Morehouse College
Responses from the Student Interview
From a student who identifies as Major: Economics
Minor: None
Student Self Identifies as: African-American Heterosexual Male
Summary
I’m part of the Morehouse Wrestling Program, I participate in AUC Speak, which is a public speaking club, and I’m a Chapel assistant.
Background
Gender Identity: Male
Race/Ethnicity: African-American
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
High School Experience: Public high school in Tift County, Georgia with a graduating class of about 550 students. There was a culture of going to college.
First-Generation College Student: Yes
Major: Economics
Minor: None
Extracurricular Activities: I’m part of the Morehouse Wrestling Program, I participate in AUC Speak, which is a public speaking club, and I’m a Chapel assistant.
Have any of your extracurricular activities had a particularly big impact on your experience?
Yes, in the Chapel I’ve learned to break down sacred text and exposit it to people in different manners. Wrestling is my second love, after Chapel. It helps me grow, develop, and become a better leader.
Academic Experience
Can you describe the weekly coursework for your Economics major?
I’m on a math track in Economics, so there’s a heavy mathematics course load, such as Calculus and Linear algebra. With the math track, we have weekly problem sets and exams. On the business side, we do everything we do in the math department, just on a lighter scale. We only take business classes two days a week, but some math classes meet three or five days a week. Every calculus class I’ve taken at Morehouse has met five days a week, but you do have some teachers that cancel on a Friday or Thursday. It all depends on the professor.
Is there anything you feel the Math or Economics departments do especially well or poorly?
They all have professors that know how to connect with their students. Now, getting the students to comprehend what they’re doing is a little shady. [They’re good at connecting personally, but not always good at getting the material across]. Some can explain it perfectly and you’ll get it just like that, but it’s hard to come across those. In the Business department, I’d say you either get it, or you don’t. It’s the same way in math, but there’s no reason someone should fail in the business department unless you do nothing.
How would you describe the learning environment? Do you think it’s particularly competitive or collaborative?
It’s collaborative, depending on the course. We collaborate in English a lot. You can see the difference between someone who knows it and someone who doesn’t. You have to want to be helped. If you don’t go to them, they won’t come to you, unless you’re somebody who can bring something beneficial to the table.
How accessible are your professors?
The professors are very accessible, depending on the office hours. Email always works, and office hours are always available. I’d say the professors are pretty reachable.
Why did you choose your major? Are you happy with your choice so far?
You know how they say when you get to college you change your major three, four, or five times, this is actually my second major change. I was completely a Math major when I came into college, but I decided that isn’t what I wanted to do. I changed my major to Business Management, which is basically the same as Business Administration. Everyone was telling me that major really isn’t as marketable. I looked over my transcript and went to an advisor, and they told me that with the classes I already had, it would be good if I just went on the Economics path instead of the Management path. It’s more marketable, and a lot of the courses I’ve taken already line up with the curriculum.
How has going to an HBCU impacted your academic and social experience?
For academics, it’s helped me learn more about my culture, and how to learn with certain situations and people. Socially, I’d say it’s helped me be able to communicate with certain personalities, and how to think strategically.
Reasons to Attend
1) You’re going to be challenged academically.
2) Spelman is across the street, and Clark is majority women. [As of 2015, Clark Atlanta University was 74% Female.]
3) The network after attending Morehouse is so big. It’s something you don’t want to miss out on.
Reasons Not to Attend
Student did not respond to this question.
Around Campus
Where have you lived on campus?
Freshman: Brazeal house one roommate.
Sophomore: Perdue House with one roommate.
Junior: Student Housing in a single.
Can you describe the level of safety you’ve experienced on and around campus?
To me, Freshman year was the most dangerous. I’m coming from a small town, so I didn’t really know what to do. However, I haven’t had a problem with safety. The area is patrolled pretty well, and our campus is fenced in so you have to go through security to get on campus. Once I learned that everyone can’t be trusted up here, I was a lot better. You have to be aware of your surroundings at all times.
Social Opportunities
What kind of nightlife or weekend activities do you participate in?
The party life is really good. However, academic life always comes first. It’s a party every Friday, Saturday, and sometimes even Sunday. There are no parties on campus. If there are, it’s like a glow party or something happening in the gym that the administration has put together. I would say that the weekend life is fun. However, if you don’t have your academic week life together, there’s no reason for you even to try to be a part of the weekend life. Freshman year I went out every Friday and Saturday night, and my GPA reflected it. My second semester I calmed down, got myself together, pulled my GPA up, and now I don’t even go out anymore.
What’s an alternative to going to a party or a bar that you like for a night out?
There are alcohol-free parties, but you don’t know ahead of time. I know some Friday nights where I’ve stayed in my room and studied, but that was when I got more mature my Junior year. This year I’m more academic-focused I’d say.
Campus Culture
How did you meet your closest friends?
Freshman year being able to participate in activities like going to parties or doing group assignments. I’d say you meet your closest friends through collaboration. If you don’t collaborate, you’re not going to meet anybody. I don’t even recall how I met my closest friends, it was just there.
Careers
What did you use the career office for? How helpful have they been?
We have a career and development office. I [have a leader position] in a club called Career Crusaders. We help people build their brand and connect with individuals that could put them in the right direction for a career path.