Education is incredibly important. It is a big factor in potential income and a social determinant for health too. Since, getting into a good college has such a big impact on a person’s life it can be very stressful for high school students to apply. Managing and keeping track of things like essays, transcripts, SAT scores, ACT scores, and deadlines is a lot to handle. This is especially true for Black students. While Black college enrollment has increased it is still lower than white college enrollment. There are 19 colleges and University in DC, but Howard University is the only one that serves as a Mecca for Black students that offers 120 areas of study and has granted over 120,000 degrees.
Admissions at Howard University
Howard University is a very selective school. Only about 35% of students who apply are accepted. It is ranked as number 2 in HBCUs – Historically Black Colleges & Universities – by U.S. News behind Spelman College. It also has many notable Alumni such as the late Chadwick Boseman and current Vice President Kamala Harris. However, this does not mean that they only take GPAs and test scores into account. As part of the holistic admission process, Howard considers an applicant’s secondary school academic record, standardized college entrance exams –SAT or ACT – leadership in school and community activities, unique talents and skills, and educational objectives.
Housing
Howard University has many different resident halls and housing options. Howard’s on campus-housing prioritizes freshmen and sophomores. Drew Hall and Cook Hall are for male students. Harriet Tubman Quadrangle and College Hall North are for female students. College Hall South and Bethune Annex are for students of all genders. Every residence hall has 24/7 desk service, laundry facilities, as well as other amenities.
Activities
Howard University students have plenty of opportunities to be involved on campus. Howard is great and allowing students to connect with each other. Howard has over 200 student organizations. This includes academic organizations, club sports, fraternities, sororities, graduate and professional organizations, honor societies, religious organizations, service organizations, social organizations, state/regional clubs, and student publications. These organizations and clubs often host events where students can meet, socialize, and collaborate with each other.
Courses
Howard has a very wide variety of interesting courses that it offers to its students and the courses are taught knowledgeable and skilled professors. Areas of study at Howard include art, biology, chemistry, economics, engineering, history, journalism, mathematics, political science, psychology, sociology and more. Students at Howard University are rarely put in giant classes with hundreds of students. The student-faculty ratio at Howard University is 13:1, and the school has 46.7% of its classes with fewer than 20 students.” These smaller class sizes are great for allowing students to have a better and more personal learning experience.
Because of everything Howard has to offer, it would be wise for high school students to consider applying. Howard has served as a steppingstone towards success, and it continues to do so today. Incoming freshman can follow in the footsteps of great politicians David Dinkins and Andrew Young, civil rights activists Stokely Carmichael, dancer-actress-director Debbie Allen and the great Thurgood Marshall. Howard University gives its students a great education and a great foundation for their career and future.