would be the minority and underrepresented. I wanted to be the majority.
Aliyah:
3. There ARE huge black communities at my PWI. From the Black Student Union, NPHC greek life, and African Student Unions, you’ll definitely find diversity within a PWI.
Tiana:
4. Sooooooooo, I am definitely not going to lie to you. At my HBCU there is a handful (literally I think less than 20) white students on our campus. You won't find diversity at one. There will be black, black, black, a little bit of white, and more black. Diversity is definitely not a word used to describe an HBCU. Some words that can describe an HBCU is Excellence, Uplifting, History, and Family-oriented.
Aliyah:
5. I chose my PWI due to sports. I never really settled on choosing whether or not I wanted to run track in college, but it chose me. When I finally settled on VCU, my mom said to me “It may not be where you want to be, but it’s where you need to be”. I’m still trying to really believe that statement, but the more I excel and good things happen it starts to get easier to actually realize.
Tiana:
6. In my process of choosing schools, crossing out all PWIs was step one. Step 2 was finding the best of the best historically black college/university. Now we all know the top 3 HBCUs are Spelman, Howard, and Hampton. The decision from those 3 choices was so easy. Me at an all girls school was jokes, and me in the city was also jokes, so Hampton it was. Now don’t get me wrong, I didn’t just decide Hampton. I toured there and fell completely in love with it. I love the history there. The staff I made contact with made me feel like I was family and not just a number. I loved seeing so many young black students walking around campus. And what really sold me was my school, Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications (SHOUTOUT TO MY SCRIPPAS). I loved the school to its entirety. There was no other school for me.
Aliyah:
7. With the amount of funding we receive being a public PWI, our facilities, dorms, and resources at a PWI are amazing. My first year dorm was apartment style, and from the looks of my other friends dorms (even my friends who go to PWI’s), mine was one hundred times better. We have lots of freedom, there really aren’t many rules we have when it comes to visitation in the dorm room (which can be good and bad).
Tiana:
8. Unlike PWI’s, HBCUs aren’t as lucky when it comes to funding. The dorms aren’t state of the art, and the buildings are old. It’s in the name, HISTORICally black college/university. My HBCU is private, so tuition is a b*#$@ because we don’t get government funding. The school is paid for by our high priced tuition and basically alumni donations. There are a lot of rules at an HBCU. You not about to have girls and guys walking up in your dorm at all hours of the night; there are visitation rules. Smoking. Drinking. Selling. Issa no. Those things do not fly at an HBCU. They will take your money and kick you out with no hesitation. If you don’t like it and can’t follow those rules, choose a PWI.
Aliyah:
9. My PWI is probably the most diverse and inclusive school I’ve been to. At VCU, there’s something and someone for everyone.
Tiana:
10. Like I said before, when at an HBCU you aren’t going to have diversity like you would at a PWI. However, we do have diversity within our university. For examples, we’re all black, but we have black people from all different regions, countries, continents. We even have a Caribbean week. We embrace all of our black students and where we come from.
Aliyah:
11. Homecoming sucks. My older friends, who rant and rave about their HBCU homecomings had me ready to partake in my schools homecoming...HA! Boy was I in for the total opposite. There aren’t many festivities throughout the week like an HBCU, you’d think it was a regular school week if you didn’t go to the University.
Tiana:
12. Homecoming is one of the most exciting times of the year. I don’t know what they do at pwi’s, but at MY hbcu, homecoming is no joke. The hashtag #hydrateforhoco is real. We drink water for weeks before homecoming to prepare our livers for the shenanigans. We go to class all semester so that we can afford to skip class the entire week of homecoming. The parties, concerts, bonfires, caberetts, fashion shows, step shows, and tailgates are unforgettable. Homecoming is the time to be alive at an HBCU.
Aliyah:
13. Black professors (who don’t teach African American Studies) are limited. Although, I am only going into my fourth semester, I have only had one black professor so far. In a time when you want to build connections with your teachers it is hard to do so when trying to connect to someone who may not be able to relate to your college experience.
Aliyah:
14. Choosing a PWI does NOT make you less black. People choose different schools for different reasons, but feeling like you’re not upholding your ancestors legacy because you’re not at a PWI is crazy.
Tiana:
15. Choosing a HBCU over a PWI doesn’t make you MORE black than those who attend a PWI. The experiences you get from either will be unforgettable, it’s just all in preference. I preferred to be at a university that embraced my blackness and culture. I preferred to be at an institution where Booker T. Washington graduated from, W.E.B. Dubois was a RA, and Rosa Parks was a waitress in the cafe. I preferred to be around a young, intelligent, determined, and supportive black students. I preferred that experience and I do not think less of anyone who chooses differently. It’s all about the experience you want. Who knows, I may just choose a PWI for grad school.
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