I recently visited Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, where I toured campus and spoke with the admissions office about the latest trends in admissions. Here are some takeaways from my visit:

· Fisk is one of America’s premier Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), having graduated illustrious alumni like W.E.B. DuBois, John Lewis, Ida B. Wells, Diane Nash and Nikki Giovanni. It is located in North Nashville, the city’s historic black cultural hub.

· With 900 undergrads and only 30-50 graduate students, Fisk is a de facto liberal arts colleges where faculty are deeply invested in students and the “Fisk Family” provides a tight-knit, welcoming and inclusive environment. The average class size is 15 (there are no large lectures) and students come from across the country. 90% are African American, while a small percentage are not of African descent, including some international and white students (3%). Two-thirds of students live on campus, and a new co-ed, suite-style dorm is opening soon. 70% of students are female.

· Given its location in Music City (a moniker given to Nashville by the Queen of England after hearing Fisk’s famed, Grammy-winning Jubilee Singers perform), music is the most popular major on campus, which is dotted with over 20 baby grand pianos. Students can also pursue a concentration in Music Business offered through a partnership with neighboring Belmont University.

· Biology is also popular, and Fisk offers a BS/MD program with Meharry Medical College next door. Many students also major in business and computer science, with over half of students interning at elite corporations.

· A new career center building helps connect students to internships at organizations like Cravath, Swaine & Moore (which has a historical partnership with Fisk), Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Google, Apple, Deloitte, Microsoft and Warner Music.

· Additional partnerships include a 3+2 engineering program with Vanderbilt and Case Western, as well as a BA/MBA program with Vanderbilt. Top students can also join Fisk’s W.E.B. DuBois Honor Program to special perks.

· One of Fisk’s unofficial mottos is “good trouble,” taken from alumnus John Lewis, and Fisk is defined by its ongoing commitment to service and activism. There is a day of service built into freshman orientation and a full-ride scholarship available to students who have demonstrated an extensive commitment to service.

· Student life is rich and varied. Around 50% of students participate in Greek life (Fisk hosts 8 of the 9 “Divine Nine”), and while there is no football team, basketball, volleyball, golf, gymnastic, cheer and dance provide athletic teams for students to rally around. There are many active student clubs and organizations, including the popular Out:Loud LGBTQ+ club.