Students prefer schools where peers share common backgrounds and experiences.

As the second semester started, seniors prepared for the next big step-- college.
Many plan on attending heavily populated schools, such as the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech.
Others are leaning towards a smaller, close-knit school, such as Southern Polytechnic or Georgia Perimeter.

However, HBCU's (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) are appealing more to prospective minorities rather than non-HBCU schools.
Students look to HBCUs for the opportunity to share the same culture, background, and even appearance.

"I want to be around people of my [own] kind," said senior Marquavis Thompson.

Although unsure of his college choice, Thompson already plans to attend one of the 80-plus HBCU schools.

Thompson, along with others, share common reasoning for choosing their future colleges.

"The chance to develop bonds with people that relate to you already is what convinces me to attend an HBCU," said Aleesa Reese.

Reese plans to attend Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana or Tennessee State University later this fall.

Several African-American students think that attending a school where the majority is the minority will help ease the strenuous process of adapting to college life,
but some also believe in the foundational purposes rather than the student body's appearances.

All HBCU'S focus on the establishment of a foundation within every student based on practices and purposes of the African-American community.

"I believe HBCU's give you a better opportunity as a minority student," said Anthony Jackson, a prospective Morehouse Man.

With a large number of seniors applying for HBCU's, some are choosing to go for diversity.

Senior basketball player, Desmond Williams, is interested in enrolling at a large, culturally-mixed school.

"I want to get to know all types of people, not just my own," said Williams.

Some agree that when attending a diverse school, students are allowed a chance to experience and to interact with others from different backgrounds,
religions and interests.

"The opportunities you receive when going to a mixed school seems so much greater than going to an HBCU," said senior Winston Bodrick.

Bodrick and Williams have applied to non-HBCU schools for a more diverse college experience.

The decisions of seniors are coming closer and closer to an end, and new horizons will be made.

Diverse schools and HBCU's are looking forward to a variety of freshmen undergrads to accept.

Whether the ideal school is a "melting pot" of students, or one where a student can easily relate to their peers because of shared culture,
opportunities are available from both traditional schools and HBCU's.