Academics
Many greats have graced the gates of Fisk University, a historically black university that "produces independent and aware adults…capable of functioning in almost any capacity." Those greats include NAACP co-founder W.E.B DuBois, historian John Hope Franklin, poet Nikki Giovanni, and civil rights activist Ida B. Wells, an impressive roster of past luminaries for sure. Today, this "top HBCU excels highly in the sciences;" about one in four students majors in psychology here, and nearly as many pursue degrees in biology (business is the other big attraction, claiming about one in five students). With those strengths, it's no wonder students tell us "Fisk University is about preparing its students for careers and the real world." Students remind us that it's "about the DETAILS" here, an acronym for Diversity, Excellence, Teamwork, Accountability, Integrity, Leadership, and Service. Finally, it's about "a family atmosphere" fostered by professors who "are all passionate about their jobs" and who "really care about their students' wellbeing and education." Instructors "fully equip us to survive in today's society," while the Fisk curriculum "is challenging, but [as a result] we are guaranteed to be [among] the most competitive of our fields." Administrators, on the other hand, "lack communication skills when it comes to informing the students about what concerns them. Oftentimes students…find out through the media after major events have occurred." Students also complain that "campus housing and building quality" need to be improved.
Student Body
Studious African Americans…willing to help others make up the majority of the Fisk student body, where undergrads describe themselves as "smart, creative, motivated, and determined individuals who are constantly learning how to make ourselves better people." The typical student "probably has a lot going on such as class, community service, and on-campus activities" and "looks nice, dresses appropriately for any occasion," and is "very outspoken but respectful" as well. Quite a few students noted the high proportion of "nerds" here; as one puts it, "Everyone at Fisk University is different in their own way. There are many people here that others may call weird, but they still fit in because of that uniqueness." The same student continues, "Although everyone at Fisk is different, we all have many things in common: for example, intellectual abilities and the love of music."
Campus Life
Fisk University is "a small school" where "there are very few secrets and very few males" (women outnumber men by a more than a two-to-one ratio). "Because it's surrounded by many other schools," Fisk provides "a great college atmosphere" that makes it easy to have fun when you want to but also "easy to stay focused on school." Campus life offers "many organizations," including Greek organizations and the Jubilee Singers, the school's world-famous singing group specializing in African American spirituals. Indeed, "Music is a large part of our school's history, and it is still respected today. There is usually music on the Yard on Friday nights, and this is an event that gives the students an opportunity to mix and mingle and dance with one another in a relaxed manner." College athletics are also important: "We have boys' and girls' basketball teams, and they are very popular on campus," one student explains. On-campus events such as parties, club meetings, and philanthropic programs are driven by "a core group of students [who] push and push to make life better here," including many involved in Greek life. While some students from big cities may find Nashville "pretty boring," others will enjoy the city's vibrant music scene and its eateries catering to everyone from the meat-and-three crowd to upscale epicures.
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