I'm in the process of shortlisting colleges and I'm drawn towards the private HBCUs, specifically in states like Texas and North Carolina. Does anyone have advice or resources on how to evaluate these schools in terms of their academic prestige and campus life?
I'd recommend using CollegeVine's school search tool, which lets you filter based on HBCU status, prestige, state, public/private, and more: https://www.collegevine.com/schools/hub/all. While no HBCUs in TX and NC are considered prestigious according to their algorithm, you can deselect the prestige filter to see all your options and then look at where they fall in terms of overall rankings: https://www.collegevine.com/schools/hub/overall
Johnson C. Smith University would be considered the most prestigious private HBCU in those states.
You can also delve into specific program rankings if you have a major in mind. Seeing how these programs are recognized can offer insight into the school's strengths.
For campus life, I highly recommend connecting with current students or alumni through social media or school-hosted virtual events. They can offer personal insights that you might not get from a brochure. Virtual campus tours can also give you a feel for the environment, and don't hesitate to contact the admissions office to ask about student life.
Best of luck!
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