Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher learning established before 1964 and are intended to provide quality education to members of the black community. For those who plan to apply to HBCUs, below is a list of five of the best HBCUs, along with the admission requirements for each institution.
Spelman College
Spelman College is a liberal arts women’s college founded in 1881, and it was the very first historically black college for women to receive its collegiate charter. Spelman promotes academic excellence, environment development, and leadership values among its students. Included in the list of Spelman alumni is Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Alice Walker.
Application requirements: Common Application, two letters of recommendation, personal essay, transcripts, and SAT or ACT scores.
Howard University
Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, co-ed historically black institution that caters to men and women of all races. Included in the list of Howard University’s notable alumni are Nobel Prize for literature winner Toni Morrison, and Hon. Thurgood Marshall, the very first African-American to become US Supreme Court justice.
Application requirements: Application form, SAT and/or ACT scores, transcripts, recommendation letters, and admission essays.
Morehouse College
Morehouse College is a private, all-male college established in 1867 that specializes in liberal arts education. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, Morehouse instills spiritual and humanistic values among its students, and has an alumni roster that includes Shelton “Spike” Lee and Martin Luther King Jr.
Application requirements: Application form, SAT and/or ACT scores, recommendation letters, transcripts, admission essays.
Hampton University
Founded in 1868, Hampton University is a private, non-sectarian, and co-educational institution located in Hampton, Virginia that caters to students of all races. Hampton is known for its liberal arts curriculum and technical education, and offers professional and post-graduate programs as well.
Admission requirements: Applicants need to fill up the application forms which are downloadable from the school’s website, and contain a checklist of other required documents and records.
Fisk University
Fisk University is a private, historically black university founded in 1867 and is known for its slogan, “Success in D.E.T.A.I.L.S. (Diversity, Excellence, Teamwork, Accountability, Integrity, Leadership, and Service).” Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Fink University was the first HBCU to get a Phi Beta Kappa charter.
Application requirements: Common Application, SAT and/or ACT scores, school report form, teacher report form, and a 500-word admission essay.
Most HBCUs will require applicants to submit admission essays. To guide you in writing one, you can check out free college admission essays which can be found on the Internet.
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There are a lot of women’s colleges in the US that offer quality education to those who wish to excel in their undergraduate studies. To help you explore your options better, below is a list of the top five women’s colleges in the US, along with each school’s admission requirements.
Wellesley College
Established in 1875, Wellesley College is one of the oldest and most well-known women’s colleges in the US. Wellesley is known for being one of the first colleges to offer a computer science major and for producing highly educated women like journalist Diane Sawyer and Madeleine Albright, the very first woman to become US Secretary of State. Wellesley College offers one of the best liberal arts programs in the US, and promotes intellectual excellence and cultural understanding in their programs.
Application requirements: Common Application form (which can be filled up online) and the Wellesley College Supplement. Applicants may also request a checklist from the admissions office or download it from the Wellesley website.
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College was established in 1885 and is recognized today for its liberal arts and sciences curriculum. The college aims to instill in their students freedom of conscience and a commitment to making global contributions by aiding in their intellectual development. Bryn Mawr currently offers 36 majors and 38 minor courses, and the college provides students the option of cross-applying to Swarthmore, University of Pennsylvania, and Haverford College.
Application Requirements: Common Application and the school’s supplement, TOEFL, SAT and ACT results, personal statement, two teacher evaluations, school report, as well as mid-year and final reports.
Barnard College
Founded in 1889, Barnard College is affiliated with Columbia University but maintains an independent campus in Manhattan, New York. Barnard is known for its liberal arts curriculum and highly selective admissions process. For this reason and more, Barnard College remains as one of the most prestigious women’s colleges in the US. The college’s alumni include renowned anthropologist Margaret Mead and Jeane Kirkpatrick, the first female US Ambassador to the United Nations.
Application requirements: Common Application and Barnard Supplement, both of which can be downloaded from the school’s website. Applicants will also be required to submit official transcripts and two teacher recommendations.
Mount Holyoke
Mount Holyoke College is a liberal arts women’s college founded in 1893, and is located in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Holyoke is known for their highly competitive admissions process, and offers 49 major courses, as well as a dual-degree engineering program. Mount Holyoke College aims to prepare women for the challenges of globalization through cultural education.
Application requirements: Common Application (which can be submitted online or in hard copy) and the Mount Holyoke Supplement which lists down the other required forms, essays, and records.
Smith College
Founded in 1875, Smith College is a private liberal arts college for women located in Northampton, Massachusetts. Smith College aims for academic excellence and global readiness, and fosters leadership among the students. Notable Smith alumni include Nancy Reagan and feminist-activist lawyer Catharine MacKinnon.
Smith College applicants need to fill up the Common Application and supplement, and submit teacher recommendations, SAT and ACT scores, essays, and reports.
Note: It’s recommended for applicants to women’s colleges to check out free college admission essays to serve as their guide in writing college admission essays.
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The beauty of ___ University’s environment lies in its diversity. With its eclectic mix of students, the university brings together unique experiences and personalities. This creates a lively milieu for learning that far exceeds its academic scope. I, myself, have a unique diverse past, which I hope will add a fresh perspective to the university. I am looking forward to learning more about life through my college education.
I grew up in the Philippines. Even though my father is Korean and I was born in Korea, his business took us all over Asia. Finally, we ended up in Manila when the city’s opportunities beckoned. We set up shop and it was at this time that I witnessed my family struggle to establish themselves in a totally foreign land. It was my father’s self-sufficiency and ambition that pulled us through this hard time, and from him I learned a lot.
I went to a private high school for international students. Likewise, I also attended English language class with a local tutor. My days were filled with immense learning. I was learning from my peers in school. Their varied backgrounds made me resilient and more open to cultural differences and a myriad of ideas. To me, possibilities became limitless. At the same time, my local tutor was teaching me how to speak better English. She was also imparting tidbits about her country to me. My stay in the Philippines was amazing to me because the country is a true melting pot of cultures, and offered a striking clash between the first world and the developing world. There were many poverty-ravished areas in the country, while certain locales enjoy amenities and lifestyles similar to those living in the first world.
These extremes made me realize how we, as individuals, need to make a difference. The opportunities available to us should not be taken for granted. As global citizens, we have the responsibility to learn as much as we can, and be the best in what we do. We should always meet each trial with confidence and strength. We should not be afraid to take risks.
I proved this even more to myself when I went to America and began studying at a community college. I was on my own but I saw to it that I excelled in what I did. I got good grades, became the president of the Korean Student Club and played with the soccer team. Through my extracurricular activities, I was able to create a network of friends and allies. These friends helped me assimilate into the Western milieu faster.
Apart from confidence and fearlessness in the face of risks, maturity has helped me a lot in dealing with my life’s circumstances. I quickly adapt to changes and diversity – these are realities in life. Likewise, I have become more committed to my personal goals. I am aware of how much work this takes but I am prepared to work three times as hard if I have to.
I know that, as I strive to further my college education, I will learn more from my peers, and hopefully impart some important insights too.
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Essay 11:
Even at a young age, I knew well enough that life is an adventure. Each step should be lived, and each person and experience that crosses our paths should be accepted with openness. It is through this that we learn and become better people.
I’ve always believed that one can never be too young to make a mark in people’s lives. Everything we do matter to one or more people, and to us. We should make the most of what we have and not take anything for granted. Life is to be lived; it is not to be waited on and wasted.
Growing up in a stable middle class family, I have many opportunities come my way. I know I am lucky and I feel that it is only right that I repay my parents by excelling and being the best student and daughter that I can be. I will graduate with a 4.0 GPA in high school. Also, I will end my year as one of the school’s student leaders (class president) and lead debater in our school’s debate team, the only batch in our school to compete in national competitions. I have worked so hard to achieve these and I am proud to have seen my simple dreams come to fruition.
Being class president has thought me a lot. It has allowed me to be involved in several projects and to work with several people. It is amazing how much diversity in culture and ideas are with us now. I think this is a good thing. Lives can be enriched by our differences as long as we learn to work together for a common cause and for the general good. As class president, I’ve had to be at the center of it all. I am the person most classmates turn to for guidance, decisions and inspiration. I have had to work to keep my friends motivated. This has thought me immense strength in character. And I have learned to always look forward to life’s challenges.
As a debater for our debate team, I have learned the importance of research, logic and analyses. We always have to get the facts straight, and be aware of possible arguments our competitors might present. Being in the team has also given me a healthy sense of competition. Sometimes, it is not always in winning a contest where we find victory; it is also in being able to do our best and come together as a team.
Outside school, I also involve myself in charity organizations and volunteer work. I help in food drives for the local Salvation Army, as well as several fundraising initiatives for our town’s homeless shelter. This has been an important factor in keeping myself grounded. I am keenly aware of my privilege and I want to be able to give back however way I can.
With all this activities I am involved in, I know what I want to achieve out of my life. I want to make a difference. I want to help people. I have a strong inclination to enter the health care industry or study medicine. I think becoming a health care practitioner is a solid way to go out there, help and make a difference.
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Question: “Describe the unique characteristics of ___ University that most interest you. Why do these interests make you a good match for this school?”
When considering the ___ University, I am struck the most by its wealth of resources and its diverse student body. I am impressed by the prestigious faculty that before, I only read of in scientific journals and papers. It is humbling to have the opportunity to be mentored by these great minds. I also admire the university’s commitment in maintaining a diverse student population. I think that this invigorates the learning environment. Each student brings with him or her different experiences and perspective, and limitless ideas.
I am a woman of Asian descent, who grew up with in the United Arab Emirates. While in the Middle East, I studied in a private high school for international students. There I was exposed to a variety of cultures. My everyday surroundings have ingrained some shyness in me, with the Middle East being a conservative locale. I think the intimate class setting in the university, as well as a variety of extracurricular social clubs, will help me overcome this and become comfortable with American life. At the same time, this will also provide me a new venue to expand my horizon and interests.
The ___ University is known globally as a prestigious institution of learning. It has stood for excellence and progressive thought. And it would be a privilege to study here, especially for students like me, whose careers may take them anywhere. A degree with your institution is sure to open doors of opportunities for me, regardless of where I am.
At the same time, I believe I can be a good addition to your student population. My exposure to different cultures has taught me a lot about the value and intrinsic goodness of diversity. Through the changing environments that I experienced, as well as changing circumstances, I am still able to excel and be a good academic. I am able to push through with my goals and aspirations.
I believe that being in your university will help me flourish as a person, especially in my chosen field. I am sure that I will be able to expand my knowledge base, given that I will be mentored by intellectual luminaries. Likewise, my exposure to further cultural diversity, in a lively academic milieu within your university, will enable me to develop intellectually and personally.
I am hopeful that you will provide me with a positive response. I only seek to improve myself by finding a better venue for learning than what I currently have now in the Middle East. My family is intrepid about my resolution to apply for further studies abroad. But I feel that this is the only way gain access to the amount of learning and development possibilities that I have long sought.
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