On February 28th, around twelve twenty p.m. I boarded the bus for an all-girls college trip to Atlanta, Georgia. The first school we visited was Emory University. The girls were broken down into teams of four to play a scavenger hunt. The experience of competing in a scavenger hunt on a college campus was tough, especially when you are not familiar with the environment. But that did not stop us.

The other colleges we visited were Agnes Scott and Spelman (Morehouse and Clark Atlanta were included because they are so close to Spelman). What I learned from this college trip was that both Agnes Scott College and Spelman College are all-girls schools. I also learned that Spelman, Morehouse and Clark Atlanta are all HBCUs. I also learned that Spelman is ranked the number one HBCU. I also learned about their traditions and what they do for certain occasions like homecoming and other events.

None of this colleges really appealed to me personally because I do not want to go to an out of state college, nor attend an all-girls college. However, I really enjoyed the experiences, I also learned that when I enter college, I am going to have to depend heavily on myself. The difference in attending an all-girls trip was less distraction and chaos. We all know if the boys would have gone on this trip with us it would have been hectic and crazy but in a fun way—don’t worry, we’ll let you guys come on the next trip.

-Daniella Nweke, Grissom High School

I chose to go on the all girls college tour because I wanted to see the difference between touring colleges with all girls vs. with boys too. This college tour benefited me because I was able to see the campuses of various colleges firsthand rather than relying on word of mouth. The college I liked the best was Agnes Scott because of the resources and support given to each student, and their travel abroad program—every freshman goes on a travel experience and the cost is included already within their tuition! I also learned about the different costs associated with each college and their financial aid options. Pearls and CAP & GOWN are the reason I could explore these colleges while building a sisterhood.

-Makenzie Friend, Jemison High School

My college tour experience of Spelman College, Emory College, Agnes Scott College, and Morehouse College was great. All four of the colleges we saw have high expectations. For example, at Spelman you have to make a 25 on your ACT and your GPA needs to be a 3.8 or higher. The exciting part about Spelman is, it’s the #1 HBCU. At Emory University, we learned, you have to have an unweighted GPA around a 3.78 – 3.99. In addition a 31- 35 ACT score will make you competitive. I learned that ultimately it’s not just about the requirements or how much money you get from a college, it’s about how much you put yourself to it. You have to be dedicated in order to make your dreams happen. You have to have the academics, the leadership, and the attendance to achieve your goals.

Which college was my favorite and why? I honestly liked all of the colleges that we visited. But, if I had to choose, I would choose Agnes Scott College. The reason being because the tour guide made me feel comfortable. Also, I understood their mission and requirements better because we attended an info session and then took the tour. If I had the right GPA, I would choose Agnes Scott College.

What stood out to me the most was when we went to the Morehouse and saw the Martin Luther King statue. Another was learning that you get a ring with a black stone inside when you a sophomore at Agnes Scott College—and join the “black ring mafia.” By taking an all girls trip, we were able to focus more on the colleges and the information being provided.

-Laniya, Grissom High School

I chose to go on the all girls college tour because I felt like would be a good experience for me. The college that stuck out to me was Agnes Scott College. Agnes Scott’s campus felt positive and they talked to us about different support you can get on campus, and what majors they offer. What I learned from this trip is that all of college is not the fun and partying you see on TV and in the movies. CAP & GOWN and the Pearls both help me with the extra-steps beyond just what we get in school. Taking a trip with girls felt positive and powerful. I would recommend other students to go on CAP & GOWN trips because it really helps.

-A’terrion, Jemison High School

Pearls and CAP & GOWN Partner for All Girls College Tour