ACCEPT (a.k.a. Admissions Community Cultivating Equity & Peace Today) is bringing Black high school students and their families a webinar series, Being Black in College, that is specifically curated to their needs and experiences. The four presentations will feature college admissions experts who will share their personal advice and perspectives. Each hour-long session will conclude with a Q&A so attendees can ask questions specific to their own journeys to college.
We encourage students to enjoy the conversation live, but all registrants will receive a link to the recording to watch at their convenience. To save your spot, please click on the blue title of any sessions for which you'd like to register. Choose one, choose all! These webinars are free and open to all Black high school students and their parents, so please share with friends and family.
Presenters include:
  • Sophia Bazile: Coach, Counselor, & Founder of Futures Literate Youth and Professionals (Bali, Indonesia)
  • Kelli Emerson: Academic Advisor at Lee College (TX) in TRiO Student Support Services
  • Stephan Golas: College Counselor at University of Chicago Laboratory Schools (IL)
  • Dr. Diane Graves: Child Clinical Psychologist & Associate Professor of Psychology and Counseling at Hood College (MD)
  • Angelica Keelen: Kindergarten Teacher at KIPP Texas
  • Kayla Storrs: Assistant Director of Diversity Enrichment Programs at the University of Oklahoma
All webinars will be moderated by Dr. Ashley Bennett, Director of College Counseling at KIPP Sunnyside High School (TX).
Register now. We're excited to see you soon!

1. A Look at Predominantly White Institutions (PWI’s)

Tuesday, August 4 @ 3:30pm PT/6:30pm ET

For generations, the majority of American four-year colleges faced no consequences for denying entry to applicants on the grounds of race. While admission exceptions for non-whites were allowed in individual instances, the integration of most colleges took place at some point after the 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education. However, integration didn’t happen overnight, and “allowing entry” and “equitable treatment” of all students are different stories.

We invite you to attend a conversation on Predominantly White Institutions (PWI’s) – institutions that enroll more than 50% of its population as white-identifying – and to encourage adding to your research how an institution’s founding story, history, celebrated traditions, and past and current culture may or may not align with what you have in mind as a Black, college-bound student.  To enrich the conversation, the panel will introduce related terms, such as MSI’s (Minority-Serving Institutions), which include HBCU’s (Historically Black Colleges & Universities).

2. Black and Abroad

Tuesday, August 11 @ 3:30pm PT/6:30pm ET

In Between the World And Me, author Ta-Nehisi Coates expresses his dual-intention for having taken his young son on a trip to Paris, France: “to see different people living by different rules” while also reinforcing the obligation that “to be distanced, if only for a moment, from fear is not a passport out of the struggle.” 

Have you considered going abroad as part of your college experience whether for a semester or in pursuit of earning your degree, but planning for college in the first place seems daunting enough?  With planning, it’s possible to study abroad, gain global experience, graduate on time, and not have the experience result in additional debt. 

What are the trade-offs to embrace in leaving your campus, and what upfront research can you do on the everyday culture of your intended destination? Are there initial requirements to prepare for, and who can help you make a long-term plan to go abroad as soon as your first semester in college? Join this conversation, led by study abroad experts, to consider what one stands to gain by seeing different people live by different rules.

3. Understanding Imposter Syndrome

Tuesday, August 18 @ 3:30pm PT/6:30pm ET

When one enters a new environment and brings along one’s goals, aspirations, and personal story, it can be tempting to make direct comparisons to others. Some individuals might internalize certain natural differences between people as deficits, and a personal feeling of fraud or self-doubt can grow – a phenomenon known as “Imposter Syndrome.” 

Especially for Black students entering predominantly white spaces, what are some of the subtle and overt signals that you could encounter – and what lies within your control to diminish the impact of messages or situations “getting in your head” and eroding your confidence?  If a college admits you, they believe in your success. Please attend this session if you’d like to hear perspectives and advice to envision your belonging and future success.

4. Insight on Student Life in College

Tuesday, August 25 @ 3:30pm PT/6:30pm ET

What does it mean to be an involved Black student on a college campus? College can be daunting for students, especially students who are not part of the dominant culture. This session will give Black students tools they need to be successful when getting involved in student life on college campuses.

This session will include information on sororities and fraternities, academic clubs, cultural and/or affinity groups, and student government.

Administrative support for Being Black in College is provided by Collegewise. Check out their blog Wiser Notes, podcast Get Wise: College Admissions Explained, and Summer Resources page for more free advice on applying to college.