Frequently Asked Questions

<p>Hello!</p>

<p>My name is Melanie and I am a current Sophomore at Emory University. I posted on another thread to email me if you have any questions. I have received some excellent questions so I thought I would start a thread so that if others have the same questions they can just check this. Feel free to post questions on here but I check my email much more frequently ( <a href="mailto:mgsmit2@emory.edu">mgsmit2@emory.edu</a>) </p>

<p>What are the freshman housing options and what are they like? Do the kids get their preferences? How do they do housing sign ups and roommates?</p>

<p>-DOBBS HALL- Emory’s oldest freshman dorm on campus, Dobbs offers freshman a chance to live in the most convenient location on campus, right across from the dining hall and on the other side are academic buildings. Dobbs boasts a picturesque parlor with a beautiful piano and antique-like decorating. Dobb’s has the smallest rooms on campus but it does allow for residents to form close-knit bonds and a heightened sense of community.
-FEVANS HALLS- Evans Hall and Few Hall are themed housing options, Living Green. Evans and Few (right next to each other, often jointly called Fevans) opened in 2008. If you go on or have been on an Emory tour, you see a room that is identical to the rooms in this hall. Evans offers a location right next to fraternity row and an overlook of McDonough field where concerts at Emory take place. Both dorms have study lounges conveniently located at the end of the halls (2 on each floor) which offers a nice alternative to having to walk to the library for a quiet place to study.
-HAMILTON HOLMES – The 4th phase of Emory’s new freshman quad initiative, Hamilton Holmes is scheduled to open in the fall of 2012. This residence hall will most likely be a themed housing option as well, but I haven’t heard word on what it will be yet. This dorm is adjacent to the Dobbs University Center and located right near Longstreet-Means Hall and Turman Hall
-HARRIS HALL- Another one of Emory’s older dorms, Harris Hall was heavily renovated in 1995. It has one of the most beautiful exteriors, and is located on Clifton Rd with easy access to a MARTA (Atlanta public transportation) bus stop. Harris Hall is located next to the Goizueta Business School and right across from the Woodruff Library, the main library on campus. There are single-room options in Harris.
-LONGSTREET-MEANS HALL- Longstreet-Means is another themed housing option: Global Cultures. LSM opened fall of 2010 and boasts a beautiful lobby and great room. Longstreet-Means has study rooms located at the end of each hall and on the corners (4 study rooms per floor- with the exception of the 5th floor which has 3). Again, the tour show room is identical to the layout of these rooms as well. Longstreet – Means is across from Turman and next to Zaya’s, an on campus Mediterranean eatery that is compatible with student’s meal plans. Zaya’s is open late and is an excellent place to grab food without having to go too far.<br>
-McTYEIRE HALL- McTyeire Hall is popular for its larger rooms and closets. McTyreire has a enviable location right next to the Dobbs University Center and across from McDonough field.
-TRIMBLE HALL- Trimble Hall is adjacent to McTyeire and directly across from Zaya’s. Trimlbe is one of Emory’s older dorms and offers students a chance to interact with other classes as Trimble is also offered as sophomore housing.
-TURMAN HALL- Turman hall opened in 2007 and is a themed housing option: Citizenship. Turman is located in between Longstreet-Means and the Dobbs University Center. The tour room the people see is in Turman Hall. Students have the option for a single-room in Turman. There are study lounges at the end of each hall.</p>

<p>Other [ul]
[<em>] To live in one of the themed housing dorms students in years past have had to fill out a separate application but this year the application is a part of the FYE Pre-Arrival Questionnaire you received as part of a larger message from the Office of Admission.
[</em>] Students have the option to choose their roommate beforehand or to take a housing survey and they will be paired with another student. Emory’s survey is sufficient at matching students as long as both students answer truthfully, if a student feels that the survey is not comprehensive enough they are free to use other roommate services online (roombug, Uroomsurf, etc.) to pick a roommate and then chose them on the Emory housing site.
[<em>] All rooms have a sink in the room which offers a convenient alternative to trekking to the bathroom to wash your face or brush your teeth.
[</em>] Students are allowed to state their preference as far as gender in halls. There are three options:
Coed Building, Single Sex Floor: The entire floor is the same gender.</p>

<pre><code> Coed Building, Grouped Coed Floor: Both males and females live on the floor though typically there is some division, such as a stairwell or lobby, resulting in males on one end of the hall and females on the other end. Bathrooms are separated by gender.

**Coed Building, Mixed Coed Floor:** Males and females live on the same floor and there is no division. Bathrooms are separated by gender. 

</code></pre>

<p>[/ul]</p>

<p>** We will be flying in for move in. Can we ship to the Emory dorm in advance? **</p>

<p>Students do have the option to ship their belongings beforehand- instructions and guidelines to do so are located here: [Undergraduate</a> Housing :: Shipping Your Belongings](<a href=“Residence Life and Housing Operations | Emory University | Atlanta GA”>Residence Life and Housing Operations | Emory University | Atlanta GA)</p>

<p>**** Side note:** A lot of my friends who were flying in for move in pre-ordered items through Bed Bath & Beyond which has a program where you can shop for college supplies and then they will be available for you to pick up at the Bed Bath & Beyond in Atlanta. Just an alternative option.</p>

<p>** Do most freshman bring all their winter clothes in August or come back with the warmer stuff later? Do you need snow outerwear (down jacket/boots/gloves) in Atlanta? How cold does it get? **</p>

<p>Students usually bring a couple sweatshirts and jeans and warmer clothes because they usually don’t get to go home until Thanksgiving. Atlanta is pretty random with the weather, but it tends to get a little chilly before Thanksgiving so it’s always a smart idea to have some warm clothes.(Students from warmer states: FL,CA,TX tend to think it’s colder than students from Northern states) Now with that being said it isn’t necessary to bring the entire winter wardrobe right off the bat. Thanksgiving and Winter Break are usually good times to switch out clothes. Snow gear is not necessary but a warm jacket and gloves are always advisable. It does get cold in Atlanta, not for long but there is a significant chilly period. It would be wise to bring warm winter outerwear. It’s not time to pack the snow suit but make sure they are prepared for colder temperatures (better to over-prepared than under-prepared!!)</p>

<p>** Are there other cafeteria’s on the meal plan besides the DUC? **</p>

<p>There are plenty of options for students meal plans aside from the main cafeteria (Dobbs University Center- or as students call it the DUC). As a student with a meal plan I eat at Cox Hall, Zaya’s, I ride the shuttle over to Clairmont to get a delicious sub, I have a grill in my sophomore dorm (Woodruff Res Center), I grab Einstein’s for breakfast sometimes. There are so many options here is a link to dining at Emory, all of these places work with the freshman meal plan. [[Emory</a> | Dining](<a href=“http://www.emory.edu/dining/index.php]Emory”>index) ] Now all freshmen are required to have the same meal plan: Unlimited meal swipes and 150 Dooley Dollars each semester (The Dooley Dollars roll over after first semester but not second). Meal swipes can be used at places like the DUC, Clairmont, the Woodruff grill, etc. Dooley Dollars can be used at more commercial eateries: Dominoes, Starbucks, Zaya’s, Einstein’s Bagels, Cox Hall. It takes a while to learn which places take swipes and which takes Dooley Dollars, my advice is just simply ask if you ever forget or are unsure!</p>

<p>** How easy or tough is it to get around without a car (to the city or the airport)? **</p>

<p>It is extremely easy to get around without a car. There are several alternatives to having a car on campus:

[ul]
[<em>]Emory Cliff Shuttles: Emory cliff shuttles run daily on a schedule and transport students to different places on campus. There is also a daily Publix shuttle that allows students to get to a grocery store in the afternoons. Here is a link to the shuttles page to get an idea of where they all go: [Emory</a> University: Transportation and Parking Services](<a href=“http://transportation.emory.edu/transportation/cliff/index.html]Emory”>http://transportation.emory.edu/transportation/cliff/index.html)
[li]Emory Experience Shuttle: The experience shuttle is sponsored by the College Council and is a way for students to explore Atlanta on the weekends. Every weekend the shuttle will go to different places in Atlanta e.g., The Coca-Cola Museum, Atlantic Station (movie theater, shops, restaurants), Centennial Park for ice skating, and other places. It’s an easy and convenient way to get off campus and experience the great city of Atlanta[/li][</em>]MARTA: MARTA is the Atlanta Public Transportation system. There are MARTA bus stops along Clifton rd. which runs right by campus. As a country girl who has never experienced public transportation a day in her life, I was able to quickly and easily figure out MARTA and how to get from point A to point B using buses and trains. It doesn’t hurt that their website ([MARTA</a> - Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority](<a href=“http://itsmarta.com/]MARTA”>http://itsmarta.com/)) walks you through your trip step-by step, public transportation for dummies style.
[<em>]Taxi: If none of those options work for you then then you can always call a taxi and have them come straight to your door. Taxi fare can get a little pricey so I would suggest splitting cab far with a group of friends. Sometimes you can get taxi drivers to agree to a flat rate, say 3 or 4 dollars per person for a trip somewhere.
[</em>]Airport Travel: Depending on the time of year Emory does offer an airport shuttle. There was an airport shuttle this year at set intervals for Thanksgiving break, however there were no shuttles for Winter break. If that is the case then I always either get a friend to drive me or I ride the MARTA. The MARTA trip is really easy, you just take the bus to the train station and then the train goes directly to the airport. MARTA can be a bit inconvenient when you are traveling with a lot of luggage. Group Taxis are another option, just get a group of friends or even post to a conference about traveling to the airport at a certain time and get other people to split taxi fare with you, it’s a lot cheaper that way. If you ride by yourself it could be anywhere from $40-$50.
[/ul]</p>

<p>** How is the freshman advising in terms of picking classes and how tough/easy is it to get the classes that you want or need? **</p>

<p>There is no shortage of freshmen academic advising that is for certain. When students first arrive at Emory they are introduced to campus through Orientation Leaders and then there are PACE (Pre-major Advising Connections at Emory)[ [Pre-Major</a> Advising Connections at Emory (PACE) | Emory College | Atlanta, GA](<a href=“Welcome to Emory College.”>Welcome to Emory College.) ] advisors that students are assigned to students. PACE leaders are peers who help incoming students with picking classes and advising them which classes to take. Freshmen also have to meet with their faculty academic advisor just to make sure that they are on the right track and have a manageable course load. Current students are usually more than willing to help freshmen pick their classes because it can be initially overwhelming and stressful. Freshmen do not pick their classes until they are on campus, a few days before classes. All students are assigned a registration time to sign up for classes so it can be a little difficult to get a specific class if you have a later time. My advice for choosing classes is always have a few back up classes or potential schedule. If you are trying to get in a certain class to fulfill a GER (General Education Requirement) and that class fills up, just be patient and wait until another semester to fulfill that specific requirement, there will be more options in other semesters. On top of all that there is also the Career Center at Emory [ [Emory</a> University : The Career Center](<a href=“http://www.career.emory.edu/]Emory”>http://www.career.emory.edu/) ]whose goal is “to advise and assist undergraduate students about career decision-making, employment opportunities, academic programs and internships that will enhance their skill set.” The Career Center is a great resource for students who are planning on going on to graduate school and perhaps need some guidance on which classes would be best to take.</p>

<p>I hope my answers were helpful, feel free to email me if you need any clarification! <a href=“mailto:Mgsmit2@emory.edu”>Mgsmit2@emory.edu</a>
**Current Emory students *- Please * add on if you feel I have forgotten anything or perhaps you have another opinion.</p>

<p>Wondering about our official acceptance letters. I have not received mine yet, and fb indicates Emory might have sent out the wrong letters. Has there been a mix up. I am anxiously waiting the official mailed letter. Do you know anything about the letters? Has anyone actually received a correct or incorrect letter?</p>

<p>The Emory website [ [Early</a> Decision 1 Information | Emory College of Arts and Sciences Admission](<a href=“http://www.emory.edu/admission/admission/decisions/early_decision1.html]Early”>Admission | Emory University | Atlanta GA) ] says </p>

<p>“We will not send decision letters via US Mail; decision letters are only viewable online through OPUS.”</p>

<p>** What is move in/orientation day like? Do we show up at campus with all of our stuff or go check in first then go to bed/bath and beyond and office depot and get stuff for the room? **</p>

<p>Every student will be assigned a move-in time (I believe over the summer along with your housing assignment). I personally had a later time so I went to the orientation fair in the gym with my parents first where I got my orientation packet and a whole bunch of other information about orientation week. Other friends of mine had earlier times so they checked in at their dorm (different than the orientation fair), got their ID and key and moved all of their stuff in and then went down to the orientation fair. You could check in at your assigned time and then get the ID and key and see if your roommate is there and get an idea of how you want to move your stuff in before you bring it all in or go shopping for your supplies. When I was moving in I went to the orientation fair, then I checked in, moved all of my stuff in and then went shopping for “extra” stuff at the local target. There really is no rigid schedule, just whatever you feel like doing first.</p>

<p>** When the freshman register for classes, can they chose which professors or section or is it random? Can they pick not to have any early am classes? **</p>

<p>When registering for classes freshmen are allowed to choose which professors, which section, and what time they want for a course. As previously stated each freshman will have an assigned time, some are later than others. It can be difficult to get the course/time you want if you have a later time but Emory has an add/drop/swap period in which there is a possibility that a particular class you may be interested in becomes available. Sometimes students are able to overload into a class by emailing a professor and expressing their interest in the course.</p>

<p>** Do the Wednesday classes usually meet the day before Thanksgiving or do professors tend to cancel? We need to book Thanksgiving airplane tickets in advance so that is why I am asking. **</p>

<p>Professors do sometimes choose to cancel class the Wednesday before Thanksgiving break but it all depends on the specific professor. You can usually ask them the first week of class if it is not stated on the syllabus. This is a bit of a side note but airline tickets can be more expensive if you try to book them too far in advance. For holidays I usually buy my tickets about 2 months in advance.</p>

<p>** I was wondering if your FAQ covered Oxford College as well or if it’s just the College of Arts and Sciences. What do you know about the residence halls at Oxford College, which dorms would you recommend? **</p>

<p>My answers on the FAQ were primarily about main campus. I unfortunately don’t know anything about residence halls at the Oxford campus but here is a link to there website: [Oxford</a> College - Residence Halls](<a href=“http://www.oxford.emory.edu/life/housing_and_dining/housing/residence-halls/]Oxford”>http://www.oxford.emory.edu/life/housing_and_dining/housing/residence-halls/) if you have any specific questions I would be glad to forward them along to a tour guide who is from Oxford.</p>

<p>** For students who live far away, is it common to stay at Emory for Thanksgiving break? Airline tickets are expensive so I was wondering if there was a cheaper way to go back home during Thanksgiving/Winter Break. **</p>

<p>Staying on campus for Thanksgiving break is an option for students. The majority of students do go home, or to a friend’s place but it is not uncommon to stay on campus over break. The dorms stay open on Thanksgiving but the dining locations are shut down for a number of days, I’m not sure which ones but eating options are slim if there are any. </p>

<p>I am from the Baltimore-Washington area and I fly home for both Thanksgiving and Winter Break, I have found that for my area, Airtran is the cheapest to fly. This year I even flew home for fall break because tickets were only $56 one way!</p>

<p>Options for coming home would include flying, you could see if an upperclassman is driving home and catch a ride with them, or you could try train but that’s usually just as expensive as flying and it takes longer.</p>

<p>** Is the neighborhood/city around Emory “safe”? ** </p>

<p>The area around Emory is extremely safe. Emory is located in a primarily affluent area. I can honestly say I have never felt unsafe on campus, even making those late night trips to CVS by myself. No gangs at night, none that I have heard of at least haha the nice thing about Emory is that even though we are within the perimeter of the city, we are not directly downtown and the campus isn’t in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city. It gives the campus a bit of a safety “buffer zone”.</p>

<p>Wondering if there are accepted students weekends this Spring for us to attend? Do you know the dates?</p>

<p>Also wondering about APs, is it better to take a class and get an A, rather than AP out of the class?</p>

<p>There are no admitted students days for Early Decision however feel free to visit campus at any time by scheduling a visit through the Office of Admission!</p>

<p>If you can AP out of certain Gen Ed classes then go for it, but it is probably not advised to AP out of your classes that will contribute towards your major.</p>

<p>Hi! I was wondering if you know how long the Oxford Scholars Interview thing is? Is it just a Saturday? Thanks!</p>

<p>Scholars Weekend is Friday, March 2nd through Saturday, March 3rd. Each nominee goes through a group discussion, individual interview, and another group interview. It is not two straight days of simply interviewing. The two days are broken up by meals, events on campus, optional tours, and the students are invited to the Spring play and a social Friday evening as well.</p>

<p>Thanks! But I was rejected Oxford and Emory Scholars…</p>