Why I Didn't Go to Spelman

Some of the best advice I ever got was from my dentist:

"You don't need nobody to teach how to be black."

Why is that good advice? Because as an educated black person, all my life people have been telling me I could stand to be a little blacker. What in the world? So when my mother suggested that I apply to Spelman, I thought 'humph, maybe I should...maybe whatever it is that I'm lacking might rub off on me'. Okay, I didn't think those exact words, but something similar.

However, I did not apply. Why? Several reasons:

1. Blue Lights

I don't know what they're called at Spelman, but basically there the little buttons you push to call for help when you're on campus. There was a blue light every couple of yards. So I was thinking...'How safe am I going to be here'? Then, I when went to the admissions talk and they warned us about using our common sense when it came to campus safety and said they gave a long speech about it during orientation. I got like a twenty minute convo at my current school. I was not feeling this warning at all. To makes matters worse, the college was basically in the middle of the projects. So...at nine o' clock at night would I feel safe walking around? I don't think so. At my current school, I would be alright walking around until at least 11 or 12 at night. Of course, I didn't end up going to Spelman, so I can't accurately say whether it is or it isn't dangerous at night.

2. No Library on Campus

Why would I go to a school with no library on campus? They were telling me that I could take a shuttle or something to the library. I was like 'hell no'.

3. Ranking

Spelman is an awesome school and it ranks well amongst other HBCUs. However, it was not as high as I would have liked it to have been amongst other schools.

4. A lot of People Don't Know About It

Okay. I thought everybody knew about Spelman. How could you not? Well, they don't. I was in a class with a Puerto Rican, Philippine, and white person and none of them knew about the school. I figured maybe more black people know about this school? I don't know. But I found when I asked around a lot of people didn't know about it, despite its obvious prestige. I thought 'man, I can't go to a school nobody knows about.' And, sure, that's my own vanity, but when I put my school on my application I want people to KNOW what college I'm talking about. I didn't work my ass off to go to a school no one knows about.

5. Lack of Majors

When prospective students were asking questions about majors during the Q&A, the officials kept on saying "we don't have that major, but we have this one or you can take classes at this college (they have some sort of partnership with the surrounding ones)". How are you not going to have a Business major? Please tell me! Then, they only had two foreign language majors: French and Spanish. That's BOOTY. I love my languages.

6. Dorms

Horrible. That's all I have to say...No, I'll say something else. Even though they knew prospective students were coming, the bathrooms were nasty, the walls in the dorm were dingy, and water spots were in the carpet. The room they showed us was a cubby hole. That was not how I imagined my first dorm.

7. Learning To Be Black

So, there was chick who actually said she came to the college because she had went to predominantly white schools her whole life and she wanted to interact with more black people or, rather, learn to interact with them. That's not a good reason to go to a college, as I said before. In the real world, you're going to come in contact with a lot more white professionals; just learn to deal with that now! I personally didn't go to a predominantly white high school or live in a predominantly white neighborhood, so maybe she sort of has a point...I don't know...but I still think it's a bad idea. My biggest priorities when it comes to picking a school are money, prestige, and quality of education (and if you got the second, you're gonna have the third most likely).

8. Money & Affirmative Action

I don't believe black people should use affirmative action as a crutch (and, frankly, I don't need it), but hell we ain't getting reparations so we might as well milk the cow while we have it! If you're going to give me money because I'm black or give me an advantage over the next person because of it, I'd be stupid not to take it. SO...being black doesn't really matter if everybody that's applying is black. Bye, bye Spelman.

Note to white applicants: Get you some affirmative action at HBCUs.

9. Diversity

I don't want to go to school with all black people. I don't care if some of them are from Africa. I want to meet people of ALL races. Of course, I did end up going to a predominantly white school...so I could have done better as far as diversity goes. We do alright as far as other nationalities and cultures go, but we could do a lot better. But anyway, diversity of color, religion, sexuality, and experience is a very good thing.

Reasons to go to Spelman

I can't completely rag on black colleges; I support my black people...so I'm going to tell you some good stuff about my visit. Bear in mind, this was like three years ago.

1. The food was good.

2. The support system for blacks is great.

3. Who wouldn't want to live in Hotlanta for four years? I would have. Just not at Spelman.

4. Black Guys. You are surrounded by sexy, black guys. Yes, it's an all girl's school, but with Clark and Morehouse nearby...they got it covered.

5. Just going to such a prestigious black school and being a part of their wonderful history is an awesome reason. I mean, yo, Alice Walker went there!(Then
again, she did leave...but hey, there's always Rudy Huxtable!)

6. The facilities were pretty decent. I can't say that they ones at my school are better.

7. It was a decent size college...but you wouldn't have to walk too far to get to class.

8. I can't think of anything else...please add stuff. It's been a while.