Guides for the Black College Student.

A series of recent titles offer useful information to help students complete--and succeed--on campus

In 1982, Brown University graduate, Barry Beckham and a group of students published the first edition of the Black Students Guide to Colleges, addressing the special needs of African American college students and prospectives throughout the country. He has also published financial aid guides and a workbook for college -- bounds students.

Beckham says, for African American students, the basic question--"Can I get in?" "Can I afford it?" "How will I be treated?"--usually are combined with other concerns. Students must consider black matriculation rates, the presence

of black students organizations and support services, the overall racial climate, academic areas related to African Americans, and opportunities for a well-rounded social life.

"Many students are away from home for the first time on campuses where they don't know anyone. The key to making the transition is to maintain a balance," said Renee Redd, psychologist and director of the Women's Center at Northwestern University.

Approximately two million students apply for entrance each year to the nation's colleges and universities. Entrance and competition for admission are getting tougher as schools are aggressively recruiting the best and the brightest.

The highly competitive admissions environment is just one cause for concern among African American hopefuls. There is also apprehension of another sort in the wake of the erosion of affirmative action programs, and an increase in crime and racial polarization on campuses. Students are weighing their options more heavily at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs)--which have had a marked increased in applications--as well as at predominately white institutions (PWIs).

Most experts suggest college planning begin in high school and end with a focused two-year plan at the beginning of a student's junior year. "Once students begin high school, the role of the guidance counselor is critical to a student's success. They are invaluable resources who know a lot about public and private colleges, the Scolastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the American College Test (ACT)," says Deborah Harley, guidance coordinator of Renaissance High School in Detroit. "They have contracts at several schools and can be important in helping students find the right fit."

Kenneth Rye is a graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta. He is now sharing his admissions experiences with his 17-year-old nephew. But many African American high school students in the college admissions maze are first-generation college students. U.S. Department of Education statistics estimate that number at more than 40 percent.

"Though their parents are aware of the necessity of a college education, many are not very well acquainted with the whole application process. The don't know what should be done and when," says Manie Barron, co-author African American Students' Guide to College: Making the Most of College--Getting In, Staying In, and Graduating. He says the book, co-written with Marisa Parham, is for those students and parents."

The African American Students' Guide is divided into four sections which cover such topics as selecting a school, the application and financial aid processes, getting along with roommates, note taking, writing papers, health issues and writing letters to colleges. The book ends with profiles of 150 colleges.

"Most guides are just a listing of colleges. They get you to the door and then leave you here on your own. What differentiates American Student's Guide is the equal emphasis placed on staying in and graduating. Other college guides can be left home once the student is accepted into a school. Our book was created to be used throughout a student's college experience," says Barron. "It even includes information about caps and gowns for graduation."

Beckham believes "the need [for guide books] will only decrease when there is plenty of information and advice about the college environment for black students. Black students still have their special needs and interest. The guides that help them assess the environment in terms of these needs will always have a market."

"Unfortunately, nearly 42 percent of incoming African American freshmen will not graduate" says Barron. "That is an alarming number. I think part of the reason is they are not prepared for what they will encounter, both educationally and socially, when they get to college," says Barron.

Rye agrees. "Guide books--combined with campus visits, conversations with alumni and current students, financial aid planning, and other resources--are an important part of a comprehensive college admissions strategy." When it comes to black students getting in, staying in and graduating from college, the right tools are the key. A healthy sampling of black college guides is sure to make the journey of this--and any--application season a much smoother ride.