As a student of Florida A&M University, a historically black university, it is constantly brought to my attention that there are many people who think a degree from a HBCU is less valuable than a degree from any other university.
Many people believe that HBCUs do not prepare its students for the real world.
These individuals are not suffering from pure ignorance, but from a lack of knowledge.
It is about what is taught at the university, not the color of the faces seen around campus.
There have been numerous times when I have walked pass a person who was not black wearing a FAMU College of Pharmacy bag. Those students came to FAMU to earn an education from one of the nation’s top pharmacy programs.
According to http://pharmacy.famu.edu, over 97 percent of graduates from the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences pass the National Pharmacy Licensure Examination their first time, and score above the state and national averages.
HBCUs are not inferior to any other university.
It is the knowledge retrieved from the university that prepares students for the workforce. If students do not prepare for the workforce by not taking the initiative to grow and learn it is their fault. The university is not to blame.
Every student is different and not everyone yearns for the HBCU experience.
Attending an HBCU gives black students more than academics, but a completely different outlook on society; it gives them the opportunity to appreciate students who carry the same ambitions as themselves, as well as gain more knowledge about the their heritage.
The sight of a college campus full of black students who are eager and ready to learn is a source of motivation.
It is exhilarating to be surrounded by so many students like yourself that have the desire to become successful.
Although students attend college to advance in academics it is exceedingly important that they graduate into the real world with a higher learning of life.
A degree from a HBCU says more than, “I received an education at a predominantly black institution.” It represents an experience of a lifetime.
So to address that question: “Is a degree from a HBCU less valuable than a degree from any other university?” No it is not.
A degree from a historically black institute is equivalent to a degree from any other university. Students not only gain knowledge, but also character.
More importantly, attending an HBCU opens the eyes of its students to see the world from a completely different angle.
Brittany McCrary is a sophomore magazine production student from Kansas City, Mo. She can be reached at famuanopinions@hotmail.com