Furman University?

College Search & Selection
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<p>I am trying to gain some information about Furman, I couldn't find out what the average GPA and average SAT score of students were, and if they have a solid biology program or not (I want to be a vet or wildlife biologist). If anyone has any knowledge on Furman; whether it be socially, financially, academically, regionally, or has any comments on the said beauty of the schools campus, i would love to hear about it, thanks</p>

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<p>Here’s a link to collegeboard’s basic stats:</p>

<p><a href=“BigFuture College Search”>BigFuture College Search;

<p>If it doesn’t come up with it, click on “applying” and “SAT/ACT” scores to see their average from a couple of years ago. I believe they are an SAT optional school, so their “real” scores would likely be lower than listed if all had to take the test. (Incidently, I don’t believe the test is great for all, so going optional is not always bad…)</p>

<p>The campus is gorgeous - sort of like a country club. It’s away from town, so you’d want a car or to become friends with someone who had one. They also offer bus trips into town on weekends (if I recall the tour guide correctly).</p>

<p>Financially they were BY FAR the worst school for my high stats guy (who would have done neuro). They wanted us to pay 33+K in addition to him taking out basic loans. Every other college he applied to (including those higher in ranking) came out VERY significantly lower in cost. Furman was off our list immediately, but it was also likely not to be his final choice as he fell in love with research Us and is happily at one now. Perhaps they knew this somehow and offered more $$ to those they thought would be more likely to attend. Who knows?</p>

<p>Academically for Bio? They’ll likely give you a good enough foundation for vet school (most schools will). I have no clue about wildlife Bio - go to their website and check course listings.</p>

<p>Regionally? I think they have a positive reputation. We’re not in their region and few have heard of them around here (had to drive a distance even to get an alumni interview), but that’s common with LACs anywhere outside their region. It doesn’t mean they aren’t a good school. My guy still applied and likely would have been happy if he ended up there. It just didn’t end up being financially a wise choice (for us) and had far fewer research ops than he ended up wanting once he saw what research Us offered. YMMV Fits are a personal thing.</p>

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<p>Thanks a lot, I’m guessing you’re from around those parts? If that is the case, do you have any information on Clemson, college of charlston, and USC Columbia? I’ve heard c of c is commuter but I’ve also heard that students almost entirely live on campus</p>

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<p>You might want to PM the user yolocholo. I believe he transferred to College of Charleston, and is relatively active on this forum.</p>

<p>According to CoC’s common data set, approximately 92% of freshmen live on campus for their first year. Additionally, 46% of freshmen came from out of state which indicates that the school isn’t a commuter institution in any way.</p>

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<p>If you plan to go to vet school (expensive), you may want to consider going to a state u. to save some money for post grad. unless money is not an issue for you. You can get a decent Bio. education at lots of schools that are nowhere near as expensive at Furman. My friend’s D went to Furman. I got the idea Greek life was pretty big there.<br>
She referred to life there as living in “the Furman bubble” . </p>

<p>You will find more big state schools offer majors more relevent to Wildlife Bio. than small LAC’s.<br>
Example: NC State (which also has a vet school)
[Fisheries</a> & Wildlife & Conservation Biology : What Can I Do With A Major In…](<a href=“http://www.ncsu.edu/majors-careers/do_with_major_in/showmajor.php?id=95]Fisheries”>http://www.ncsu.edu/majors-careers/do_with_major_in/showmajor.php?id=95)</p>

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<p>

Given your interests, you should look into Rhodes. The Memphis Zoo is one of the best in the country and literally across the street from campus. They have internships specifically for Rhodes students that would be right up your alley (e.g. studying amphibian reproductive technology). </p>

<p>[Rhodes</a> College | Home](<a href=“http://www.rhodes.edu/]Rhodes”>http://www.rhodes.edu/)
[Rhodes</a> College | Research, Summer Internships, and Volunteering at the Memphis Zoo](<a href=“http://www.rhodes.edu/biology/22132.asp]Rhodes”>http://www.rhodes.edu/biology/22132.asp)</p>

<p>The campus is absolutely gorgeous. </p>

<p><a href=“http://www.smartcitymemphis.com/wp-content/uploads/2.jpg[/url]”>http://www.smartcitymemphis.com/wp-content/uploads/2.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Thanks for the help guys</p>

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<p>My niece attended Furman years ago, Chemistry major and stayed on to get grad degree there also. Furman’s science dept reputation is rigorous. Furman maintains an excellent overall reputation regionally in the south, and I believe they are pushing to move up in the national rankings. She received great merit aid, but Furman has slowed down their merit aid greatly. My other niece was admitted to Furman last year, but got almost no aid at all. Furman is a great school but not worth the high cost to attend. Furman’s campus is absolutely gorgeous, very traditional and Southern. Sports are not big here.</p>

<p>Clemson is another beautiful, Southern campus. Very small feel for a 15,000 student campus. Great reputation, especially in engineering. My daughter was accepted as OOS student at Clemson, but didn’t get the aid we needed to attend. Clemson has huge school spirit, football is the big sport. Great overall reputation, and administration is pushing to break into the top 20 national rankings.</p>

<p>Both schools are worth looking at and visiting. If money is not an issue, then I would consider either school for my children. If financial aid is needed, I would not put these schools high on your list.</p>

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<p>thank you, financial aid is of somewhat importance, my parents say they can attribute to 10,000 of the yearly costs, and the rest will be on my own merit, whether it be scholarships or student loads (which i do NOT want to to much of after undergraduate school) seeing as I wish to attend graduate school soon after undergrad, so if anyone has any ideas on “good deal” colleges for out of state students anywhere in the south, preferably coastal regions, with a solid biology program I would love and appreciate the help</p>

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<p>What are your stats? It’s likely to be difficult to get down to 10K per year OOS without decent stats.</p>

<p>There’s only a limited amount of loans you can take out - 5500 max for freshman year up to +4000 if your folks try and don’t qualify for a Parent Plus loan. That still won’t pay for many private schools.</p>

<p>Have you run some net price calculators?</p>

<p>What are you hoping for in a school besides southern/coastal and Bio?</p>

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<p>i also am sure I can receive scholarships from outside sources, our school is very good with acquiring options like that for students. I am looking for a school with a nice campus, somewhere with 6000+ students (i’ve made exceptions for the schools i like), if I were to use schools as examples of what I am generally looking for, I would say schools like University of Miami, Loyola Marymount University (LA), University of Florida (big, but still like), and UNC wilmington. I am very open to school choices, but i would say 3000 is probably the smallest I would like. I want to major in biology with an aspect on animals, to further my studies in zoology, wildlife biology, or even veterinary. Beautiful, residential campuses with a nice surrounding region is preferable (opposed to a school built into a city like Boston University).</p>

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<p>Kids at our school get outside scholarships too, but that rarely fills complete need and many (not all) of those scholarships are for freshman year only. I can think of 3 that go for all four years. One does 10K per year, one does 5K per year, and one varies based upon need and income, but still tends to stay around 5K per year. All of them are VERY competitive even though they are local scholarships. There are many scholarships for 1 - 5K or so for freshman year. Those definitely help, but they’ll leave you holding the bag after freshman year. Some schools also decrease financial aid when you bring in outside scholarships (essentially, you have less need).</p>

<p>I really do recommend you go to U Miami’s web site and run their net price calculator to figure out if they wil be affordable. Or, are your stats in their full tuition/ride competition category?</p>

<p>As for other schools, check on their wildlife bio aspect, but a student at our school (who had a free ride to U Miami) chose Wake Forest instead (also a free ride). Florida State could be an option (I assume you’ve considered it) as could William and Mary in VA or Coastal Carolina in SC. Another I can think of that could fit is Eckerd, BUT it is a bit small for your liking.</p>