Union University is a fantastic school that, for the most part, lives up to its portrayal of itself. Union claims to be excellence driven, Christ-centered, people-focused, and future-directed. It truly does meet those claims.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Try to get as full of a perspective of Union as possible. Spend the night on campus, try to meet students from as many different circles as possible. Do try to have a picture of the stereotypical Union student--in other words, know that Union is generally conservative and Christian, but don't make the assumption that all Union students or faculty fall into those categories. Read through the student handbook, but also spend time on campus talking to students about what life at Union is truly like.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
Union is quite academically rigorous. Unfortunately, most (but not all) classes use a 95-100 grading scale, which makes it even more difficult to maintain a great grade. However, the academic difficulty is very beneficial. It forces students to work and to truly learn. Although difficult, Union's academic rigor is made perfectly tolerable by professors who truly want their students to succeed and are willing to put in the time and effort needed to ensure the best academic experience possible for those students.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
Union has apartment-style dorms--so no cramming two beds, two closets, and two strangers in a bathroom-size room! The apartments truly are the best I have seen on college visits. This does mean that the dorm community is a bit different than at most colleges and that friendships have to be more intentional. Some buildings have community, some do not, but if people desire to have a good dorm life, they can certainly have one. One downside is that during weekdays there are no open dorm hours when the opposite gender can visit, but there are common areas that are available to use most of the time.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
Union has two dining services: Coburn (the cafeteria) and the Lex (a fast-food, diner-style restaurant). Neither are particularly spectacular, but Coburn does offer a certain amount of variety and you can always opt for chicken strips or a sandwich in the Lex.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
At Union there are endless opportunities to make your own fun. Attend hipster concerts at our truly hipster coffee-shop, join Nerf Wars on Friday nights and play games of zombies and slayer with foam darts, watch movies in the Bowld Commons, throw a goofy dance party in your dorm on the weekends, attend a fraternity party, explore all of Jackson's unique places, go tunneling, join one of Union's endless clubs...
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
Union is very, very expensive. It is also a great university with much to offer. Thus it's a bit hard to measure the bang for the buck and that probably depends greatly on one's individual experience.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Explore Jackson's underground tunnels as a freshmen with your life group, a group of freshmen led by two upperclassmen. Enjoy coffee and bizarre costumes at Halloween's Costume Coffee-house. Swim in the Jennings fountain after dark. Mock the sidewalk couples standing awkwardly outside the dorms. Play hide-and-seek in the labyrinth of the PAC.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Christian, creative, hard-working... Remember that even if you don't fit the stereotypical Union image, there are plenty of others who don't.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
Union has a myriad of activities and clubs of every different sort. It's hard to choose just a few to be involved with! It truly does have something for everyone.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
Union has a very unique type of Greek Life. There are three fraternities and three sororities. Greeks are not allowed to live in their houses, but live in campus dorms with the rest of the student body. About 10% of Union students participate in Greek Life. Union urges its Greeks to approach Greek Life from a Christian perspective, which means that it takes on a very different form than Greek Life at a secular university.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
Safety and Security is all over the place. While crimes certainly do happen on campus, there nonetheless is a very present and active Safety and Security.
Union University is a fantastic school that, for the most part, lives up to its portrayal of itself. Union claims to be excellence driven, Christ-centered, people-focused, and future-directed. It truly does meet those claims.
Try to get as full of a perspective of Union as possible. Spend the night on campus, try to meet students from as many different circles as possible. Do try to have a picture of the stereotypical Union student--in other words, know that Union is generally conservative and Christian, but don't make the assumption that all Union students or faculty fall into those categories. Read through the student handbook, but also spend time on campus talking to students about what life at Union is truly like.
Union is quite academically rigorous. Unfortunately, most (but not all) classes use a 95-100 grading scale, which makes it even more difficult to maintain a great grade. However, the academic difficulty is very beneficial. It forces students to work and to truly learn. Although difficult, Union's academic rigor is made perfectly tolerable by professors who truly want their students to succeed and are willing to put in the time and effort needed to ensure the best academic experience possible for those students.
Union has apartment-style dorms--so no cramming two beds, two closets, and two strangers in a bathroom-size room! The apartments truly are the best I have seen on college visits. This does mean that the dorm community is a bit different than at most colleges and that friendships have to be more intentional. Some buildings have community, some do not, but if people desire to have a good dorm life, they can certainly have one. One downside is that during weekdays there are no open dorm hours when the opposite gender can visit, but there are common areas that are available to use most of the time.
Union has two dining services: Coburn (the cafeteria) and the Lex (a fast-food, diner-style restaurant). Neither are particularly spectacular, but Coburn does offer a certain amount of variety and you can always opt for chicken strips or a sandwich in the Lex.
At Union there are endless opportunities to make your own fun. Attend hipster concerts at our truly hipster coffee-shop, join Nerf Wars on Friday nights and play games of zombies and slayer with foam darts, watch movies in the Bowld Commons, throw a goofy dance party in your dorm on the weekends, attend a fraternity party, explore all of Jackson's unique places, go tunneling, join one of Union's endless clubs...
Union is very, very expensive. It is also a great university with much to offer. Thus it's a bit hard to measure the bang for the buck and that probably depends greatly on one's individual experience.
Explore Jackson's underground tunnels as a freshmen with your life group, a group of freshmen led by two upperclassmen. Enjoy coffee and bizarre costumes at Halloween's Costume Coffee-house. Swim in the Jennings fountain after dark. Mock the sidewalk couples standing awkwardly outside the dorms. Play hide-and-seek in the labyrinth of the PAC.
Christian, creative, hard-working... Remember that even if you don't fit the stereotypical Union image, there are plenty of others who don't.
Union has a myriad of activities and clubs of every different sort. It's hard to choose just a few to be involved with! It truly does have something for everyone.
Union has a very unique type of Greek Life. There are three fraternities and three sororities. Greeks are not allowed to live in their houses, but live in campus dorms with the rest of the student body. About 10% of Union students participate in Greek Life. Union urges its Greeks to approach Greek Life from a Christian perspective, which means that it takes on a very different form than Greek Life at a secular university.
Safety and Security is all over the place. While crimes certainly do happen on campus, there nonetheless is a very present and active Safety and Security.