Every year parents and students dedicate a lot of time, energy and money into the college application process. When students are accepted into their top choices, there is a celebration. But what happens when the acceptance doesn't come? Or- when it comes, but the money isn't right? Too often students whose top choice is an HBCU determine that their next best option is a historically white college. Sometimes, that may be the case. But, frequently, that determination comes without a true understanding of the other choices that are available.