When you make the decision to go to an HBCU it can be a major culture shock. If you come from a high school that is predominantly white, being at an HBCU can be a big difference. From the classroom to your social life being at an HBCU can be a huge adjustment.
Personally speaking, attending a high school that was extremely diverse and transferring into an HBCU was different. One thing people love about their school is its diversity and how they could find someone at their school from anywhere in the world. In diverse high school, having friends from different countries is the norm. At first, a person may not know how to feel about coming to a historically black college being that they come from such a diverse school. Nevertheless, when you get to an HBCU you will realized it’s the perfect the perfect place. You get a sense of comfort being at an HBCU being that most people look just like you.
Through research, interviews were conducted to get the perspective of not only Hampton University, but other HBCU students on how adjusting to an HBCU was for them. When asked how she felt adjusting to an HBCU Katie Gates that attends Hampton University responded, “For me it was kind of hard being that I went to predominately white schools my whole life and coming here it was a major culture shock. And I think it was a good thing for me because through this school I have come to love my people.” For Katie it was hard, but for others it made them feel great.
Kiara Leath who attends Lincoln University said, “I feel that it was not a hard adjustment school wise, however, I think school now is easier than it was at Elizabeth Seton High School honestly speaking. But being at a HBCU for me specifically made me feel like I was at home right from the jump. I feel like they want to see me do well and I feel like I realized my true potential being at an HBCU because I didn’t really have that in high school. Being at an HBCU I feel like helps one get out of your comfort zone. Overall, it’s nothing better than seeing people that look just like you doing great things and rooting you on and supporting you at the same time. I feel like that was an adjustment for me because at Seton personally I did not have any of that.”
On the other hand, for some students attending an HBCU was normal for them being that their high school was predominantly African American. When asked the same question as the other ladies, Riley Holbert that attends Hampton University responded “Adjusting to an HBCU was easy because I was always with a lot of black people in life and in school.” This goes to show adjusting to an HBCU is different for everyone especially if you grow up in different backgrounds.
Because adjusting to an HBCU can be difficult for some people there are ways to make you transition a little easier. First, join some clubs that are similar to ones you were an apart of in high school. In college, there are several clubs and finding one that you are already used to will make you feel better. Also, find some people to become friends with from your home state. You find that being at an HBCU there are tons of people from every region. Having that piece of home will make you feel better. Lastly, get to know some of the foreign students. If diversity is what you’re missing, getting to know these students will make you feel better and give you a sense of diversity.
Although adjusting to an HBCU may seem difficult give it a try. You’re not the only person that felt this way like other things in life, it may take some time to get comfortable with but once you are you will feel great and realize you are exactly where you need to be.