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.
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
Timothy L. Fields (ATLANTA, GA) has spent the last twenty-five years in various areas of higher education and is a graduate of Morehouse College. Currently he serves as the senior associate dean of admissions at Emory University. Shereem Herndon-Brown (GERMANTOWN, MD) is the founder and chief education officer of Strategic Admissions Advice, an educational consulting firm specializing in the creation of college counseling curriculum for charter schools and school districts, online essay courses, and personalized college advice coaching.
Reviews for The Black Family's Guide to College Admissions: A Conversation about Education, Parenting, and Race
A much-needed guide with both insight and practical takeaways. It fills a void in the literature about the distinctive hardships and adversities Black students face in the college admission process. There's much wisdom in this book for all parents too; it encourages families to examine both personal values and resources when seeking possibilities in education. —Library Journal (Starred Review)
