<p>Are there any Fummers on this board? I'd like to know your impressions of the school, dorms, quality of students, lifestyle, safety etc. Any information is appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>We did a quick visit this past summer. I thought the campus itself was quite pretty - red brick buildings and lots of trees, but the surrounding city is kind of dreary --- you can actually see an old factory (steel mill?) from the campus. Downtown area was iffy, nothing really there for college students. My daughter was not impressed, didn't want to get out of the car to take the tour we had scheduled.</p>
<p>Academics are reported to be very good (especially in the sciences), student body very preppy/athletic. Big Greek presence on campus with lots of drinking. But that's all second hand so maybe I'm off-base.</p>
<p>Thanks, Carolyn. We had the same impressions as you did, but also haven't done a tour yet. There don't seem to be many F&M students on this board. Which other schools did you look at?</p>
<p>I live near F&M's campus, and I was pretty surprised when I saw you describe Lancaster as "dreary." It's not the most exciting city in the world, but it has a few hot spots. I guess it's just my hometown pride kicking in, but I have to disagree.</p>
<p>I did a visit there a few weeks ago. Facilities-wise it was one of the best schools I've visited, but it didn't seem right for me personally. I just kept wanting to like it, but it really had too much of a preppy/conservative jockish feel to it. Lots of frats, drinking, etc. My tour guide was the complete opposite of that, though, so I suppose you can be happy there even if you don't fit the typical profile. He was quite cool, actually. If you are the athletic party type though, it is a lovely school. Lancaster is okay. It's probably as good as a city based around amish farm life can be, it does have some nice places, but it can be a bit dull. Although, keep in mind, I've only been to the town a few times before, so I'm probably not the authority on Lancasterian life, but yeah, it's okay.</p>
<p>Judging from the comments I have to think my preppie, athletic son would love it there but he hates the thought of a small school. I sort of lump this school with gettysburg and dickinson but both those campuses, in my view, are much prettier (F&M's is much more compact). I respectfully disagree with the person who said Lancaster is not dreary. My parents and my wife's parents all retired to Lancaster and it is not a bustlin town--but more so than Gettysburg or Carlisle. On the plus side, I have never, and I mean never, met nicer people than those who live in Lancaster and the surrounding communities( and I have traveleld extensively around the country.) The people are unique in their kindness and graciousness. I truly believe the most wonderful people in this country live near F & M. when I visited with my older son last year, we were treated exceptionally well in the admissions office and I will always remember this. I think if you are looking for a small school in Pennsylvania i woud look here and i would place it a bit above the other two schools academically.</p>
<p>Good pre-prof school with strong Greek presence. Students work hard and party at frats. Generous financial aid to attract students at the high end of the their application pool. I would prob qualify for a merit $$$ but cannot see living their for 4 years. My dad wants me to apply as a financially feasible school... Let him go.</p>
<p>Face it people: when you look at any PA school, outside of Philly & Pitts, most places will qualify as "not a happening town". It is a very rural state with many, many small towns, villages, albeit filled with very nice, down home type of people. Even Harrisburg, the state capitol is not a very busy place.</p>
<p>If you want more nightlife, culture, museums, sports events, etc., you have to look at Philly & Pittsburgh. But if that doesn't matter to you...there are many great small colleges scattered throughout PA.</p>
<h2>I'm a sophomore at F & M.</h2>
<p>I'm disheartened by the lack of balance and driven to post where normally I would dismiss a site like this as being the nexus of complaining hermits.</p>
<p>True, Lancaster is not NYC (Go NYC!), but it has many assets that haven't been mentioned. Lancaster's fulton theatre is one of the oldest and most beautiful theatres (musicals and plays). By the way, F & M gives out free tickets as they are a sponsor. I went to Vivaldi's four seasons with free tickets from F & M (in no way am I associated w/ the music department). How about First Friday's where over 20 art galleries are open on the first friday of every month, serving ordervs and wine to those over 21. What about central market (oldest continually running farmer's market in the USA) where you can get fresh foods (no high fructose syrup or preservative bs) from real local retailers? What about Park City and the famous outlet shopping? How about the numerous restauraunts in the area--chinese, japanese, mexican, mediterranean, italian? Have you reached out to see any of it? No, you probably stay in your room.</p>
<p>25% of students are in a fraternity or sorority there's a lot to do if you're not in a fraternity. We have over 100 clubs on campus and it's easy to start one if you don't like what's available. The problem is the people who post here are the people who are duds and only see fraternity members without knowing the numerous offerings of F & M. It is too bad that the complainers are the ones that always come through the loudest. It wouldn't surprise me if this site is infiltraited by admissions councelors from neigbouring schools though.</p>
<p>And for god's sake, president Fry has open office hours every Friday (3:30-5:00). So, go see him if you have something to complain about. He does pretty much anything that's reasonable, which is proly why we have over 100 mil in construction right now.</p>
<p>Sorry for completely ignoring rules of grammar and spelling in this stream of consciousness, which I don't feel like correcting.</p>
<p>simsrus,</p>
<p>THANK YOU for your post! :-)</p>