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What's the best thing about attending an HBCU?

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Doloris’s Answer

Personally, my experience was enhanced by being around people similar to me. While the obvious similarity is race, it was amazing to meet other first generation college students and people with similar familial backgrounds. Education wise, I felt like I was truly a part of a community and built lasting personal and professional relationships. It was an awesome feeling not just being a student number but an actual person to our instructors and administration.
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Jaime’s Answer

An HBCU experience is one of a kind. The energy is contagious. You can't help but feel a strong sense of pride every time you step foot on campus. I attended a liberal arts HBCU (Spelman College) and truly enjoyed the smaller class sizes, ability to build close relationships with faculty and staff, and have made lifelong friends with likeminded, goal oriented people. I would not trade my HBCU experience for anything! The person who introduced me to the world of recruiting met me at a career fair at Spelman and was excited to attend that career fair because she attended an HBCU herself. I met her in 2012 and have been recruiting ever since with companies like Facebook and Airbnb. My now fiancé attended Morehouse College and I would have never met him if I had not attended an HBCU. I owe so much to Spelman and am so grateful I had the experience to attend such an amazing, one of a kind institution!

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Jerel’s Answer

Hi Madison – thank you for your question. I can list a plethora of things that made my HBCU experience really great, but I will describe just a few key things. I’ll start by sharing why I chose to attend an HBCU, specifically Claflin University. For my undergraduate educational journey, I was interested in attending a university that would really be invested in my growth and development, offered a competitive curriculum for STEM majors, and provided with an overall challenging academic environment. Claflin University has exceeded my expectations in what I was looking to gain. One thing that really made my experience at Claflin really great was the intimate setting. Although HBCU’s vary in size, most offer small classes and low student to teacher ratios. Because of this, I had developed great confidence in knowing that I was more than just a number. I had a supportive atmosphere and community that supported my growth and development. During my time at Claflin, I was also able to learn more about the Black diaspora, which was a very positive experience for me. Not only was I able to learn about the contributions of Black intellectuals in the United States, Caribbean, Europe, and African, but I was able to develop a global perspective by analyzing how groups are interconnected. Overall, I had a very position experience attending an HBCU and I will forever be grateful for the experience.
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Taylor’s Answer

The best thing about attending an HBCU is being able to choose your friends. Before attending an HBCU, I went to schools that did not include a lot of people that looked like me. In most cases all of us would form friendship groups due to trying to find a safe space to be ourselves. It wasn't until I attended an HBCU that I realized that I may not have chosen those people to be friends if I would have more options. HBCUs give you the opportunity to meet many different kinds of people that may come from similar or different backgrounds.

It really wasn't until after I graduated that I was able to recognize how much attending an HBCU shaped me. I'm proud of my blackness and it also gave me the strength to step in any situation and shine.

There is so much pride that HBCU alumni have and you can feel it anytime you interact with them. The support and education is unmatched.
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Montressa’s Answer

Being around people that love you for you. They are trying to be great just as you are. I really think the best thing about attending and HBCU was my first chicken Wednesday. You would think the entire campus missed class, we didn't you just build your schedule around it. Also the smaller class sizes were perfect where and the professor could give attention and assist you when needed.
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Laura’s Answer

The best thing is the culture! Being around people that look like you, and just different experience from good to bad are life changing. You also build a great bond with students, teachers, and the community as a whole. HBCU really make you face life and learn life out side your family. Well it did for me lolol. But, i learned my self and what I wanted out of life! So the experience is what you make it!
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Antuane’s Answer

This is a pretty general question , with a variety of "right" answers. In my experience it was the full sense of community. In high school, I was viewed as a representative of my community, people, etc., because there weren't a lot of minorities there. So everything was magnified. At Cheyney University, we were all representatives of ourselves and we supported each other in that way. We all challenged each other to be our best and it's spurred lifelong friendships. It's why we go back to homecoming every year and attend alumni meetings in the various cities in which we live.

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Shanda’s Answer

The community that is created among people of color is sometimes indescribable. It is certainly a place where you feel a sense of belonging. After I graduated from Grambling State University and entering corporate America, I felt like I didn't belong and that should've attended a predominantly white school. Now, 17 yrs later, I know I made the best decision to attend a HBCU especially with all the focus on righting wrongs around racial equality. And career wise, I get to now help college students that look like me enter corporate America successfully.
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Chloe’s Answer

The HBCU journey was simply amazing for me! The vibrant Greek life and the rich culture offered so much inspiration. I wouldn't trade my experience for anything, as it played a crucial role in shaping the person I am today.
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Elizabeth’s Answer

The HBCU experience was amazing for me! Personally for me, it was a culture shock. I went to predominately white schools from pre-k to high school. I wanted to experience being in a classroom with the majority students who looked like me, but at the same time had different experiences from me who I could learn from. I have made life-long friends, and a great network of like-minded individuals.
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S’s Answer

Here's an uplifting version of your text:

Choosing to attend an HBCU comes with a wealth of benefits:
- Exceptional academic programs, particularly in the STEM disciplines.
- Professors and faculty who genuinely care and are committed to helping students thrive.
- Courses and extracurricular activities that celebrate and delve into Black culture and history.
- An environment that promotes inclusivity and empowerment, celebrating diversity in all its forms.
- The opportunity to carry on the proud tradition of HBCU graduates who have left indelible marks on society.
- A lively campus life and a robust alumni network that provide unparalleled networking opportunities.
- The chance to meet and interact with a diverse range of people of color from various backgrounds.

College was a time where I made lifelong friends and had an incredible experience!
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Samuel’s Answer

There is nothing like an HBCU. What I have loved the most is that you are a part of two large families that are always with you no matter where you go. First, you join your HBCU's family. So whether you go to Grambling, Spelman, Jackson St., Howard, etc., you immediately join a family that is larger than you can ever imagine. But secondly, you join the HBCU family! While we may tease each other during rivalry week or in general, we still have lots of love for all of our HBCU's and hold them near and dear to our hearts. A lot of us make lifelong friends (my best friends for life are my roomate and former teammate), and most of the time we find the love of our lives there as well (I know I did). Yes there are challenges, yes there are things that they can improve on, but those experiences are also what makes the overall experience worth it. So to answer your question, what is the best thing about HBCU's? EVERYTHING!!!!
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