Part I. Context. Affirmative action is dead -- Black parents: the choices we make now matter later -- Shift in power: the resurgence of HBCU culture -- The power 3 (the Black ivies) -- What is a liberal arts education, and is it worth it? -- What's best for your child? HBCUs versus PWIs -- Part II. X factors. What questions should you be asking in your family? -- Perception versus reality -- Why we all need to prioritize mental health -- Gender wars: how Black males and Black females are assessed in college admissions -- Sports, arts, and special talents -- Show me the money -- Part III. Process. The power of essay writing -- Expectation-for-success timeline -- What are colleges looking for?

"This book will educate Black families on the college admission process and provide them with the information, tools, and knowledge they need to explore college options"--

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. 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