Georgia College is a magical kind of place. Most of the students (including me) complain about it pretty regularly. Despite all of our whining, there really isn't anywhere we'd rather be.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
(1) Learn to study. Yes, I know you're in AP/IB and you didn't have to study to do well in those classes. That's great, good for you. At one point, I was just like you. College isn't AP or IB, and anyone who tells you so is a liar. (2) Inversely, it's not all about your course load. College is learning to juggle a social/romantic life, work (and schoolwork is a job, trust me), hobbies (sports, arts, etc), and adult responsibilities all at once. It will be difficult somedays. There will be some tears. (3) Learn when to take a step back. If the day comes where you need to binge watch Dr. Who in it's entirety, do it. If you need a spa day, do it. If you just want to be left alone, make some time for yourself. The world never stops turning, but sometimes you just need rest.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
Classes are hard, but the professors are accommodating if something is going on in your personal life. I recently had a pretty trying time - my mother was diagnosed with cancer and my dad lost his job- and all of my professors helped and provided support for me as if I were a close friend. They still require you to put in the work, but they'll push back a few deadlines or provide an alternative if necessary.
Alot of freshman courses will require you to get off your behind and go become active on campus. Attending games, seminars, discussion forums, and various other school funded events. So for those of you who have a hard time in new social settings, the school will be your wing man while you're getting your feet wet. Some classes will have that as your final. Which is pretty fun compared to an actual test.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
I've been at GCSU almost 3 years and I've never had a bad roommate. Rooms are nice, well-lit, and have the basics. You also have a lot of say in decorating. You can't paint your room of course, but there are a ton of things you can do to make the space cozy. You'll either have a single (2 rooms with 1 in each) or a double (2 rooms with 2 in each). The layout, size of each room varies a little bit, so it's best to learn the general makeup of each building so you can get one that suits you best.
They're all (except Bell) about 10 minutes away from Campus and the Downtown area, and there's no worries about rent or utilities. It's also an easy way to get started making friends. They're convenient, and they more than serve their purpose. A bus comes around every weekend to take you to the grocery store and the mall if you need something but don't have a ride (or don't feel like losing your parking spot).
The Villages are a great option as well. They're further from campus, and more expensive of course, but you have a 12 month lease (you won't have to move out during the summer/winter breaks). I'd advise having a car though, since there have been a few times where the weather has made hopping on the bus to campus inconvenient or impossible.
A word of Caution: Finding a great parking spot at GCSU is quite an experience. May the odds be ever in your favor.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
We have a running joke about the Max, our campus' dining hall. In short, if you eat there after being away for an extended period, you will get a case of diarrhea so fierce that your ancestor's will feel. We have a term for it, but I'm pretty sure I can't include expletives in my review. The Max is still legit though. Most of it is good, but some days the options are laughable (as in you're literally laughing as you stand in line). We have a stir fry line (which also occasionally doubles as our taco stand), burger/fries station, sandwiches, pizza, a breakfast nook for when you can't shake that waffle craving, and a diner that serves Fried chicken every Wednesday.
If you don't want anything at the max, there are a ton of options downtown and in the immediate area. Not only that, but a few of them offer pretty good deals. Asian Bistro has $2 Tuesdays, Amici's and the Brick have discount Wing nights, Kai Thai has a discount night on Thursdays and Saturdays. Then of course we have the fast food staples : Mickey D's, Zaxby's, Chik-fil A, Subway. Most places will take your Bobcat card as payment if you're short on cash.
Pro-Tip: Go to Cookout. Get a Cookout Tray with a Fancy Shake. You will thank me.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
Because there isn't much in the way of entertainment at GCSU, you have to get creative. We don't have a football team, so we won't have big blowout homecomings (ours are still pretty fun, though). There's one club that's easy to reach, and their music/atmosphere is pretty questionable sometimes. The bars stop being fun after a while.
So, if you want to have fun, make your own. Get to know the people who throw parties on campus, get yourself a tight circle of friends (at least one person should have a car), and make sure you have a couple friends who are of drinking age. Have movie nights, go to other schools, go out to dinner together, go to the school-funded events on campus. Some of my most rewarding nights were just spent talking to my friends till the restaurant closed.
If you think that you need to be at wild keggers from Thursday to Sunday for a good time, you're wrong. And if that's your thing, UGA and Georgia Southern are a very short drive away. ;)
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
Anything over $50 is expensive to me, not going to lie. But, as many have stated, it's a private school for public school prices. That library is the end all be all. Our GIVE center (for those interested in Volunteer opportunities) is literally the only one of it's kind. There is always something going on on campus. I have so many free T-shirts it's not even funny (yes, free T-shirts are a big deal). They have free seminars and workshops all geared towards making you a more well-rounded, thoughtful human being. We have little fun things like International Film (1st Fridays of the month), poetry jams, and the Midnight Breakfast. There iÃ?Â?s a movie night from some organization almost every week. And, to put the icing on the cake, we have puppy cuddling stations at random times of the year! Soft, fluffy puppies available for your cuddling needs!
I will reiterate this: it's got a Private School feel for a fraction of the price. You will not get the same experience anywhere else for the price GCSU is selling.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
(1) The traveling Green Towel. You'll get a green GCSU towel at some point during your time ere. Take pictures with it during your travels abroad (or to Cookout) and the school will post it somewhere.
(2) Sanford Hall is haunted. Cookie, the ghost, killed herself on the 3rd floor while the College was just a women's college. It's since been sealed off, but I've been told that Cookie is pretty sassy.
(3) There are a string of white house that once housed our art department in it's entirety. Those are old slave homes.
(4) There's a traveling duo named Brother Jed and Sister Cindy. They come every year around the Holidays to tell anyone in earshot that their life is full of sin and that their afterlife won't be pleasant. Everyone stops by during the few days they're in town to listen. Some people argue with them, I just laugh. Also, Sister Cindy will wave a tampon in your face, so be prepared.
(5) Don't step on the Bobcat in the center of front campus. You'll take 500 years to graduate, give or take a century.
(6) There's an abandoned asylum not too far away. For all you American Horror Story fans, I suggest you pay a visit.
(7) Speaking of American Horror Story, it's a pretty big deal. You can catch it every week in the Den (Student Activities Center).
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Great if you're a student who wants a small campus, tight-knight family, private school feel while paying public school prices. Also, if you like a small town with a Twilight Zone, Twin Peaks kind of vibe, this is for you.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There's literally a club for everything. You just have to find what you like.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There's a lot of them if that's your thing. Phi Mu, Delta Zeta, Alpha Delta Pi, etc.
Minority students, there are BGLO (Black Greek Letter Orgs) if you want them - AKA, ZPB, DST, KAP, APA, Mu Sigma Upsilon. They throw a lot of the Black parties on campus.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
If you need help at all, Public Safety is there 24/7. SNAP runs every night from 8pm till the wee hours to make sure you get to your dorm (or the surrounding apartment complexes) safely.
Georgia College is a magical kind of place. Most of the students (including me) complain about it pretty regularly. Despite all of our whining, there really isn't anywhere we'd rather be.
(1) Learn to study. Yes, I know you're in AP/IB and you didn't have to study to do well in those classes. That's great, good for you. At one point, I was just like you. College isn't AP or IB, and anyone who tells you so is a liar. (2) Inversely, it's not all about your course load. College is learning to juggle a social/romantic life, work (and schoolwork is a job, trust me), hobbies (sports, arts, etc), and adult responsibilities all at once. It will be difficult somedays. There will be some tears. (3) Learn when to take a step back. If the day comes where you need to binge watch Dr. Who in it's entirety, do it. If you need a spa day, do it. If you just want to be left alone, make some time for yourself. The world never stops turning, but sometimes you just need rest.
Classes are hard, but the professors are accommodating if something is going on in your personal life. I recently had a pretty trying time - my mother was diagnosed with cancer and my dad lost his job- and all of my professors helped and provided support for me as if I were a close friend. They still require you to put in the work, but they'll push back a few deadlines or provide an alternative if necessary. Alot of freshman courses will require you to get off your behind and go become active on campus. Attending games, seminars, discussion forums, and various other school funded events. So for those of you who have a hard time in new social settings, the school will be your wing man while you're getting your feet wet. Some classes will have that as your final. Which is pretty fun compared to an actual test.
I've been at GCSU almost 3 years and I've never had a bad roommate. Rooms are nice, well-lit, and have the basics. You also have a lot of say in decorating. You can't paint your room of course, but there are a ton of things you can do to make the space cozy. You'll either have a single (2 rooms with 1 in each) or a double (2 rooms with 2 in each). The layout, size of each room varies a little bit, so it's best to learn the general makeup of each building so you can get one that suits you best. They're all (except Bell) about 10 minutes away from Campus and the Downtown area, and there's no worries about rent or utilities. It's also an easy way to get started making friends. They're convenient, and they more than serve their purpose. A bus comes around every weekend to take you to the grocery store and the mall if you need something but don't have a ride (or don't feel like losing your parking spot). The Villages are a great option as well. They're further from campus, and more expensive of course, but you have a 12 month lease (you won't have to move out during the summer/winter breaks). I'd advise having a car though, since there have been a few times where the weather has made hopping on the bus to campus inconvenient or impossible. A word of Caution: Finding a great parking spot at GCSU is quite an experience. May the odds be ever in your favor.
We have a running joke about the Max, our campus' dining hall. In short, if you eat there after being away for an extended period, you will get a case of diarrhea so fierce that your ancestor's will feel. We have a term for it, but I'm pretty sure I can't include expletives in my review. The Max is still legit though. Most of it is good, but some days the options are laughable (as in you're literally laughing as you stand in line). We have a stir fry line (which also occasionally doubles as our taco stand), burger/fries station, sandwiches, pizza, a breakfast nook for when you can't shake that waffle craving, and a diner that serves Fried chicken every Wednesday. If you don't want anything at the max, there are a ton of options downtown and in the immediate area. Not only that, but a few of them offer pretty good deals. Asian Bistro has $2 Tuesdays, Amici's and the Brick have discount Wing nights, Kai Thai has a discount night on Thursdays and Saturdays. Then of course we have the fast food staples : Mickey D's, Zaxby's, Chik-fil A, Subway. Most places will take your Bobcat card as payment if you're short on cash. Pro-Tip: Go to Cookout. Get a Cookout Tray with a Fancy Shake. You will thank me.
Because there isn't much in the way of entertainment at GCSU, you have to get creative. We don't have a football team, so we won't have big blowout homecomings (ours are still pretty fun, though). There's one club that's easy to reach, and their music/atmosphere is pretty questionable sometimes. The bars stop being fun after a while. So, if you want to have fun, make your own. Get to know the people who throw parties on campus, get yourself a tight circle of friends (at least one person should have a car), and make sure you have a couple friends who are of drinking age. Have movie nights, go to other schools, go out to dinner together, go to the school-funded events on campus. Some of my most rewarding nights were just spent talking to my friends till the restaurant closed. If you think that you need to be at wild keggers from Thursday to Sunday for a good time, you're wrong. And if that's your thing, UGA and Georgia Southern are a very short drive away. ;)
Anything over $50 is expensive to me, not going to lie. But, as many have stated, it's a private school for public school prices. That library is the end all be all. Our GIVE center (for those interested in Volunteer opportunities) is literally the only one of it's kind. There is always something going on on campus. I have so many free T-shirts it's not even funny (yes, free T-shirts are a big deal). They have free seminars and workshops all geared towards making you a more well-rounded, thoughtful human being. We have little fun things like International Film (1st Fridays of the month), poetry jams, and the Midnight Breakfast. There iÃ?Â?s a movie night from some organization almost every week. And, to put the icing on the cake, we have puppy cuddling stations at random times of the year! Soft, fluffy puppies available for your cuddling needs! I will reiterate this: it's got a Private School feel for a fraction of the price. You will not get the same experience anywhere else for the price GCSU is selling.
(1) The traveling Green Towel. You'll get a green GCSU towel at some point during your time ere. Take pictures with it during your travels abroad (or to Cookout) and the school will post it somewhere. (2) Sanford Hall is haunted. Cookie, the ghost, killed herself on the 3rd floor while the College was just a women's college. It's since been sealed off, but I've been told that Cookie is pretty sassy. (3) There are a string of white house that once housed our art department in it's entirety. Those are old slave homes. (4) There's a traveling duo named Brother Jed and Sister Cindy. They come every year around the Holidays to tell anyone in earshot that their life is full of sin and that their afterlife won't be pleasant. Everyone stops by during the few days they're in town to listen. Some people argue with them, I just laugh. Also, Sister Cindy will wave a tampon in your face, so be prepared. (5) Don't step on the Bobcat in the center of front campus. You'll take 500 years to graduate, give or take a century. (6) There's an abandoned asylum not too far away. For all you American Horror Story fans, I suggest you pay a visit. (7) Speaking of American Horror Story, it's a pretty big deal. You can catch it every week in the Den (Student Activities Center).
Great if you're a student who wants a small campus, tight-knight family, private school feel while paying public school prices. Also, if you like a small town with a Twilight Zone, Twin Peaks kind of vibe, this is for you.
There's literally a club for everything. You just have to find what you like.
There's a lot of them if that's your thing. Phi Mu, Delta Zeta, Alpha Delta Pi, etc. Minority students, there are BGLO (Black Greek Letter Orgs) if you want them - AKA, ZPB, DST, KAP, APA, Mu Sigma Upsilon. They throw a lot of the Black parties on campus.
If you need help at all, Public Safety is there 24/7. SNAP runs every night from 8pm till the wee hours to make sure you get to your dorm (or the surrounding apartment complexes) safely.