Emory University is an overall great school with a variety of resources available to students-- numerous clubs covering an array of specific interests, free tutoring in any subject, a career center to help students build their resumes, free professional counseling (if necessary), mentoring offices for majors of study, and tons of activities for the students. With that being said, Emory is currently a top 20 school in the nation so some classes are pretty challenging which can get very stressful. Emory is also a pretty small school with a graduating class of a little over 1,000 so if that's your thing, then do it!
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Atlanta can get really hot and muggy in August and September. Freshman orientation is in August and it can get incredibly brutal out there. Dress accordingly. Also, it is a good idea to research majors that interest you beforehand so you'll know which classes you need to take for your major. You don't want to run out of time and not be able to complete your major requirements or general education requirements.
Oh, and always visit the school before you enroll. You need to feel it out and make sure it's the right place for you.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
Many classes are designed to be particularly challenging, especially core classes for a major. Many of the classes related to science, business, and math are challenging for most people. The humanities and arts are less challenging, but what some people find to be more interesting. There is a good balance of difficult courses and easier-going ones.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
I found the dorm life to be great! It was easy to build up a close community and you tend to become this pseudo-family with other people in your dorm, but I can't speak for everyone. I lived in a great freshman dorm- Dobbs Hall! Some dorms are known to have closer community than others but those that don't have closer community tend to have nicer dorms with cleaner restrooms and better facilities. Again, that's not true for each dorm. Many times, the smaller dorms are the ones with the closer communities. Emory is renovating many of the dorms so there are more nicer-looking ones than shabbier ones. Many of the freshman dorms have community restrooms. Some dorms have suites in which two rooms share a bathroom. All dorms come with a kitchen, laundry room, and at least one (most of the time several) study lounges. There are RAs and SAs on each floor of each dorm. Also, Emory has a tradition of SongFest where each freshman dorm competes for points for Dooley's Bowl by singing and dancing. Many upperclassmen will attend this event to lend their support to the dorm they lived in freshman year.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
All freshman are required to have the same meal plan and it's not that great. The general cafeteria for Emory is not the best I've seen (at least as far as colleges go). The cafeteria has a pizza/pasta station, grill area, wok, sandwich station, vegan station, classic station and dessert. The food is good the first week but gradually gets worse. By mid-semester, I didn't really care for the cafeteria food but it's not terrible. Besides the cafeteria, there is a food court with a few restaurants and an organic-food-to-go eatery in the Rollins School of Health. There is also food places at the Clairmont Campus and inside Woodruff Hall. Overall, not much variety with food but the food isn't too bad. The meal plans can get really expensive though!
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
Emory is located in Atlanta, technically. It's actually more located in Decatur, which is a suburb of Atlanta. Atlanta has so many things to do and places to go but the school is about twenty minutes away from downtown Atlanta. There, you can shop, eat, go dancing... pretty much anything. It can get expensive for freshmen in particular because they aren't allowed cars on campus and would have to take a cab. Emory does have concerts throughout the year though, so you won't have to pay anything for that. Previous concerts have had T.I., B.o.B., Kid Cudi, Ben Folds, Big Boi, and (Lupe Fiasco maybe?). There are also comedy performances from time to time on Emory's campus. Last year, we had Jo Koy and Rob Riggle. The school also hosts concerts featuring up-and-coming artists and many fun cultural events.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
It's a high-priced institution and keeps getting pricier since tuition is being raised for the year 2012-13. Though it is highly expensive, the institution has a huge endowment and if you are in need, Emory will usually give you a grant that covers most or all of the tuition. There is also Emory Scholars program that caters to students who have excelled in a particular area of study. Those students also receive grants. Emory is a little overpriced but they mostly make up for it with all of the on-campus resources they provide.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Emory has Wonderful Wednesdays every Wednesday for students, located in the center of campus. They love to pass out free stuff such as t-shirts, food, drinks, random knick-knacks, what have you. Music is played and it's a great way to start off Hump Day. There is also Dooley's Week which is kind of like a celebration week. There are concerts, tons of food, and tons of giveaways. Oh, forgot to mention our unofficial mascot, Dooley, who is a skeleton. He has a secret service posse and walks with a cane. He is the skeleton of James Dooley who did something very important for the school. There is also Dooley's Bowl for freshman. Best freshman dorm wins Dooley's Bowl.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
If you are someone who likes warm weather, small campuses, and getting free t-shirts Emory is the place for you. Be warned, a lot of studying is also involved as well as high-priced meal plans.
Also, if you are interested in medical or business, this school is very geared towards these fields. Emory does offer a liberal arts education so students will be well-rounded in all areas of study. Emory also has a very good women's studies program.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There is literally a club and activity for everything. There is varsity and club sport for every sport. If there isn't a club or activity that interests you, you can start your own club. I hear that it's not too difficult.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There are many fraternities and sororities available for students to join.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
Very safe campus. Police patrols campus every night and there are also call boxes all over campus that if you press a button a siren will ring and someone will be able to come and help you. There is also Night Owl, which is a late-night bus for students who don't feel safe walking back to their dorms at night. Students can call in and the bus will take you to your desired location.
Emory University is an overall great school with a variety of resources available to students-- numerous clubs covering an array of specific interests, free tutoring in any subject, a career center to help students build their resumes, free professional counseling (if necessary), mentoring offices for majors of study, and tons of activities for the students. With that being said, Emory is currently a top 20 school in the nation so some classes are pretty challenging which can get very stressful. Emory is also a pretty small school with a graduating class of a little over 1,000 so if that's your thing, then do it!
Atlanta can get really hot and muggy in August and September. Freshman orientation is in August and it can get incredibly brutal out there. Dress accordingly. Also, it is a good idea to research majors that interest you beforehand so you'll know which classes you need to take for your major. You don't want to run out of time and not be able to complete your major requirements or general education requirements. Oh, and always visit the school before you enroll. You need to feel it out and make sure it's the right place for you.
Many classes are designed to be particularly challenging, especially core classes for a major. Many of the classes related to science, business, and math are challenging for most people. The humanities and arts are less challenging, but what some people find to be more interesting. There is a good balance of difficult courses and easier-going ones.
I found the dorm life to be great! It was easy to build up a close community and you tend to become this pseudo-family with other people in your dorm, but I can't speak for everyone. I lived in a great freshman dorm- Dobbs Hall! Some dorms are known to have closer community than others but those that don't have closer community tend to have nicer dorms with cleaner restrooms and better facilities. Again, that's not true for each dorm. Many times, the smaller dorms are the ones with the closer communities. Emory is renovating many of the dorms so there are more nicer-looking ones than shabbier ones. Many of the freshman dorms have community restrooms. Some dorms have suites in which two rooms share a bathroom. All dorms come with a kitchen, laundry room, and at least one (most of the time several) study lounges. There are RAs and SAs on each floor of each dorm. Also, Emory has a tradition of SongFest where each freshman dorm competes for points for Dooley's Bowl by singing and dancing. Many upperclassmen will attend this event to lend their support to the dorm they lived in freshman year.
All freshman are required to have the same meal plan and it's not that great. The general cafeteria for Emory is not the best I've seen (at least as far as colleges go). The cafeteria has a pizza/pasta station, grill area, wok, sandwich station, vegan station, classic station and dessert. The food is good the first week but gradually gets worse. By mid-semester, I didn't really care for the cafeteria food but it's not terrible. Besides the cafeteria, there is a food court with a few restaurants and an organic-food-to-go eatery in the Rollins School of Health. There is also food places at the Clairmont Campus and inside Woodruff Hall. Overall, not much variety with food but the food isn't too bad. The meal plans can get really expensive though!
Emory is located in Atlanta, technically. It's actually more located in Decatur, which is a suburb of Atlanta. Atlanta has so many things to do and places to go but the school is about twenty minutes away from downtown Atlanta. There, you can shop, eat, go dancing... pretty much anything. It can get expensive for freshmen in particular because they aren't allowed cars on campus and would have to take a cab. Emory does have concerts throughout the year though, so you won't have to pay anything for that. Previous concerts have had T.I., B.o.B., Kid Cudi, Ben Folds, Big Boi, and (Lupe Fiasco maybe?). There are also comedy performances from time to time on Emory's campus. Last year, we had Jo Koy and Rob Riggle. The school also hosts concerts featuring up-and-coming artists and many fun cultural events.
It's a high-priced institution and keeps getting pricier since tuition is being raised for the year 2012-13. Though it is highly expensive, the institution has a huge endowment and if you are in need, Emory will usually give you a grant that covers most or all of the tuition. There is also Emory Scholars program that caters to students who have excelled in a particular area of study. Those students also receive grants. Emory is a little overpriced but they mostly make up for it with all of the on-campus resources they provide.
Emory has Wonderful Wednesdays every Wednesday for students, located in the center of campus. They love to pass out free stuff such as t-shirts, food, drinks, random knick-knacks, what have you. Music is played and it's a great way to start off Hump Day. There is also Dooley's Week which is kind of like a celebration week. There are concerts, tons of food, and tons of giveaways. Oh, forgot to mention our unofficial mascot, Dooley, who is a skeleton. He has a secret service posse and walks with a cane. He is the skeleton of James Dooley who did something very important for the school. There is also Dooley's Bowl for freshman. Best freshman dorm wins Dooley's Bowl.
If you are someone who likes warm weather, small campuses, and getting free t-shirts Emory is the place for you. Be warned, a lot of studying is also involved as well as high-priced meal plans. Also, if you are interested in medical or business, this school is very geared towards these fields. Emory does offer a liberal arts education so students will be well-rounded in all areas of study. Emory also has a very good women's studies program.
There is literally a club and activity for everything. There is varsity and club sport for every sport. If there isn't a club or activity that interests you, you can start your own club. I hear that it's not too difficult.
There are many fraternities and sororities available for students to join.
Very safe campus. Police patrols campus every night and there are also call boxes all over campus that if you press a button a siren will ring and someone will be able to come and help you. There is also Night Owl, which is a late-night bus for students who don't feel safe walking back to their dorms at night. Students can call in and the bus will take you to your desired location.