Full Description
Named one of the Top 2023 College Admissions Resources by Forbes and featured on NPR as "Book of the Day." "Groundbreaking."—Angel B. Pérez, CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling
Finding the right college is a challenge for all students, but Black families face additional challenges and questions when navigating the admissions process. Veteran admissions experts Timothy L. Fields and Shereem Herndon-Brown demystify this complexity by advising families on when to begin the process, where to apply, and how to be a competitive applicant.
Fields and Herndon-Brown address specific concerns that are not often addressed by school counselors or other resources. They highlight how recent social justice movements and legal cases have amplified the necessity of considering both Historically Black Colleges and Universities and predominantly white institutions, while covering everything from athletic recruitment and artistic talents to financial aid and step-by-step instructions for how to search for colleges and then apply to them.
The second edition includes new chapters on
• prioritizing students' and parents' mental health,
• understanding the influence of artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT on college essay writing,
• reviewing recent Supreme Court decisions about race-conscious admission and their likely impact on Black applicants, and
• navigating the admission process as a transfer applicant.
A list of the best colleges for Black students, a glossary of terms, a list of notable Black college graduates and their alma maters, a suggested reading list, and an FAQ section round out the guide. Having worked on both sides of the desk—as school counselors and as college admissions gatekeepers—Fields and Herndon-Brown are well equipped to give parents, students, and school counselors the information and inspiration to research a variety of schools, understand their choices, and define success on their own terms.
Contents
Foreword
Akil Bello
Preface
Introduction
Part I: Context
1. Affirmative Action Is Dead
2. Black Parents: The Choices We Make Now Matter Later
3. Shift in Power: The Resurgence of HBCU Culture
4. The Power 3 (The Black Ivies)
5. What Is a Liberal Arts Education, and Is It Worth It?
6. What's Best for Your Child? HBCUs versus PWIs
Part II: X Factors
7. What Questions Should You Be Asking in Your Family?
8. Perception versus Reality
9. Why We All Need to Prioritize Mental Health
10. Gender Wars: How Black Males and Black Females Are Assessed in College Admissions
11. Sports, Arts, and Special Talents
12. Show Me the Money
Part III: Process
13. The Power of Essay Writing
14. Expectation for Success Timeline
15. The Process: What Are Colleges Looking For?
Acknowledgments
In Our Opinion
Appendix A.: Best Colleges for Black Students
Appendix B.: Frequently Asked Questions
Appendix C.: Notable Black College Graduates Mentioned in the Book
Suggested Reading
Glossary
Index
